The Russian invasion of Ukraine and other crises have reactivated national membership issues in the Baltic Sea region. This article analyses recent policy shifts in Sweden and Finland, highlighting a move toward increased conditionality and deportability. In both countries, migration is increasingly framed through security—linked to domestic crime, geopolitical tensions, and the threat from Russia. Sweden’s reforms include abolishing permanent residency for certain groups and introducing “good conduct” requirements, while Finland has enacted emergency border laws and proposed a number of restrictions that will make access to secure residency harder. The study underscores how securitization enables restrictive membership policies.