Sweden on Thursday said it could no longer guarantee accommodation to asylum seekers.

Justice and Migration Minister, Morgan Johansson, said that future arrivals might have to decide whether to return to countries like Denmark or Germany or try to find housing on their own.

"We also have a limit for what we can handle," he added.

Sweden has seen a record influx of asylum seekers, with an estimated 40,000 people arrived in October alone.

Johansson said large numbers of people have transited from Germany where capacity is also stretched, tiring of waiting for approval there or unwilling to live in tents.

He also said that in addition to limited housing, Sweden's capacity to process asylum applications was stretched.

"It will soon be two years," he said, estimating the waiting time for a decision on asylum to come through.

Sweden, a country of almost 10 million people, has along with Germany and Austria, been among the top destinations in Europe for people fleeing conflict in countries like Syria and Iraq.

Meanwhile, the Migration Agency said it urgently needs 20,000 temporary places, and was preparing makeshift sleeping arrangements in some of its offices.

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