STOCKHOLM (AP) Sweden, already a top destination for Syrian refugees in Europe, is likely to see an even bigger flow after relaxing its immigration policy toward those fleeing the civil war.
The immigration authority on Tuesday said that going forward, the norm will be to grant permanent residency to Syrian asylum-seekers who make it to Sweden.
Previously, only about half of them got permanent residency, while the other half were given three-year permits.
The Migration Board said the change was based on a new assessment of the security situation in Syria as "extreme and marked by general violence."
Sweden stands out in Europe for its liberal immigration policies, and has received nearly 15,000 asylum-seekers from Syria since last year.
