Becky Waterton
@beckywaterton.bsky.social
Deputy Editor, The Local Sweden | British journalist in Malmö | Posts in English and sometimes Swedish or Danish
Reposted by Becky Waterton
OPINION: Our immigrant takeover of Sweden is progressing nicely
OPINION: Our immigrant takeover of Sweden is progressing nicely
A recently published Migration Map seeks to alert the indigenous population to the purported replacement of Swedes by immigrants. Richard Orange – a replacer and father of two more replacers – reports that the typical native nonetheless remains unaware of the extent of our progress.
www.thelocal.se
November 11, 2025 at 10:21 AM
OPINION: Our immigrant takeover of Sweden is progressing nicely
Reposted by Becky Waterton
Swedish migration minister called to testify to parliament about relative's white supremacism links
Swedish migration minister called to testify to parliament about relative's white supremacism links
Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell has been called to appear in front of a parliament committee to answer questions about his close relative’s links to white power extremism.
www.thelocal.com
July 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Swedish migration minister called to testify to parliament about relative's white supremacism links
Currently stuck in citizenship limbo myself – Migrationsverket has my permanent residence card but sent my passport back (usually a sign your application will be granted), but I'm not sure I can leave the country without it. Waiting to book flights to visit family in the UK until this is resolved.
Migrationsverket har inte kunnat utfärda vanliga medborgarskap på *över en månad*. Vågar påstå att om det hade varit Transportstyrelsen som inte utfärdat nya körkort, eller polisen som inte utfärdat pass till svenskar som vill åka till Thailand, hade det varit allt annat än tystnad i svenska medier.
Sweden's citizenship moratorium is now in effect.
1. @thelocalsweden.bsky.social broke this story yesterday after obtaining not-yet-released data from the Migration Agency. This should be grabbing headlines in Swedish media because it's honestly a bombshell story. www.thelocal.se/20250514/swe...
1. @thelocalsweden.bsky.social broke this story yesterday after obtaining not-yet-released data from the Migration Agency. This should be grabbing headlines in Swedish media because it's honestly a bombshell story. www.thelocal.se/20250514/swe...
May 19, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Currently stuck in citizenship limbo myself – Migrationsverket has my permanent residence card but sent my passport back (usually a sign your application will be granted), but I'm not sure I can leave the country without it. Waiting to book flights to visit family in the UK until this is resolved.
Reposted by Becky Waterton
Migrationsverket har inte kunnat utfärda vanliga medborgarskap på *över en månad*. Vågar påstå att om det hade varit Transportstyrelsen som inte utfärdat nya körkort, eller polisen som inte utfärdat pass till svenskar som vill åka till Thailand, hade det varit allt annat än tystnad i svenska medier.
Sweden's citizenship moratorium is now in effect.
1. @thelocalsweden.bsky.social broke this story yesterday after obtaining not-yet-released data from the Migration Agency. This should be grabbing headlines in Swedish media because it's honestly a bombshell story. www.thelocal.se/20250514/swe...
1. @thelocalsweden.bsky.social broke this story yesterday after obtaining not-yet-released data from the Migration Agency. This should be grabbing headlines in Swedish media because it's honestly a bombshell story. www.thelocal.se/20250514/swe...
Sweden's security checks force Migration Agency to halt approvals of citizenship applications
Sweden's processing rate of new citizenships has more than halved after new security checks were introduced, with the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) unable to approve applications in standard cas...
www.thelocal.se
May 19, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Migrationsverket har inte kunnat utfärda vanliga medborgarskap på *över en månad*. Vågar påstå att om det hade varit Transportstyrelsen som inte utfärdat nya körkort, eller polisen som inte utfärdat pass till svenskar som vill åka till Thailand, hade det varit allt annat än tystnad i svenska medier.
I might be biased, as someone in the final stages of a Swedish citizenship application, but this is pretty shocking. The Migration Agency has been *unable to process* standard citizenship applications for over a month due to new security checks: www.thelocal.se/20250514/swe...
Sweden's security checks force Migration Agency to halt approvals of citizenship applications
Sweden's processing rate of new citizenships has more than halved after new security checks were introduced, with the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) unable to approve applications in standard cas...
www.thelocal.se
May 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I might be biased, as someone in the final stages of a Swedish citizenship application, but this is pretty shocking. The Migration Agency has been *unable to process* standard citizenship applications for over a month due to new security checks: www.thelocal.se/20250514/swe...
