FALCON POWERS – On May 2, 2024, the Swedish Parliament approved a new law that prohibits the travel of children with migrant backgrounds to their countries of origin for the purpose of upbringing. Children under the age of 18 may be prevented from traveling outside Sweden if there is a tangible risk to their health or development, according to the new legislation. Previously, the laws applied only in cases where there was a risk of forced circumcision or child marriage. With the approval of the new law in the Swedish Parliament, the travel ban for children will extend to travel for the purpose of upbringing, which involves sending children to their original countries to learn the customs and traditions of those nations. Travel aimed at changing the children’s nationality or involving their inclusion in religious educational organizations that may be associated with extremist, terrorist, or criminal activities can also be banned.
Until now, the procedure involved the Social Affairs Committee in municipalities submitting a request to the Administrative Court for approval of a travel ban. This was only done if they believed there was a risk of the child being subjected to child marriage or circumcision. However, the scope of suspicion and doubt will now be expanded, if there is suspicion that the family plans to move their children outside Sweden for upbringing in their countries of origin. A swift court decision will be made to impose the travel ban, and the police will invalidate the child’s passport, making it impossible to obtain a new one. A preventive inspection order may also be issued to prevent travel using a foreign passport or the child’s country of origin passport for the child and their family.
It is worth noting that this new law will come into effect on June 1, 2024.
