New Reception Act comes into force on 1 October

Under the new Reception Act, more people can be covered by the Act and some will be covered for longer than before.

One important change concerns people who have received an enforceable return decision. They can continue to be covered by the Reception Act even after the decision has come into effect or the time limit for voluntary departure has expired. There will also be more opportunities for people who were previously no longer covered by the reception system to be covered again.

Geographical restrictions and control measures are introduced

As a general rule, people applying for international protection (asylum) are already required to live in accommodation assigned to them by the Swedish Migration Agency. From 1 October, a geographical restriction will be introduced. As a general rule, people applying for international protection and people who have received a return decision must remain within the county where their assigned accommodation is located.

Attendance checks will also be introduced at the Swedish Migration Agency’s reception and return centres. People aged 16 or over who are applying for international protection and living at a centre must attend these checks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

People who have received a return decision will also be required to report to the Swedish Migration Agency. As a general rule, they must report three days a week. In certain situations, the Swedish Migration Agency may also decide on other individual control measures.

People from Ukraine who have temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive are not subject to the geographical restriction or attendance checks.

More requirements linked to the daily allowance

The daily allowance can already be reduced if a person does not meet certain requirements. Under the new Reception Act, there will be more situations in which the daily allowance can be reduced, either in full or in part.

This includes situations where a person does not follow their geographical restriction or does not report to the Swedish Migration Agency as required. The daily allowance can also be reduced in cases of serious misconduct at accommodation provided by the Swedish Migration Agency.

Another change is that the Swedish Migration Agency can require repayment of daily allowance that has been paid incorrectly.

The right to work will be restricted

From 1 October, the rules on when a person applying for international protection may be granted access to the labour market will also change. This was previously known as an exemption from the work permit requirement (AT-UND). As a general rule, a person will only be granted the right to work if the Swedish Migration Agency has not made a decision on their application within six months of the date on which the application was registered. The delay must not be due to the applicant and the other conditions must also be met.

People from Ukraine and people who already have AT-UND are not affected

As a general rule, people who already have AT-UND when the new Reception Act comes into force will keep it and can continue to work.

The new rules on AT-UND do not affect people from Ukraine who have temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Municipalities’ responsibilities are clarified

The new Reception Act changes how responsibilities are divided between the Swedish Migration Agency and municipalities. The Act clarifies municipalities’ responsibilities for providing support and assistance in accommodation, as well as special forms of accommodation, for people covered by the Reception Act. This may, for example, include home care services for a person living at one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s centres.

New rules are also being introduced on municipalities’ responsibility for providing accommodation in an extraordinary situation where large numbers of people seek protection.