There has been a notable shift in permanent residence policies, with European countries placing increasing emphasis on integration requirements. In their article, Mariann Stærkebye Leirvik, Tone Maia Liodden & Helga Eggebø focuses on monetary requirements by exploring how immigrants perceive the income requirement for permanent residence through 29 interviews conducted with a diverse group of immigrants in Norway. A striking finding in their material is that most interviewees view the income requirement as unjust or illegitimate, and rather than providing motivation, it instead adds an extra layer of concern. Additionally, the requirement fosters a sense of being less valued compared to the majority population and of being unwanted. Although most interviewees are against the income requirement, suggesting that class has no explanatory value for understanding the legal consciousness of the participants, Leirvik et.al. identified at least three distinct narratives within their opposition that appear to be class-based. Thus, the authors advocate for ‘bringing class back in’ to legal consciousness studies.
Read the article here https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2025.2509670
Foto: Karoline O.A. Pettersen for REMIMO