Live in Sweden

Applying for a residence permit

When applying for a residence permit you must present your application to the Embassy / Consulate of Sweden in the country where you reside. Your relative(s) in Sweden cannot apply on your behalf to Swedish authorities in Sweden.

Make sure you fill in all the particulars on the form. You should also ensure that you supply the correct address to your relative(s) in Sweden.

If you are married or cohabiting or intend to marry or cohabit with someone who is permanently resident in Sweden

Once you have presented your application, you will be summoned to an interview at the consulate. If you have some documentation proving your relationship to the person in Sweden, such as letters, photographs etc, please bring it with you at the interview.

Needed: 

• Two completed application forms;
  
  
• Two passport size photos (The photos must be: Full face (facing the camera directly with your eyes looking straight at the camera); In colour with a light background; No more than six months old and resemble you; You must be bareheaded, unless you have special religious reasons.)
  
  
• Two copies of the identity page of your passport. Note! The passport should be valid at least two years;
  
  
• Two copies of your partner's passport (including valid residence permit if he/she is not a Swedish citizen;
  
  
• Two copies of your partner's  "personbevis";
  
  
• If you are married: marriage certificate (if not married in Sweden it should be legalised by Notarius Publicus and the Foreign Affairs Office - FAO);
  
  
• If you are not married, you should provide a legalised (both Not. Publ. and FAO) certificate of your marital status and a copy of it;
  
  
• Power of Attorney (see pdf-files to the right)

If you are under 18 years of age, unmarried and your parents are residents in Sweden

You must be able to show that you lived together in your country of origin/domicile before your parent or parents moved to Sweden.

Needed:

• Two application forms;
  
  
• Two passport size photos (The photos must be: Full face (facing the camera directly with your eyes looking straight at the camera); In colour with a light background; No more than six months old and resemble you; You must be bareheaded, unless you have special religious reasons);
  
  
• Two copies of applicant's passport (all pages with information);
  
  
• Two copies of parent's passport (including valid residence permit); certificate of kinship (legalised by Notarius Publicus and Foreign Affairs Office);
  
  
• Certificate of which person that has custody. If custody is shared with other parent, the other parent shall in front of Notarius Publicus make a written statement where he/she declares that she has no objections to the child moving to Sweden - the original statement and a copy should be enclosed to the application.

Children who are old enough to be able to talk will be interviewed by the consulate.

If you are a parent or some other close relative of a person who is now resident in Sweden

In exceptional cases, other relatives may qualify for residence permits by reason of family ties. You must be able to show that you lived together with your relative immediately prior to his/her move to Sweden and that you are dependent on that person in such a way that it is difficult for you to live apart. This means that you must be financially, socially or emotionally dependent on the relative who lives in Sweden.

A relative of a refugee or of a person who has been granted asylum for some other reason can, in exceptional cases, be granted a Swedish residence permit if the two have had a very close relationship, even if they have not lived together in their former country of domicile.

Needed:

• Two application forms;
  
  
• Two passport size photos (The photos must be: Full face (facing the camera directly with your eyes looking straight at the camera); In colour with a light background; No more than six months old and resemble you; You must be bareheaded, unless you have special religious reasons);
  
  
• Two copies of applicant's passport (all pages with information);
  
  
• Two copies of passport of relative in Sweden (including valid residence permit if not a Swedish citizen); certificate of kinship (legalised by Notarius Publicus and Foreign Affairs Office);
  
  
• Power of Attorney (see pdf-files to the right).

Once you have presented your application, you will be summoned to an interview at the consulate.

What does it cost to apply?

For information about application fees, please browse the list of > expedition fees.

Who decides my case?

The Embassy / Consulate sends your application to the Migration Board in Sweden for decision. The Embassy / Consulate will aslo notify you of the decision of the Migration Board.

The residence permit must be entered in your passport before your arrival in Sweden. You cannot travel to Sweden and wait for a decision there.

How long will I have to wait for a decision?

It can take a long time for a decision to be reached.

Once you have presented your application, the Embassy / Consulate will summon you for a personal interview.

When the interview has taken place, the Embassy / Consulate forwards your application to the Migration Board in Sweden for a decision. This may take up to four weeks. The Migration Board then makes additional enquiries, either by inviting the relative in Sweden to a personal interview or by sending him/her a questionnaire by post. The questions must be answered in writing and sent back to the Migration Board.

How long is the permit valid?

If you lived together with your relative in your country of origin/domicile, the Migration Board will normally grant you a permanent residence permit (PUT). This entitles you to live in Sweden for as long as you like.

If you did not live with your relative in your country of origin/domicile but intend to set up home together on your arrival here, the Migration Board will normally grant you a permit for 12 months (in some cases for six months). You then have to apply for an extension to your permit. If you are still living together, your permit will be extended for a further 12 months (or six months).

If you are of working age, you will automatically be granted a work permit as well.

When you have had a limited residence permit for two years and your relationship is still intact, you will be granted a permanent residence permit.

Note! Spouses of EU/EEA nationals (except Swedish) has another procedure of applying. Please, contact the Consulate General for more information.