of stability. Such permits are to be renewable, providing the possibility of facilitated naturalization as
prescribed by Article 32 of the 1954 Convention.163
In certain limited circumstances, a State might have discretion to provide a residence status that is more
transitional in nature, where the person in question is able to acquire or reacquire a different nationality
through a simple, rapid, and non-discretionary procedure that is a mere formality or where the person
enjoys permanent residence status in a country of previous habitual residence to which immediate return
is possible.164
Following from the lack of a statelessness determination procedure in Sweden and of a status as stateless,
there exists no right of residence on the basis of being a stateless person. In other words, statelessness as
such is not a ground for granting a residence permit.
Stateless individuals who are granted international protection as refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary
protection are entitled to the residence permits attached to the respective status. The UNHCR Handbook
emphasizes that,
When an applicant raises both a refugee and a statelessness claim, it is important that each claim
is assessed and that both types of status are explicitly recognised. This is because protection
under the 1951 Refugee Convention generally gives rise to a greater set of rights at the national
level than that under the 1954 Convention.165
In sum, a stateless person will only be granted a residence permit in Sweden if he or she meets the conditions
for granting a residence permit on one of the grounds provided for in the Aliens Act.
163
UNHCR, Handbook, para. 148.
164
Ibid., para. 154. For more detail, see ibid. paras. 153-157.
165
Ibid., para. 78.
UNHCR STOCKHOLM, 2016
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