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Moving to someone who is not an EU/EEA citizen or is a Swedish citizen

If you are an EU citizen and you would like to live together with a family member in Sweden who is not an EU/EEA citizen, you must have a residence permit (if you do not fulfil the requirements for registration because of, for example, work or studies).

Swedish citizens are not regarded as EU/EEA citizens in this context.

Requirements to be granted a residence permit
Applying for a residence permit
The period of validity of the residence permit
Applying for an extension

Requirements to be granted a residence permit


You can receive a residence permit if you plan to or are married, a common law spouse or have entered into registered partnership with someone living in Sweden. However, your application may be rejected if, for example, your application is based on false information, your relationship is a sham or if you do not plan to live together.

If you are under 18, you have the right to be reunited with a parent in Sweden.
 

Other close relatives


You may, in exceptional cases, obtain a residence permit if you have lived in your country of origin with the relative now resident in Sweden. This category includes children over 18 or parents to the person resident in Sweden.

You must be able to show that you have lived together with your relative immediately before his or her move to Sweden and that you already had a relationship of dependence in your country of origin that makes it difficult to live separately. A relationship of dependence means that you are financially, socially and emotionally dependent on your relative living in Sweden.
 

Applying for a residence permit


You apply for a residence permit by using the form Application for residence permit to settle in Sweden, no. 161011 and the form EU/EEA Appendix A - first application, no. 223021.

An application for children under 18 must be submitted on the form Application for residence permit to settle in Sweden - for a child under the age of 18, no. 163011.

You can choose to submit your application in person to one of the Migration Board´s permit Units or send it in by post. Note that the Permit Unit in Solna has other routines.

Those who receive a residence permit will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof of your residence permit. In order for the Migration Board to be able to issue a residence permit card, you will be photographed and will need to submit fingerprints in connection with:

  • submitting your application or
  • when you receive your residence permit.

Documents you need to enclose


When you submit an application for residence permit you must include:
  • a copy of your passport card proving your citizenship
  • marriage certificate (applies to married couples and registered partners)
  • a civil registration certificate, lease agreement or proof of purchase of a residence or other document showing that you have a common place of residence (applies to unmarried couples)
  • birth or kinship certificate (applies to children under 18)
  • written consent from guardian (applies to children under 18)
  • document that shows you are related to each other (applies to other close relatives)
  • certificate stating that you and your relative depend on each other and have difficulties living apart, for example, for social and emotional reasons, and this dependency should have existed previously (applies to other close relatives)
  • document indicating that you lived together with your relative immediately before he or she moved to Sweden (applies to other close relatives).

The Swedish Migration Board sometimes needs more information. We will then request additional details. The decision will be sent to your address in Sweden.

Application fee


You do not need to pay an application fee.
 

The period of validity of the residence permit


Married couples, registered partners and common law spouses
If you have lived together with your husband/wife, common law spouse or minor children in their country of origin for at least two years, as a general rule the Swedish Migration Board will grant a permanent residence permit.
 
If you have not lived together in your country of origin, as a rule the Swedish Migration Board will grant residence permits for two years, in some cases for shorter periods, although at least one year. You must then apply for an extension.
 
If the relationship ends during the time you have a temporary residence permit, the permit is usually not extended. In each individual case, we still consider whether there are any reasons to grant a continuation of the residence permit. The Swedish Migration Board can also cancel the residence permit if the relationship ends.
 
Children under 18
If a child applies together with a parent, he/she will normally be granted the same permit as the parent.
 
Close relatives over 18
As a rule the Swedish Migration Board grants a permanent residence permit.
 

Applying for an extension


On the page Extending your permit you will find information on how to apply for an extension of your permit.
Sidan senast uppdaterad: 2011-06-22