There's been a lot of citizenship news in Sweden this week, but one of my favourite non-citizenship related articles in the past few days is this one about Gary, based near Gothenburg, who is realising his childhood dream of opening a vintage fairground. www.thelocal.se/20250116/my-...
My Swedish Career: British Gary dreams of opening a vintage fairground in Sweden
Gary Rivers and his wife Cecilia seem like an average Swedish family on the surface, with two young children and a house in a small town outside Gothenburg. But they have an unusual hobby – they spend...
www.thelocal.se
January 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
There's been a lot of citizenship news in Sweden this week, but one of my favourite non-citizenship related articles in the past few days is this one about Gary, based near Gothenburg, who is realising his childhood dream of opening a vintage fairground. www.thelocal.se/20250116/my-...
För de flesta som läser svenska medier är detta inget mer än ännu en nyhet om migrationspolitiken. För våra läsare – många av dem det högkvalitativt arbetskraft som regeringen så gärna vill attrahera – kan det vara det som gör att de väljer att stanna i Sverige eller flytta någon annanstans.
Den bästa bevakningen, ingen konkurrens, av de tuffare svenska medborgarskapsreglerna får man hos @thelocalsweden.bsky.social just nu. Nyheter, intervjuer, analyser, läsarengagemang: www.thelocal.se/tag/swedish-...
Swedish citizenship
News, information and practical advice about Swedish citizenship.
www.thelocal.se
January 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
För de flesta som läser svenska medier är detta inget mer än ännu en nyhet om migrationspolitiken. För våra läsare – många av dem det högkvalitativt arbetskraft som regeringen så gärna vill attrahera – kan det vara det som gör att de väljer att stanna i Sverige eller flytta någon annanstans.
A major inquiry into reforming Swedish citizenship law presented its findings today, proposing among other things that the residency requirement be extended to 8 years (currently 3-5) and doubling the application fee. We've written up some of the key points: www.thelocal.se/20250114/key...
KEY POINTS: Sweden's plans for tougher citizenship rules
A major inquiry into tightening the requirements for Swedish citizenship presented its final report to the government on Tuesday, January 14th. But what do those plans entail?
www.thelocal.se
January 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
A major inquiry into reforming Swedish citizenship law presented its findings today, proposing among other things that the residency requirement be extended to 8 years (currently 3-5) and doubling the application fee. We've written up some of the key points: www.thelocal.se/20250114/key...
Det koster allerede 300 (svenske) kronor for os som bor i Malmö at købe en 24-timers billet over til København. Det er en af de dyreste toglinjer i Europa målt i pris/km. Er det ikke dyrt nok?
December 20, 2024 at 8:02 AM
Det koster allerede 300 (svenske) kronor for os som bor i Malmö at købe en 24-timers billet over til København. Det er en af de dyreste toglinjer i Europa målt i pris/km. Er det ikke dyrt nok?
For someone who has so many opinions on Swedish citizenship, Jimmie Åkesson doesn't seem to know much about how it works. You can't get Swedish citizenship just by being born in Sweden. Surprised that no one at Aftonbladet fact-checked that. www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/5E...
December 18, 2024 at 2:26 PM
For someone who has so many opinions on Swedish citizenship, Jimmie Åkesson doesn't seem to know much about how it works. You can't get Swedish citizenship just by being born in Sweden. Surprised that no one at Aftonbladet fact-checked that. www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/5E...
Vad menade ens Jimmie Åkesson med detta? Man får bara svensk medborgarskap vid födseln om man har (minst) en svensk förälder. Annars ska man vänta minst tre år för att kunna ansöka. Han tycker mycket om medborgarskap, men vet han inte hur det funkar? www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/5E...
December 18, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Vad menade ens Jimmie Åkesson med detta? Man får bara svensk medborgarskap vid födseln om man har (minst) en svensk förälder. Annars ska man vänta minst tre år för att kunna ansöka. Han tycker mycket om medborgarskap, men vet han inte hur det funkar? www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/5E...
Reposted by Becky Waterton
Äntligen börjar de större svenska tidningarna ta tag i Tidöpartiernas utspel om att pausa nya svenska medborgarskap. The Local har hårdbevakat frågan ända sedan den först lyftes. @thelocalsweden.bsky.social
Äntligen sågas Tidöpartiledarnas hårresande utspel om att runda lagen.
