You have a permit in Sweden – Live with someone Your relationship has ended

You have a residence permit to live with your partner in Sweden, but now your relationship has ended.

If you have a residence permit to live with someone in Sweden with whom you are married, cohabiting, or partners, you must return to your country of origin if your relationship ends. Since the grounds on which you were granted your residence permit no longer exist, the Swedish Migration Agency can revoke your residence permit.

If you want to extend your residence permit

In certain special cases, it is possible to get an extended residence permit when your current permit expires, even if the relationship has ended. Read more about the cases in which it is possible to get an extended residence permit:

In some cases, you can get an extended residence permit even if the relationship has ended, if you have ties to Sweden. Then you need to be able to show that you still have a connection to Sweden in several ways, for example that you live with a new partner, have children who have the right to live in Sweden, have established yourself in the labour market or that you have otherwise adapted to life in Sweden.

You want to extend – Live with a partner

In some cases, you can get an extended residence permit if the relationship has ended because you or your child have been mistreated by your partner. In that case, you or your child must have been subjected to violence or another serious form of violation. The relationship must have been serious from the beginning and not completely short-lived. It must seem very likely that the violations have occurred.

In Sweden, it is a crime to subject someone to violence or other violations. To “violate” someone means to mistreat them, for example by threatening or harming them. If someone uses violence within their family, for example against their child or partner, this is a crime for which they can face jail time.

If you have been subjected to violence or other abuse by your partner, your employer, or anyone else, you should report it to the police. The same applies if your child has been exposed to such mistreatment.

People who subject someone who does not have a permanent residence permit to violence sometimes claim that they can get the person they are victimising deported from Sweden, or that the social services will take away the victim’s children if they report the violence. That is not true. It is the Swedish Migration Agency that decides on residence permits. The social services do not take children away from a person because they have been exposed to violence. On the contrary, social services can act as support and help those affected by such mistreatment.

The Swedish Migration Agency has compiled information and links to authorities and organisations that can help you.

If you need urgent help from the police, call 112 and ask to speak to the police.

Help for those who are living with domestic violence

In some cases, you can be granted an extended residence permit if you risk becoming a social outcast if you return to your country of origin, or if you are seriously ill or have a severe disability.

You want to extend – Live with a partner

If it is not safe for you to return to your country of origin and you need protection in Sweden, you can apply for asylum.

You want to apply – Applying for asylum

News

2026-04-13

Easier to renew your permanent residence permit card

It will now be easier to renew your permanent residence permit card. You will automatically receive information and a request to book an appointment via My page well in advance of your current card expiring.

The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for considering applications from people who want to live in Sweden, seek protection or become Swedish citizens. Our work is based on Swedish laws and international conventions, with a focus on legal certainty and effective reception and return.