Sweden’s political parties have agreed that dual citizens who commit crimes threatening national security should lose their Swedish citizenship, signaling a major policy shift in the country’s approach to public safety and immigration.
A cross-party committee recommended revoking citizenship for individuals who obtained it through bribery or false information, or who committed crimes classified as threats to the state or under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. However, the committee rejected a proposal by the minority government to include gang-related criminals.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer pointed to challenges posed by violent extremism, hostile foreign state activities, and organized crime as pressing concerns. He noted that the proposed measures do not address the activities of gang leaders directing violence from abroad, calling this a significant limitation of the plan.
Centre-left opposition parties criticized the proposal to revoke citizenship for gang-related crimes, citing difficulties in defining legal boundaries. The Left Party and the Greens opposed revoking citizenship entirely, warning against its ethical and legal implications.
Support for tougher measures comes from the centre-right governing coalition and the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. Rising gang violence and gun killings have prompted calls for stricter laws, with proponents citing Denmark’s example, where citizenship can be revoked for acts deemed seriously harmful to state interests, including some gang crimes.
Sweden is also planning stricter rules for new citizens. Migration Minister Johan Forssell revealed that police flagged 600 cases last year of individuals applying for citizenship while being considered threats to national security. From June 2026, applicants will need to have lived in Sweden for eight years instead of the current five and pass tests on the Swedish language and society.
Forssell stated that obtaining citizenship has been “far too easy” and should carry greater significance. He added that Sweden must uphold values such as gender equality, stating, “Girls and boys have the right to swim and play football. If you don’t accept that, Sweden is not the country for you.”
The Sweden Democrats have called for even stricter measures, such as requiring a loyalty declaration from new citizens, but this was not included in the committee’s recommendations. Inquiry author Kirsti Laakso Utvik noted that the proposed reforms would align Sweden with citizenship laws in other European countries.
