Sweden

UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries covers Sweden, as well as Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway. The office is located in Stockholm and maintains liaison offices in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Sweden is a longstanding and reliable partner to UNHCR both in terms of funding and policy priorities. Sweden has a well-established asylum and reception system, a lasting commitment to refugee resettlement and comprehensive integration efforts. Sweden’s unearmarked funding has enabled UNHCR to maintain its presence and activities in some of the world’s most urgent and overlooked crises.

UNHCR’s works closely with Swedish authorities, civil society and other actors in implementing legal instruments related to asylum and statelessness, strengthening capacity in areas of asylum, reception, and integration, and ensuring that all people of concern to UNHCR in the region enjoy access to their rights in these areas.

In Sweden, UNHCR advocates for preservation of legal safeguards amid tightening asylum and family reunification procedures, as well as supports capacity development of all relevant stakeholders. UNHCR also advocates for refugee inclusion in integration policies and supports several municipality pilots on community sponsorship, aimed at enhancing refugee integration through local volunteer engagement.