legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR PERSONS UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTION
Introduction/legal basis
According to Chapter 2 Section 4a of the Aliens Act, the Government may order that a group of
asylum seekers be given temporary residence permits, if their need for protection is considered to be
temporary. This may concern, for example, persons coming from a state or a region where there is
an armed conflict or a crisis of a particularly serious nature.
By ordinance published on 15 April 1999, the Swedish authorities granted temporary protection to
Kosovo Albanians for an 11-month period expiring on 30 April 2000. This was not renewed or
extended after this date and at the time of writing (May 2000) Kosovo Albanians must either
repatriate or apply for asylum in Sweden.
Kosovo Albanians granted temporary protection were not given full access to the Swedish social
security system.
Accommodation and financial assistance
No special accommodation centre was opened for Kosovo Albanians, who were free to decide
whether they wanted to stay in a normal residence centre or with family members or friends outside
the centres.
However, financial assistance, the amount of which was the same as for asylum seekers, was only
granted to those staying in residence centres.
Freedom of movement
Work
Persons under temporary protection are free to travel within Sweden.
As is the case with asylum seekers, persons under temporary protection are not automatically
allowed to work, but must submit a specific request for a work permit.
Language tuition
Persons under temporary protection must take part in organised activities, consisting of 20 hours of
Swedish lessons every week, combined with other activities.
Only Kosovo Albanians living in the residence centres were asked to attend the organised activities.
School attendance
The same rules apply as for asylum seekers.
Repatriation
Kosovo Albanians who repatriate are entitled to receive a maximum amount of 5,000 SEK [EUR
600] per person and 30,000 SEK [EUR 3,600] per family. In addition, one member of each Kosovo
Albanian family living in Sweden may apply for an allowance to cover the costs of a return plane
ticket for a “go-and-see” visit to Kosovo.
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Sweden