Swedish group urges exemption of doctorates from new visa rules

Changes to immigration law hinder international talent from coming to the country, says association

Doctoral students and researchers coming from abroad to Sweden should get an exception from the so-called maintenance requirement, which was added to the country’s Aliens Act last year.

If no exemption is made, Sweden risks suffering from increased brain-drain as international talent will struggle to fulfil minimum requirements for permanent residency, said the Swedish doctoral students committee (SFS-DK) and the SULF Doctoral Candidate Association (SULF-DCA). The two bodies issued a report on the issue last week, titled Aliens in Academia.