Sweden Proposes End to Asylum Seekers' Right to Choose Housing, Abolishing EBO Law

Sweden is set to overhaul its asylum housing policy with a new legislative proposal aiming to abolish the longstanding EBO law, which since the mid-1990s has allowed asylum seekers to choose their place of residence upon arrival. The Migration Minister Johan Forssell has introduced the proposal that mandates asylum seekers to live in accommodations assigned to them by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).

Under the proposed law, asylum seekers will no longer have the freedom to select their housing location but must reside in specified accommodations and remain within the region where these are located. They will also be subject to attendance checks and reporting obligations to ensure compliance. According to the proposal, failure to adhere to these requirements could result in the loss of social benefits and even the withdrawal of their asylum application.

The legislative change targets both asylum applicants broadly and those under the EU's mass displacement directive, including groups such as Ukrainians. The government cites concerns over social exclusion, segregation, and overcrowding linked to the EBO law, as well as an alarming number of asylum seekers who have gone missing during the process, as reasons for the reform.

This significant policy shift is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026. It represents a move toward stricter control over asylum seekers' residency to better manage integration and monitor the asylum process in Sweden. The proposal reflects an intention to address social challenges currently attributed to the freedom of residence under the EBO law.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell highlighted that the EBO law has led to negative consequences for social cohesion in Sweden. He also pointed out that assigning accommodations and imposing regional residence obligations could reduce instances of asylum seekers disappearing during the application procedure.

As this legislation emerges, it will reshape the housing rights and mobility of asylum seekers in Sweden, marking a departure from decades of policy regarding asylum accommodations.