Live in Sweden

Applying for a residence permit

Requirements for a residence permit:

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

• The referent person's "Personbevis", you must present a "personbevis" not more than 3 months old. 
• Passport or other travel document including copies of all pages of the passport that are not blank.
• You should also provide the bank slip as proof of payment of the fee 
• Two [2] photographs of passport style and size [35 x 45 mm] for all applicants, including minors. 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 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 Embassy/Consulate. You will need to bring some form of documentation proving your relationship to the person in Sweden, such as letters, photographs or the marriage certificate. You should also bring your passport and two passport photographs.

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.

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.

What does it cost to apply?

You may be required to pay an application fee. If your application is denied, the fee will not be refunded. You can read about the fees In a special information sheet.

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.

How long will I have to wait for a decision?

A personal interview will be held the same day you present your application.

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 24 months. You then have to apply for an extension to your permit. 

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 can be granted a permanent residence permit.

UT-card

All permits granted after the 20th of May 2011 will be issued as residence permit cards, UT-cards. The card will contain biometrics (photo and fingerprints of two fingers) and an electronic signature. The card is produced in Sweden. It can take up to 4 weeks before the card is distributed to the Embassy.

Arrange an appointment at the Embassy 

Arranging an appointment shall be made at bookings.abuja@foreign.ministry.se. The applicationfee shall be made at Zenith Bank, account No 1130018871.