Deportation of 18-year-olds makes Sweden less attractive to leading researchers

The problem that people who have turned 18 are expected to stand on their own two feet and can therefore be deported even if their parents have residence permits also impacts families where one or both parents are highly qualified. There is a great danger that Sweden will not be an option for leading international researchers or that those who are here will leave the country when it becomes clear that their children will not be allowed to stay after their 18th birthday. The current regulations thus also counteract the government's stated ambition to make Sweden more attractive to researchers and other highly skilled workers.

This applies particularly to people who have residence permits for doctoral studies, researchers and holders of an EU Blue Card, (a permit granted to people in highly skilled jobs who earn at least SEK 52,000 per month). Under the current rules, unlike others who have come to Sweden to work, (and who can bring children up to the age of 21), the children of people in these situations are only granted residence permits if they are under the age of 18. The problem remains even if the parents have been granted permanent residence. The government has proposed making it easier for highly skilled individuals to obtain permanent residence permits in order to make Sweden more attractive, but this ambition will be thwarted if these people’s children are deported as soon as they turn 18 or are not allowed to accompany them to Sweden.

SULF has therefore demanded that a general age limit of 21 be introduced, which would also mean that the same age limit would apply to these individuals as to EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens working in Sweden.