Extending your permit if you are a long-term resident of the EU
If you are a long-term resident of the EU and would like to continue living in Sweden after your permit has expired, you should submit an application to extend your permit. You must apply for an extension before your existing permit has expired.
How to apply
You fill in the form Application for a residence permit for persons who have long-term resident status in another EU state and their family members, 137011, and send this or hand it in to one of the Swedish Migration Agency's permit units. Apply at the earliest 30 days before your current permit expires.
The Migration Agency's visiting addresses and opening hours
You should enclose
- copies of the pages in your passport which show your personal information, photograph, signature, passport number, passport issuing country, the period of the passport's validity and whether you have permission to live in countries other than your country of origin.
- a copy of your EC residence permit for long-term residents
- documents which show that you still meet the conditions for a residence permit. More information on which documents you should send in can be found on the application form.
Shorter processing times for complete applications
For the Swedish Migration Agency to make a decision about your application, all the details need to be filled in and all necessary documents enclosed. This means that the processing time will be shorter if all the necessary information is included from the start than if information is added afterwards.
Note that the Migration Agency may in some cases need to further examine your application even if you have included all the required information and documents.
When we have received your application
If you have submitted an application for an extension, you have the right to continue to live in Sweden until the Swedish Migration Agency have made their decision. You also have the right to keep working, as long as the application was submitted before your current permit expired.
If you travel abroad in connection with your permit expiring, it may be hard for you to get back into Sweden before you have been granted a new permit. In which case, you may need to wait outside of Sweden for the new decision.
You must show your passport
The Swedish Migration Agency must check your passport before a decision can be made. You may therefore need to show your passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general if you are outside Sweden, or one of the Migration Agency's service centres if you are in Sweden.
In some cases, you will not be required to show your passport, for example, if we have already checked your passport during a previous visit.
If you need to show your passport, we will contact you with information on how and when to do so.
Residence permit card
If you are granted a residence permit you will be issued with a residence permit card. The card is proof that you have permission to be in Sweden and contains a photograph of you and your fingerprints. You will be photographed and have your fingerprints taken when you visit us to show your passport. You will be photographed and have your fingerprints taken even if you previously have had a residence permit card, because the Swedish Migration Agency cannot save this information.
After the decision has been made
The decision will be sent to your address. When the residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to your home within about a week.
When you have had a Swedish residence permit for five years you may be granted long-term resident status in Sweden. If you are granted this status, you will also be granted a permanent Swedish residence permit. Your permanent residence permit is valid for as long as you are resident in Sweden. Please note that it may affect your chances of being granted a permanent residence permit if you have not lived in Sweden for long periods. You may lose your permanent resident status in another EU country if you are away from the country for six years.
Read more about long-term resident status in Sweden
The Migration Agency may withdraw a permit
Your permanent residence permit can be withdrawn if you leave Sweden. If you notify the Swedish Migration Agency that you wish to retain your permanent residence permit, you can remain abroad for up to two years without your permit being affected.
If you have not returned to Sweden after two years the Migration Agency may withdraw your residence permit. The residence permit can also be withdrawn if you gave a false identity when you applied for the residence permit, or if you knowingly lied or failed to mention something that was significant for your residence permit.
How your family should apply
If you have family who live with you in Sweden, who also need to extend their permits, each family member will need to submit their own application. They fill in the form Application for a residence permit for persons who have long-term resident status in another EU state and their family members, 137011, and send this or hand it in to one of the Swedish Migration Agency's permit units.
The Migration Agency's visiting addresses and opening hours
Your family should enclose
- copies of the pages in their passports which show their personal information, photograph, signature, passport number, passport issuing country, the period of the passport's validity and whether they have permission to live in countries other than their country of origin.
The Swedish Migration Agency must check the passport
The Swedish Migration Agency must check your family member’s passports before a decision can be made. They may therefore need to show their passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general if they are outside Sweden, or one of the Migration Agency's service centres if they are in Sweden.
In some cases, your family members will not be required to show their passport, for example, if we have already checked the passport during a previous visit.
If your family members need to show their passports, we will contact them with information on how and when to do so.
In connection with the Migration Agency checking the passport, your family members will also be photographed and have their fingerprints taken for a residence permit card. They will be photographed and have their fingerprints taken even if the they previously had residence permit cards because the Swedish Migration Agency is not allowed to save the data.
If the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application
If you are not granted a residence permit, you may appeal the decision within three weeks of the day you received it.