Temporary reduction in tax on petrol and diesel
In the spring, the government passed an extra budget amendment reducing taxes on petrol and diesel in two steps. The first step came into force in May and the second comes into force in July.
Starting July 1st, the carbon dioxide tax on petrol and diesel will be reduced by 2 kronor and 40 öre per litre. This tax reduction will run through November 30th 2026 and means a price reduction of 3 kronor per litre (incl. VAT) at the pump.
The extra budget amendment was announced by the government in May as part of a crisis package. The intent of the package, according to the Finance Minister, is to keeping households and affected industries as damage-free as possible in the energy crisis caused by the Iran war and closures of the Strait of Hormuz.
The measure will cost the treasury 7.7 billion kronor.
Comes into force on: July 1st
Measures against VAT fraud
New measures aimed to stop tax evasion through VAT fraud also come into force on the first of this month. The new rules limit the ability of those attempting to commit these tax crimes to gain access to the VAT system.
The Swedish Tax Agency will have more powers to check registration, refuse or de-register someone, and mark a registration number as invalid in the VAT Information Exchange system (VIES). The authority can also decide that excess input VAT will not be credited.
Comes into force on: July 1st
Cash laws
In a measure intended to crisis-proof Sweden's digital economy against cyber-attacks, this law means that grocery stores and pharmacies will be obliged to accept cash.
In addition, banks must ensure that consumers can deposit cash and that companies have access to services for currency exchange and depositing daily cash.
Comes into force on: July 1st
The requirement for notification in order to receive parental benefit is abolished
Previously, parental benefit funds could not be paid out before a notification was sent to the Social Insurance Agency. As of July 1st, the notification requirement is abolished – so, there is now no longer a requirement for notification in order for a parent to receive parental benefit funds.
Comes into force on: July 1st
Language requirement in elder care
Those responsible for social service care for the elderly must, according to this new law, work to ensure that the staff who work with the elderly have the knowledge of Swedish that is relevant to that work. The relevant level of knowledge of Swedish is regulated in the Social Services Ordinance and is B2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Comes into force on: July 1st
Abolition of permanent residency for certain groups
On July 12th, the law to abolish permanent residency for future applicants in certain categories comes into effect.
The new law will make anyone with residency in Sweden on the basis of asylum, subsidiary protection, "exceptionally distressing circumstances" or Long Term Residence (LTR) ineligible for permanent residency.
Instead, they will receive LTR permits which need to be renewed every five years.
Permanent residency will be reserved for former work permit holders, those with permits to run their own business, those with permits because they are self-sufficient (including spouses and partners), and those with permits on the basis of doctoral studies or research.
The bill also does other things aimed at tightening Sweden's asylum rules to the "EU's legal minimum level", including lowering the age limit for taking fingerprints and photographs to six years old and limiting asylum seekers' right to a lawyer.
Comes into force on: July 12th
Duty to Inform
From July 13th, six Swedish government agencies will be obliged to inform the police and the Swedish Migration Board if they suspect that a foreigner lacks the right to reside in Sweden.
The six authorities are the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), the Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården), the Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden), the Pensions Agency (Pensionsmyndigheten) and the Tax Agency (Skatteverket).
Comes into force on: July 13th
New conduct requirements for foreigners
July 13th is also the date from which anyone in Sweden on a residence permit under Swedish law (as opposed to EU law, which covers, e.g. refugees and EU citizens) could have their permits refused or revoked due to "poor conduct" (also translated as "a flawed way of life" – bristande vandel in Swedish).
The acts that can lead to a residence permit being denied or revoked are not explicitly stated in the text of the law, but government representatives and investigators have mentioned as examples not following laws and regulations, not following authority decisions, systematically ignoring paying debts or fines, or working illegally.
Comes into force on: July 13th
Expanded record checks for people working in the school system
Record checks are being expanded for people who will work or do their professional training in the school system or other educational institutions. Before someone is hired, under the new law they must show records from both the criminal register and the criminal suspects database.
More crimes will be visible in these records – for example, offensive photography, sabotage of emergency services (e.g. ambulances), hate speech, and weapons offences.The Swedish School Inspectorate and municipalities will also be able to request records from the criminal suspects database during ownership and management investigations.
The courts' obligation to notify the Swedish School Inspectorate will be expanded to include more crimes when licensed teachers and preschool teachers are convicted.
Comes into force on: July 15th
Stricter rules on deportation for foreigners who commit crimes
Starting September 1st, it will be easier for foreigners in Sweden who have committed crimes to be deported. Committing a crime – in cases when the imposed penalty is more severe than a fine – was already generally grounds for deportation, so these rules will make it even easier.
It will do this in a number of ways, including: the court will no longer take into account obstacles to enforcement when considering whether deportation should take place; prosecutors will be obliged to request deportation when a foreigner is charged with a crime that is grounds for deportation; the restriction on deportation of foreigners who came to Sweden before the age of 15 will be abolished; re-entry bans have been extended and in more cases may be indefinite; and penalties have been increased for certain crimes under the Aliens Act.
Comes into force on: September 1st