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The refugee quota
A refugee is a person who has left his or her country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or due to his/her religious or political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, and who because of this fear is unable or unwilling to avail him or herself the protection of that country. The refugee quota may also include people otherwise in need of protection.
The government may also determine that the allocated funds can be used, for example, to make it easier for people in refugee camps to reside in the local area, as well as for medical projects.
How many quota refugees come to Sweden?
The focus of the selection as well as the actual number of quota places is determined by the Swedish government. In 2008, Sweden received 1,880 quota refugees. In 2009 the quota comprises 1,900 persons. The nationalities and where the refugees come from is determined in cooperation with UNHCR.
How does the selection process work?
In order to be selected for the quota, an individual must be registered as a refugee at UNHCR. UNHCR then prioritises which people are to be presented, and for which country. Each country then makes an assessment, an takes the decision whether the person is to be granted a residence permit.
Refugees are selected either through delegation selection or through dossier selection. Delegation selection means that the refugees are selected in the country where they presently live. They are interviewed on site by persons seconded from the Swedish Migration Board.
For dossier selection, UNHCR sends its analysis to the Swedish Migration Board who then decide based on the evidence.
In 2009 the Board made delegation trips to Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Sudan.
In 2008 the Board made delegation trips to Iran, Thailand, India, Syria and Congo Brazzaville.
Sweden programme
Within the framework of the budget appropriation to transfer refugees to Sweden, the programme known as the Sweden programme can be implemented for refugees who have been granted permits in Sweden. The programme aims to inform refugees of the conditions in Swedish, and to prepare them before their trip and arrival in Sweden.
The last Sweden programme was carried out in Thailand (Tham Hin refugee camp near the border with Burma) in August 2008.
Before transfer to Sweden
When a quota refugee is granted a permit to come to Sweden, the Swedish Migration Board must find an appropriate municipality in which the person can stay. Quota refugees travel directly into a municipality and their entry is therefore dependent on accommodation and a municipality place being organised. The quota refugees' family composition, language, age, education, health, work experience and similar have a bearing on municipality location. It is the municipalities that determine whether they can receive or not.
Cooperation important
The Swedish Migration Board collaborates with several operators in order to ensure the best resettlement conditions possible.
Important partners are:
- The UNHCR, which, among other things, presents cases to the Swedish Migration Board so that we can determine whether there are any relatives in Sweden, their names, parentage, addresses and more.
- Embassies and consulates in the countries where the refugees are located. They issue permits and ensure that the refugees have the necessary travel documents. In some cases, the Red Cross can also assist with travel documents.
- The IOM helps the refugee on site to get a travel permit and to book airline tickets. When the Swedish Migration Board knows what municipality the refugee is destined for, we ask IOM to book airline tickets.
- Municipalities and local actors in the host society.
More information
If you would like to know more about quota selection and how it works, there are two brochures with answers to frequently asked questions. The brochures are called the 'Swedish Refugee Quota' and 'Coming to Sweden as a Quota Refugee' (see links to the right).
The Swedish Migration Board has also initiated a national network of resettlement issues, where you can acquire more information.
