Residence Permit Based on Family Ties

It applies to persons who want to:

• live with his/her spouse or partner
• reunite with parent/s (for children who are below 18 years old)
• reunite with other close relatives (including adult children) who have previously shared household with the person in Sweden.

The reference person must be a Swedish citizen or have a permanent residence permit in Sweden and must be living in Sweden.

How to apply?

The applicant must submit the application in person to the Embassy of Sweden or to one of the Consulates of Sweden in India, Nepal or Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan citizens can submit their applications to the Consulate General of Sweden in Colombo.

Nepalese citizens can submit their application to the Consulate General of Sweden in Kathmandu.

All children must come personally to the Embassy/Consulate when submitting their applications.

What is the application fee?

see: Application fees for residence/work permits

Application fee must be paid at the time of submitting the application.

Procedure at the Embassy

After receiving the complete application, the Embassy will inform the applicant if he/she needs to come to the Embassy for an interview before the application is submitted to the Migration Board of Sweden.

When a person applies for a residence/work permit abroad, a photo and finger prints are normally taken when the application is submitted or, when an interview is conducted. Photos and finger prints can also be submitted after a decision on a residence/work permit has been made.

Procedure at the Migration Board

The Migration Board may ask for supplementary information or for an interview from the applicant through the Embassy. The reference person in Sweden will receive a questionnaire to complete and to send back to the Migration Board and in some cases the Migration Board will conduct an interview with the reference person in Sweden.

The applicant will normally receive the decision from the Migration Board within six months after the submission of a complete application. It may take longer in case additional information or/and documents are needed.

What documents are required?

NOTE:

• All documents should be submitted in two copies.
• The applicant must be able to show the original of a document at the time of giving in the application. 
• The application and the questionnaire must be fully completed in English or Swedish! 
• The Embassy will not perform any translations.
• Two [2] photographs of passport style and size [35 x 45 mm] for all applicants, including minors must be submitted with the application. Your photograph must be:
  – colour photo
  – recent and of true likeness
  – showing full face
  – taken without headgear
  – head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face
  – taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background. Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing the application.

If you are married, cohabiting with a person living in Sweden (with accompanying children) you should submit:

• Application for residence permit to settle in Sweden in English or Swedish
• Application for residence permit for children under 18 year in English or Swedish
• Questionnaire form for persons who are married persons/common law spouses and accompanying children in English or Swedish (T92)

Official marriage:

• Marriage registration certificate. If the certificate is not in English/Swedish it should be translated to English and stamped by a public notary
• Birth certificate or school/college certificate as proof of birth
• Consumer card/ration card or electoral voters card
• Familjebevis - an extract from the Swedish population register for the reference person. The reference person orders this form from the Swedish National Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and it cannot be older than three months. This extract must show the registered marriage
• Divorce certificate, if applicable
• Custody certificate, if applicable
• Death certificate, if applicable
• Valid passport or other travel document and a copy of its identification pages 1, 2 and last.
• Application fee

For common law spouses:

• A confirmation that the applicant and the reference person in Sweden were registered at the same address outside of Sweden.
• If the cohabitation took place in Sweden, the applicant should submit a civil registration certificate showing that the applicant is entered in the Swedish population registry at the address of the reference person and if possible show documents that prove that the applicant has also lived there
• Divorce certificate, if applicable
• Custody certificate, if applicable
• Death certificate, if applicable
• Valid passport or other travel document and a copy of its identification pages 1, 2 and last
• Application fee

For accompanying children under 18 years (additionally):

• Birth certificate
• if a child is entered in the passport of his parent, a copy of the parent’s passport (identification page and a page with child’s personal particulars) is required
• Written consent (for permanent residence) stamped by a notary public from parents or legal guardian not applying together the child. Proof of ID showing signature of giver of consent.

If you are planning to marry of cohabit with a person living in Sweden (with accompanying children) you should submit:

• Application for residence permit to settle in Sweden in English or Swedish
• Application for residence permit for children under 18 year in English or Swedish
• Questionnaire form for persons who are planning to marry or cohabit and their accompanying children in English or Swedish (T 91)

and also:

• Familjebevis - an extract from the Swedish population register for the reference person. The reference person orders this form from the Swedish National Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and it cannot be older than three months
• Divorce certificate and copies from earlier marriages (if any)
• Passport or other travel document and a copy of its identification page
• Other documents which may prove the seriousness of the relationship (photographs, e-mail, telephone bills etc.)
• Application fee

For accompanying children under 18 years (additionally):

• The original and a two copies of a birth certificate of a child
• If a child is entered in the passport of his parent, a copy of his passport (identification page and a page with child’s personal particulars) is required
• The original and a copy of a written consent (for permanent residence) stamped by a notary public from both parents (one of the parents) or the legal guardian of the child.

If you are a minor applying for residence permit and wish to take up a residence with a parents living in Sweden:

• Application for residence permit for children under 18 year in English or Swedish
• Questionnaire form for minors with parents in Sweden in English or Swedish

and also:

• Familjebevis - an extract from the Swedish population register for the reference person. The reference person orders this form from the Swedish National Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and it cannot be older than 3 months
• Passport or other travel document and a copy of its identification page
• The original and a copy of a birth certificate of the child
• The original and a copy of a written consent (for permanent residence) stamped by a notary public from both parents (one of the parents) or the legal guardian of the child
• Application fee

If you wish to reside with a close relative with whom he/she has previously shared a household and has a relationship of dependence which makes it very difficult to live apart:

• Application for residence permit to settle in Sweden in English or Swedish
• Application for residence permit for children under 18 year in English or Swedish
• Questionnaire form (in English or Swedish) regarding membership of a joint household in English or Swedish (T84)

and also:

• Proof of the relationship
• Familjebevis-an extract from the Swedish population register for the referee. The referee orders this form from the Swedish National Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and cannot be older than three months
• Passport or other travel document and a copy of its identification page
• Other documents which may prove that been part of the same household in your home country and you have a relationship where the degree of dependence makes it difficult to live apart
• Application fee

For accompanying children under 18 years (additionally):

• the original and a copy of a birth certificate of a child
• if a child is entered in the passport of his parent, a copy of his passport (identification page and a page with child’s personal particulars) is required
• the original and a copy of a written consent (for permanent residence) stamped by a notary public from both parents (one of the parents) or the legal guardian of the child.