With just days left before Sweden carries out the most radical citizenship reforms in years, an administrative backlog means 100,000 long-term residents are losing the race against time. The Local speaks with some of the applicants who are watching their future plans slip away as the government continues to rewrite immigration rules.
Feeling betrayed, disappointed but not surprised, and concerned that the rule of law is deteriorating in Sweden: here's how The Local's readers responded after a dramatic citizenship vote in the Swedish parliament.
Anna Metreveli, a Russian PhD student in sociolinguistics, had her application to switch to a new residence permit rejected on the grounds that she did not leave Sweden to reapply, which has left her education and her son's right to specialised education and healthcare in the country up in the air.
As the EU's Entry and Exit system (EES) comes into force, Italy’s international residents say they've found themselves waiting much longer at the border than tourists - despite being exempt.
The Local Sweden's editorial team held a live Q&A with members about Sweden's proposed changes to permanent residency status. We've pulled out some of the key questions and our team's responses.
Chandra and Vibha are one of many highly educated – and high-earning – working families reevaluating their commitment to Sweden in light of the government's plan to apply big citizenship rule changes even to those who applied years ago.
Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya's circular-system hydroponics startup was already providing locally-grown produce to a major grocery store in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, when his business visa was denied by the Swedish Migration Agency. He has now left Sweden.
Austria is embracing the digital world but many foreign residents still report having difficulties setting up or renewing their Austria ID. Here's what readers had to say.
At the start of 2026 France unveiled a new price structure for its national museums - including the Louvre and Versailles - that charges higher prices to non-EU visitors. Readers of The Local share their thoughts on this new law.
France has unrolled a new policy which involves charging higher prices to non-EU citizens to visit tourist attractions such as the Louvre and Versailles - and we want to hear your views on that.
Difficult immigration departments, tricky paperwork and language barriers: getting a residence permit in Austria is a feat for many foreigners. We've compiled readers' advice on how to navigate the system.
From securing digital ID to taking advantage of the public transport, here are the things that make life in Austria that bit more convenient for international residents living here – and what Austria could do better.
Dual-national American readers across Europe say they would give up their US passports to stay European if they were forced to, with many citing political disillusionment, fears for safety, and the feeling of belonging to their adopted country.
The festive period in Germany offers tradition, excitement and occasional chaos. So how do the country's foreign residents celebrate, and what do they really think about the highs and lows of the season?
If Germany's labour shortages are so bad, why do so many foreign skilled workers struggle to find work? We asked our readers to shed light on the mystery – and share the tips and tactics which worked for them.
Getting divorced or separating in Sweden is much simpler than in most readers' home countries, and men and women are treated much more equally, according to the readers who answered our survey. But not everyone welcomed these differences.
Travelling from Austria to Sweden by train for a work conference might not be the choice of many but Valéria Schörghofer-Queiroz decided to avoid flying and stay on the rails. Although her trip wasn't without its problems.
Stockholm or Skellefteå? Luleå or Lund? We asked our readers for their thoughts on the best place to live for foreigners in Sweden. Here’s what they said.
In the past year or so, the Migration Agency has rejected a whopping 99 percent of all requests to fast-track citizenship or permit decisions. But could submitting a so-called 'request to conclude' still help move your application to the top of the pile?
Francisca Leonardo, or Frankie, shares the story of how a major health scare, just a couple of years after arriving in Sweden from Canada, sparked a radical career change: from biotechnology to running her own, unique travel brand in Stockholm.
Sasan Kazemian, originally from Iran, has been in Sweden since 2021, speaks fluent Swedish, and currently works as a medical resident at Karolinska University Hospital after passing a test 90 percent of applicants fail. He’s also been issued with an order to leave the country.
Foreigners in Sweden spoke of frustration and despair after a de facto citizenship freeze added even more time to their long waits in the Migration Agency’s queue.