Äntligen sågas regeringens löfte om att stoppa medborgarskap
Regeringen står inte över grundlagen, påpekar ledande jurister i upprörd debattartikel i dag. Äntligen en reaktion på Tidöpartiernas hårresande utspel om att r
www.aftonbladet.se
December 16, 2024 at 12:21 PM
Äntligen börjar de större svenska tidningarna ta tag i Tidöpartiernas utspel om att pausa nya svenska medborgarskap. The Local har hårdbevakat frågan ända sedan den först lyftes. @thelocalsweden.bsky.social
Very cool to be included on Dagens Media’s list of the next top names in the Swedish media industry yesterday! And very thankful that I have a great editor who wrote such nice things about me in the nomination 😊 @emmalofgren.bsky.social
Min fantastiska kollega @beckywaterton.bsky.social finns med på Dagens Medias lista över "de personer som spås bli medievärldens nästa toppnamn." Kul och mycket välförtjänt!
December 13, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Very cool to be included on Dagens Media’s list of the next top names in the Swedish media industry yesterday! And very thankful that I have a great editor who wrote such nice things about me in the nomination 😊 @emmalofgren.bsky.social
Reposted by Becky Waterton
FACT CHECK: Did a Swedish company really tell staff not to say Merry Christmas?
FACT CHECK: Did a Swedish company really tell staff not to say Merry Christmas?
There was predictable outrage in Sweden after it was reported that the steel company SSAB had advised employees not to use the 'god jul' Christmas greeting to avoid excluding non-Christians. But did it really?
www.thelocal.se
December 10, 2024 at 3:57 PM
FACT CHECK: Did a Swedish company really tell staff not to say Merry Christmas?
When the gov and SD confirmed that they would actively delay citizenship applications until new rules are in place, it made me angry. Not just because I have a pending application myself, but also because yet again they've moved the goalposts for those of us who have uprooted our lives to come here.
OPINION: Foreigners in Sweden deserve fair and transparent citizenship rules
OPINION: Foreigners in Sweden deserve fair and transparent citizenship rules
The Local's Becky Waterton fulfilled all the requirements when she applied for Swedish citizenship back in September. Now, she wonders if she'll qualify at all by the time her application is processed – and she's not the only one.
www.thelocal.se
December 2, 2024 at 1:58 PM
When the gov and SD confirmed that they would actively delay citizenship applications until new rules are in place, it made me angry. Not just because I have a pending application myself, but also because yet again they've moved the goalposts for those of us who have uprooted our lives to come here.
So happy Polish PM Donald Tusk went for a row in Sweden's prime ministerial rowing boat this week (with the Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson and his dog) so I could revive this article!
When Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at his official country residence this week, the two were seen taking to the water in a rowing boat. But they weren't the first to do so. Here's the history of the Harpsund boat.
IN PICTURES: The history of Sweden's prime ministerial rowing boat
When Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at his official country residence this week, the two were seen taking to the water in a rowing boat. But they weren't the first to do so. Here's the history of the…
www.thelocal.se
November 28, 2024 at 2:37 PM
So happy Polish PM Donald Tusk went for a row in Sweden's prime ministerial rowing boat this week (with the Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson and his dog) so I could revive this article!
Over 230 of our readers answered our survey on Busch/Åkesson's suggestions to delay or pause citizenship applications. Not only did people say it was unfair to people who have already applied, but they also said it would damage Swedish competitiveness. www.thelocal.se/20241126/unf...
'Unfair and pointless': Call for moratorium on Swedish citizenship causes anger
Recent calls for Swedish citizenship applications to be delayed or even paused completely until the government can tighten up the rules have been met with anger and concern by readers of The Local.
www.thelocal.se
November 27, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Over 230 of our readers answered our survey on Busch/Åkesson's suggestions to delay or pause citizenship applications. Not only did people say it was unfair to people who have already applied, but they also said it would damage Swedish competitiveness. www.thelocal.se/20241126/unf...
Does Ebba Busch actually have any idea how long it takes to get Swedish citizenship? I'm waiting for my application to be approved and there are others in the citizenship applicants' Facebook groups and subreddits who have been waiting as long as five years. How much slower can the tempo be?
