In a recent proposal, the Swedish government, alongside the Sweden Democrats (SD), announced that immigrants must live in Sweden for five years before being eligible for social welfare benefits. The announcement reflects ongoing debates about immigration and welfare systems. Elisabeth Svantesson, a member of the government, articulated that immigrants should not automatically access Sweden's welfare system from day one, suggesting a growing sentiment to reform how benefits are allocated based on residency duration.

In addition to the five-year residency requirement, immigrants who secure employment can qualify for social insurance benefits more quickly. Specifically, those who have a job for six months at a salary of 40,032 kronor, or those who have worked for 12 months in the last 24 with a minimum wage of 20,850 kronor, will be eligible for quicker access to benefits. The government argues that these changes are designed to incentivize timely employment among immigrants, aiming to facilitate their integration into the labor market.

This proposal is part of the government's broader reform of the welfare system, which they believe will help reduce dependency on social insurance among new arrivals. These measures come as part of a political landscape that has seen a rise in discussions about immigration policies and welfare access in Sweden, aimed at balancing support for residents while addressing public concerns about resource allocation and employment opportunities for immigrants.