Last time I wrote Inside Sweden a few weeks ago, I wrote about how applying for permanent residency doesn’t feel all that permanent. 

Just this week, I had that feeling again, when the government announced new plans to limit family reunification permits – the exact type of permit I’m on. The new plans wouldn’t just tighten up the rules for people moving to Sweden to join those here on their own permits, but also people moving to join Swedish citizens. 

I couldn’t help but be struck again by the paradox of a government which says it is trying to attract international talent, while openly saying that it wants to “reduce the number of approved residence permits”.

It’s a bit of an odd invitation. ‘Come and live here! But also not too many of you at once, and we want to make it harder for your family to join you.’ Not to mention all the plans to tighten up applications for permanent residency, citizenship and work permits in the future.

The Local’s Paul O’Mahony, who those of you who listen to the podcast will be familiar with, has been interviewing experts on the Swedish labour market about this, and they said much the same thing – a clampdown on immigration risks alienating the very people the country needs. One of the experts Paul spoke to was Stina Lantz, the CEO of Swedish Incubators and Science Parks (SISP).

She described it as a “war on talent ongoing in all of Europe”, which Sweden risks losing. As other countries introduce tax relief schemes and special visas targeted at startup founders, Sweden expects them to pay competitive salaries from the get-go, which can make it impossible for these startups to survive.

Another, Lena Rekdal, the founder of immigration and relocation company Nimmersion, was convinced that this migration policy could damage Sweden’s reputation among international jobseekers permanently.

You can read that article here and there will be a series of three interviews on the topic in our Sweden in Focus podcast published over the next few weeks.

In other news

Swedish inflation figures dropped below 2 percent for the first time since December 2020, which means inflation in the country is now officially below the central bank’s target.

We took a look at what that could mean for foreigners living in Sweden, as well as the knock-on effects of low inflation on the Swedish property market.

For any of you planning a trip in the Swedish countryside this summer, we’ve looked at where the most dangerous wildlife is in Sweden (and what you should do if you encounter it) as well as some common mistakes you might make when camping in Swedish nature.

We also published this list of festivals coming up over the next few months, if you need some summer inspiration, and the rules for buying and selling tickets and avoiding scams.

Finally, will you be watching the Euros final on Sunday? Here’s how to watch it in Sweden.

Inside Sweden is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It’s published each Saturday and with Membership+ you can also receive it directly to your inbox.