Ebba Busch vill att Migrationsverket ska dra ner på tempot i utfärdandet av nya medborgarskap. Fakta: Av nyligen avslutade ärenden fick 75% beslut inom 31 månader. Det pågår en JO-granskning av de långa handläggningstiderna. www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/5E...
Ebba Busch vill se över invandrares rösträtt
Ebba Busch vill dra i bromsen för nya medborgarskap innan hårdare krav för medborgarskap införts. Vice statsministern vill också se över reglerna för invandrares rätt att rösta i allmänna val. – Vi ti...
www.aftonbladet.se
November 20, 2024 at 10:31 AM
Does Ebba Busch actually have any idea how long it takes to get Swedish citizenship? I'm waiting for my application to be approved and there are others in the citizenship applicants' Facebook groups and subreddits who have been waiting as long as five years. How much slower can the tempo be?
I cannot confirm or deny that this word of the day was inspired by me getting the 1992 classic tune Sommaren i city stuck in my head for hours on end
City is yet another English loanword in Swedish which the Swedes don’t use in quite the same way as English-speakers do.
Swedish word of the day: city
City is yet another English loanword in Swedish which the Swedes don’t use in quite the same way as English-speakers do.
www.thelocal.se
November 19, 2024 at 2:50 PM
I cannot confirm or deny that this word of the day was inspired by me getting the 1992 classic tune Sommaren i city stuck in my head for hours on end
I hope the twenty millionth user got a little pop-up congratulating them!
November 19, 2024 at 1:59 PM
I hope the twenty millionth user got a little pop-up congratulating them!
Very fun to watch this counter of Bluesky users in real time getting closer and closer to 20 million!! bcounter.nat.vg
Bcounter
Almost-real-time Bluesky user count
bcounter.nat.vg
November 19, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Very fun to watch this counter of Bluesky users in real time getting closer and closer to 20 million!! bcounter.nat.vg
Reposted by Becky Waterton
👋 A fast-growing list of The Local’s journalists & official newsroom accounts from nine European countries. Get all the latest must-know info, news & analysis for interested observers & clued-in foreigners in #Austria, #Denmark, #France, #Germany, #Italy, #Norway, #Spain, #Sweden & #Switzerland. ⬇️
November 18, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Reposted by Becky Waterton
The Locals Sweden in Focus podcast firar 100 avsnitt! Det är alltid så roligt och givande att spela in podden med Paul O'Mahony, @jamessavage.bsky.social, @beckywaterton.bsky.social och @richardorange.bsky.social. Kul att lyssnarna uppskattar den också! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Paul O'Mahony on LinkedIn: Sweden in Focus is 100 episodes old!
In the pre-Christmas rush I mi...
Sweden in Focus is 100 episodes old!
In the pre-Christmas rush I missed that we reached a new milestone yesterday. When we started doing this podcast we…
www.linkedin.com
December 22, 2023 at 11:24 AM
The Locals Sweden in Focus podcast firar 100 avsnitt! Det är alltid så roligt och givande att spela in podden med Paul O'Mahony, @jamessavage.bsky.social, @beckywaterton.bsky.social och @richardorange.bsky.social. Kul att lyssnarna uppskattar den också! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Last week I was asking the Swedish prime minister about the budget. This week I am *checks notes* writing personality tests based on your favourite cinnamon bun. Never a dull moment! www.thelocal.se/20231004/swe...
Swedish personality test: What does your cinnamon bun say about you?
October 4th is Cinnamon Bun Day in Sweden, but what does your choice of cinnamon bun say about you?
www.thelocal.se
October 4, 2023 at 11:37 AM
Last week I was asking the Swedish prime minister about the budget. This week I am *checks notes* writing personality tests based on your favourite cinnamon bun. Never a dull moment! www.thelocal.se/20231004/swe...
Reposted by Becky Waterton
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson blames gang crime on failed integration. Meanwhile, his government this month decided to completely scrap funding for ethnic associations, which is one of the things research suggests HELPS integration. www.thelocal.se/20220902/six...
Six things Sweden's politicians get wrong about segregation
As a scholar of integration and an immigrant, Stockholm University associate professor Andrea Voyer is disheartened to see the Social Democrats take positions on integration that are inaccurate and co...
www.thelocal.se
September 29, 2023 at 4:43 AM
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson blames gang crime on failed integration. Meanwhile, his government this month decided to completely scrap funding for ethnic associations, which is one of the things research suggests HELPS integration. www.thelocal.se/20220902/six...