Sweden, once a nation known for welcoming refugees, has completed a decade-long overhaul of its migration policies, resulting in a significant hardening of its stance and upending the lives of individuals who believed they had established a secure future in the country. Recent cases highlight the dramatic consequences of these tightened regulations.

Raquel Viveira, a 31-year-old Brazilian national, received a deportation order earlier this month, just months after applying for permanent residency in Malmo. Despite completing Swedish language courses, establishing a sole trader business, and paying taxes, Viveira was given only days to leave. The migration agency cited a technicality: a change between cohabiting partner visas after a previous relationship ended.

Under Sweden's current migration framework, such a change was sufficient grounds for removal. Viveira, who stated she had “done nothing wrong,” was forced to book a flight back to Sao Paulo. She is now reapplying to return to Sweden, where her partner resides, but faces uncertainty about her future and the possibility of further removal even if she is allowed back, should family reunification laws tighten further.

Viveira's experience is not isolated. She runs an Instagram account documenting her struggles with Swedish bureaucracy, and a video detailing her situation has garnered nearly 300,000 views. She reports that many individuals, including white-collar workers, Swedish speakers, and spouses of citizens, have contacted her with similar stories of losing their residency status.

The shift in Sweden's migration policy follows a dramatic decrease in asylum applications. In 2015, when approximately 10,000 people per week arrived, fleeing conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Sweden had one of the highest per capita refugee inflows in Europe. This year, the number of asylum applications has plummeted from a peak of 163,000 annually to around 9,000.

This summer marks a convergence of three significant policy shifts. On June 12, Sweden opted for the strictest implementation of the EU's new Migration and Asylum Pact available to member states. Furthermore, a new law taking effect on July 12 will restrict all incoming asylum seekers to temporary residence permits, eliminating the previously available pathway to permanent residency.

These changes reflect a broader political trend in Sweden, where right-wing parties have gained influence. The potential for further tightening of immigration laws, particularly if right-wing forces strengthen in the upcoming general election, adds another layer of anxiety for individuals like Viveira, who expressed doubts about whether they would want to remain in Sweden under increasingly restrictive conditions.

The implications of these new regulations extend beyond individual cases, signaling a fundamental change in Sweden's approach to immigration and potentially impacting the country's social fabric and international image as a haven for those seeking refuge.