https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Long waits for appointments, burdensome bureaucracy and language barriers: applying for a residence permit can be a tricky business for foreigners in Germany. We asked readers to share their experience and their top tips. https://www.thelocal.com/20260210/you-need-patience-what-its-like-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-germany Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:26:01 +0100 you-need-patience-what-its-like-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-germany Anna Metreveli, a Russian PhD student in sociolinguistics, had her application to switch to a new residence permit rejected on the grounds that she did not leave Sweden to reapply, which has left her education and her son's right to specialised education and healthcare in the country up in the air. https://www.thelocal.com/20260420/phd-student-refused-swedish-permit-and-told-to-apply-from-abroad-despite-sons-disability Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:28:36 +0200 phd-student-refused-swedish-permit-and-told-to-apply-from-abroad-despite-sons-disability The Local Sweden's editorial team held a live Q&A with members about Sweden's proposed changes to permanent residency status. We've pulled out some of the key questions and our team's responses. https://www.thelocal.com/20260410/your-questions-answered-on-swedens-proposed-permanent-residency-changes Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:03:33 +0200 your-questions-answered-on-swedens-proposed-permanent-residency-changes Bureaucratic backlogs and rule changes on residency rights are having an increasing impact on the lives of foreigners living around Europe. Many say they have been left in legal limbo with their lives effectively on hold. https://www.thelocal.com/20260411/a-nightmare-lives-of-foreigners-across-europe-hit-by-residency-card-delays Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:53:39 +0200 a-nightmare-lives-of-foreigners-across-europe-hit-by-residency-card-delays The Centre for Justice has taken on Indian researcher Fahima Ayub Khan's migration court case, which her lawyer describes as "part of a much broader system failure" in Sweden. https://www.thelocal.com/20260409/we-are-not-bonded-labourers-university-researcher-fights-swedish-deportation-order Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:29:53 +0200 we-are-not-bonded-labourers-university-researcher-fights-swedish-deportation-order Sweden's government is pushing ahead with its plan to abolish permanent residency for many future applicants, including those on the basis of Long Term Residence (LTR), ignoring complaints that this would affect Swiss citizens and foreign researchers. https://www.thelocal.com/20260408/sweden-pushes-ahead-with-plan-to-abolish-permanent-residency Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:52:56 +0200 sweden-pushes-ahead-with-plan-to-abolish-permanent-residency Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson claims the issue of teen deportations affects only a few "individual cases". We know from our readers that it's more common than that, but statistics are hard to find. https://www.thelocal.com/20260402/in-data-how-many-teen-deportations-are-there-in-sweden Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:55:47 +0200 in-data-how-many-teen-deportations-are-there-in-sweden The Swedish government is moving forward with a bill to reject or revoke residency permits of foreigners who are not living up to its standards for good behaviour. https://www.thelocal.com/20260324/summer-2026-sweden-could-start-revoking-residence-permits-over-poor-conduct Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:35:19 +0100 summer-2026-sweden-could-start-revoking-residence-permits-over-poor-conduct Sweden's government has dropped plans to bring in compulsory language tests for those applying for permanent residency, a spokesperson for Migration Minister Johan Forssell has told The Local. https://www.thelocal.com/20260317/swedish-government-scraps-language-tests-for-permanent-residency Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:39:43 +0100 swedish-government-scraps-language-tests-for-permanent-residency Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya's circular-system hydroponics startup was already providing locally-grown produce to a major grocery store in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, when his business visa was denied by the Swedish Migration Agency. He has now left Sweden. https://www.thelocal.com/20260312/i-chose-my-mental-health-indian-entrepreneur-leaves-sweden-after-deportation-order Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:33:54 +0100 i-chose-my-mental-health-indian-entrepreneur-leaves-sweden-after-deportation-order Certain countries across Europe demand foreign citizens pass a language test to qualify for certain residency permits. But how does each country compare and what level of language do they require? https://www.thelocal.com/20260307/which-countries-in-europe-impose-language-tests-for-residency-permits Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:36:10 +0100 which-countries-in-europe-impose-language-tests-for-residency-permits Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson has called for the country’s controversial ‘teen deportations’ to be suspended with immediate effect until a solution has been found. https://www.thelocal.com/20260305/sweden-democrat-leader-calls-for-freeze-on-teen-deportations Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:10:52 +0100 sweden-democrat-leader-calls-for-freeze-on-teen-deportations Few positions are more central on Sweden’s political right than the one Fredrik Kopsch holds as chief economist at Timbro. But as he launches a new book on deportations, Utvisad, which calls for an amnesty for integrated foreigners, he says his liberal views feel increasingly at out of place. https://www.thelocal.com/20260305/does-sweden-need-an-integration-amnesty-to-stop-deportations Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:40:28 +0100 does-sweden-need-an-integration-amnesty-to-stop-deportations Douglas Thor, leader of the Moderate Party’s youth wing, raised the issue of unfair deportations long before it became a top political issue. He isn’t seeking credit – he wants a solution for those affected. https://www.thelocal.com/20260304/moderate-youth-leader-confident-of-solution-for-swedens-teen-deportations Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:58:30 +0100 moderate-youth-leader-confident-of-solution-for-swedens-teen-deportations A Swedish parliament committee on Tuesday as expected rejected a proposal to freeze deportations of young adults. https://www.thelocal.com/20260303/swedish-parliament-committee-set-to-debate-proposal-to-halt-teen-deportations Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:49:43 +0100 swedish-parliament-committee-set-to-debate-proposal-to-halt-teen-deportations If the government decides to go through with a proposal to convert permanent residence permits into temporary permits, the Migration Agency predicts that processing all cases would take eight years. https://www.thelocal.com/20260302/swedens-migration-agency-revoking-permanent-residency-could-take-eight-years Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:06:11 +0100 swedens-migration-agency-revoking-permanent-residency-could-take-eight-years The EU hands out thousands of Blue Cards to highly-skilled third country nationals each year, according to the latest figures. But which nationalities receive the most and which EU country gives out the most? https://www.thelocal.com/20260204/which-nationalities-get-the-most-eu-blue-cards-and-where-do-they-go Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:56:51 +0100 which-nationalities-get-the-most-eu-blue-cards-and-where-do-they-go Difficult immigration departments, tricky paperwork and language barriers: getting a residence permit in Austria is a feat for many foreigners. We've compiled readers' advice on how to navigate the system. https://www.thelocal.com/20260112/learn-german-the-best-advice-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:41:11 +0100 learn-german-the-best-advice-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria It’s been five years since the end of the post-Brexit transition period and for many British citizens living in the EU this means 2026 will be the time to upgrade to a permanent residence card. But what happens if you forget or leave it late to apply? https://www.thelocal.com/20260102/dont-miss-out-why-brits-in-europe-should-upgrade-their-post-brexit-residence-permits Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:23:16 +0100 dont-miss-out-why-brits-in-europe-should-upgrade-their-post-brexit-residence-permits As a foreigner in Germany the rights you’re afforded, and the hoops you need to jump through, are determined by your residency or citizenship status. One common question that comes up is the differences between them. Here's an overview. https://www.thelocal.com/20250710/whats-the-difference-between-german-citizenship-and-residency Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:25:06 +0200 whats-the-difference-between-german-citizenship-and-residency