Sweden assigns EU return-case age checks to Migration Agency

Sweden’s Migration Agency will become the designated authority for age assessments under the EU’s new return regulation from 6 November.

A government ordinance published Friday, signed by Migration Minister Johan Forssell, assigns the agency that role under Article 16. The provision concerns cases where there are doubts about whether a non-EU national in a return procedure is a minor.

Under the EU regulation, those doubts must arise from statements, documents or other relevant indications. Authorities may use an existing age assessment from an earlier return stage or another relevant procedure.

Refusing an assessment, including a medical examination, does not prevent the return procedure from continuing. But refusal can be treated only as a rebuttable presumption of adulthood, meaning it can be challenged with evidence.

The regulation also requires the child’s best interests to be a primary consideration.

The Swedish designation does not bring the entire EU return system into use on 6 November. Article 16 is among the provisions applying from 16 October 2026; most remaining provisions apply from 17 October 2027.

DailySweden

DailySweden's desk of editors, reporters, researchers and investigative journalists. We bring readers factual, truthful and objective reporting on the issues that matter to them.

Contact the editorial desk ›