New Swedish laws
Most laws in Sweden come into force on either January 1st or July 1st, so there are a number of new changes to be aware of this July. We've broken them down here, by date and topic.
July 1st – tax cut on petrol and discounted public transit passes
The government's tax cut of 3 kronor per litre at the pump comes into effect on July 1st, as does the option for regions to halve monthly public transit pass prices on the national government's dime.
The public transit discount option is in effect through December 31st of this year, and the Stockholm regional transit authority has said it will allow those who have previously purchases annual passes or 90-day tickets to be reimbursed the relevant price difference.
Both the petrol tax cut and the public transit discount are part of the energy crisis relief package announced by the government in the spring, and are intended to offset rising energy costs from the war in the Persian Gulf.
July 1st – key stores to accept cash, police allowed to use AI facial recognition, and a cousin marriage ban
Starting July 1st, grocery stores, pharmacies and banks in Sweden will need to be able to accept banknotes and coins to a greater extent than they currently do. Sweden has been an early adopter of widespread digital payment systems, to the point where many shops no longer accept cash. This new law aims to make key services more accessible for vulnerable groups who rely on cash.
July 1st is also the date when Swedish police will be allowed to use AI technology for facial recognition in real time. According to the new law, they may do this not only if someone is convicted of a serious crime and is on the run, but also if the police deems someone to be at imminent risk of committing a serious crime that could harm someone else. Victims of kidnapping, human trafficking or human exploitation will also be able to be identified through AI in real time.
Finally, if you'd been hoping to marry your cousin, sorry, but from July 1st it will be illegal in Sweden.
July 12th – abolition of permanent residency for certain groups
This is the date when 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 coming into effect on July 12th 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.
July 13th – duty to inform and new 'character' requirements
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).
July 13th is also the date when 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.
Other key things happening in July
New EU customs fee for online orders outside the union: A €3 duty, approximately 33 kronor, will be applied from July 1st on all online orders shipped from outside the EU (even if purchased from a European site, so take care!).
It will be applied to packages valued less than €150 arriving in the EU from third countries. This represents 93 percent of all e-commerce flows to the European Union, according to EU data.
The temporary measure will remain in place until 2028, when the customs duty exemption currently applicable to small parcels will be permanently scrapped. At that point, all goods entering the EU will be subject to customs duty at the regular tariff for each product.
School holidays: With schools across Sweden finishing the school year in the last two weeks of June, almost all children in Sweden are on holiday throughout July. Most adults in Sweden also take at least three weeks off (or even four) in the summer, often starting either in the first or second week of July.
So if you're not taking time off, be warned: it can be difficult to get any responses for things you want done, either within your own organisation or from other companies, throughout July.
Voting from abroad: if you're a Swedish citizen living abroad and are on the register of electors, you should receive your voter card and postal voting materials sometime in July. Mail-in ballots can start being posted on July 30th. The Swedish Election Authority has guides and information for the various ways citizens living abroad can vote in September's election.
Minister salaries: Swedish government ministers are getting paid more from the start of July. The pay review, which is done every year by parliament's Ministerial Remunerations Board, means that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will now get paid 211,000 kronor a month (up from 204,000, a 3.4 percent raise). The other ministers' salaries have been raised to 166,500 kronor (from 161,000).
Events
Dansbandsveckan: If you want to really experience Swedish culture, consider visiting Dansbandsveckan, which takes place between July 12th and 18th this year at Malung, in Dalarna. This festival of the hugely popular Dansband genre attracts nearly 100,000 visitors over seven evenings, with six dance floors and 82 dance bands.
The festival will include dance classes, events and dances for all ages, cover bands in the park, and more.
Evening tickets are priced at 395 kronor and a weekly ticket costs 2,400 kronor. The tent stage events in Grönlandsparken are free during the day (from 11am-8pm) and 100 kronor from 8pm.
Classic Car Week: The long-running Classic Car Week event takes place in Rättvik each year around week 31, with the exact dates this year falling between July 24th and 30st. The week will include music, events for children, a vintage market, a demolition derby, classic car parade and much more.
Wristbands for the entire event cost 1,200 kronor for adults and 300 for children.
Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival: Jazz fans should head to Ystad in the south of Sweden this summer, where the city will be taken over by a family-friendly jazz festival between July 29th and August 2nd. You can find ticket information here. Children up to age 14 have free entry to most events, when accompanied by an adult guardian.
Pride: Stockholm Pride will take place between July 27th and August 1st this year. You can see a programme of events on the official website.
There are three-day or one-day tickets available at different prices for different days, and reduced price options for students, pensioners and young people aged 15-26 years. Children up to and including 14 years of age can come in free with a paying adult who is 18 years of age or older. Ticket information can be found here.
Not in Stockholm? Malmö Pride is from July 1st-4th, with the parade on the 4th. (Gothenburg celebrated in June). In the north of Sweden, Kalix Pride will be held from July 13th-19th and Timrå will celebrate on July 11th. (Luleå celebrates in August, while Umeå waits until late September, when all the students are back).