"The Swedish Migration Board is now resuming the review of the cases that have been paused," Ann-Kari Olsson, Head of Section at the Migration Agency, said in a press release. "Our goal is for all young adults to have the opportunity to apply for a residence permit and have their application reviewed without the authority's processing time affecting the outcome."
The processing of the cases has been resumed because of the new family reunion law which came into force on October 1st, which includes measures to reduce the problem of teen deportations – young adults who face deportation after they turn 18 or because a parent receives permanent residency because they are no longer counted as a dependent of a parent.
Under the new law, young adults who previously had residency as a dependant will be able to apply for a work permit, study permit, or other type of residency permit from within Sweden.
The maximum age at which a young adult can qualify as a dependent has also been increased under the law from 18 to 21. The law also includes transitional arrangements allowing young adults who have already received a deportation decision to apply once again to extend a residency permit as a dependent.
The Migration Agency put the processing of residence permit cases for former dependents who have turned 18 on hold in March, after the government announced that it planned to change the law to make it easier for them to stay in Sweden.
The government's decision followed a campaign in the media, as well as by the Green Party, Centre Party, and Left Party over the fate of young adults being deported from Sweden despite having spent most of their lives in the country and being well integrated.
Olsson said it was "important to stress" that the possibility to apply for a new residency permit from inside Sweden, which expires in December 2027, does not exempt applicants from the requirements for a work permit or study permit.