After a decision regarding a residence permit to move to someone in Sweden
When the Swedish Migration Agency has made a decision regarding your application for a residence permit, your family member who is located in Sweden will be the one who informs you of the decision, if he or she has power of attorney to represent you. If you have not submitted any power of attorney document, you will receive a notice from the embassy or consulate-general.
Residence permit card
If you are granted a residence permit that is valid for more than three months, you will receive a residence permit card. The card proves that you have permission to reside in Sweden and contains information such as your fingerprints and photograph.
Read more about residence permit cards
If you need an entry visa to travel to Sweden
If you need an entry visa to travel to Sweden, but did not have your photograph or fingerprints taken when you applied, or when you were interviewed, you should visit the embassy or consulate-general so that a residence permit card can be issued for you. Not all embassies or consulates-general are able to have you photographed or take your fingerprints. Therefore, you should always contact the embassy or consulate-general before your visit to get further information. When you visit the embassy, you should bring your passport with you.
Find your nearest embassy at Swedenabroad.com
When the card is ready, the embassy or consulate-general will hand it out to you or send it to you. Please note that, after you have received your decision, it can take up to four weeks to issue the card and deliver it to the embassy or consulate-general, provided that you have already had your photograph and fingerprints taken. When you travel to Sweden, you should present your card along with a valid passport.
This will not speed up the process of issuing or delivering the card. Also, when an order has been made for your card, it is not possible to change where the card will be sent.
If you are able to travel without an entry visa
If you are able to travel to Sweden without an entry visa, you may need to present a copy of the decision when you arrive. As soon as you can after arriving in Sweden, you should book an appointment with the Swedish Migration Agency to have your fingerprints and photograph taken. When you visit the Swedish Migration Agency, you should bring your passport with you. When your residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to your address in Sweden.
This will not speed up the process of issuing or delivering the card. Also, when an order has been made for your card, it is not possible to change where the card will be sent.
Period of validity
Married couples, registered partners and cohabiting partners
If you have lived together with your spouse, partner or cohabiting partner in another country than Sweden for at least two years, you will normally receive a permanent residence permit.
If you did not live together abroad, you will receive a residence permit for two years. In certain cases, you will receive a residence permit for shorter periods, although it will be for at least one year. However, you can never be given a residence permit for longer than the period your passport is valid for.
If your spouse, partner or cohabiting partner, has applied for asylum and received a temporary residence permit, you will receive a residence permit for the same time period that your partner’s residence permit is valid for.
If you plan to continue living in Sweden after your permit has expired, you should apply for an extension of your permit.
Read more on how to apply for an extension of your residence permit
Children under 18 years of age
If a child applies together with a parent, or applies to move to a parent who is already living in Sweden, the child will receive a permit for the same time period as the parent.
Other close relative above 18 years of age
If you are granted a permit, you will usually be granted a permanent residence permit.
If your relationship ends
If your relationship ends while you have a temporary residence permit, you can only extend your permit in special cases. The Swedish Migration Agency may also recall the residence permit. In each individual case we determine if there are grounds for approving a continued residence permit.
If your relationship ends while you have a temporary residence permit, you should personally submit a new application to the Migration Agency and state your reasons for staying in Sweden.
Read more about residence permits in cases when a relationship ends
The Migration Agency may withdraw a permit
The residence permit can be withdrawn if, in your application, you provided incorrect information or did not mention something that was significant in regards to your residence permit. The permit can also be withdrawn if the requirements for the permit are no longer met.
If the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application
If the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application, you can appeal the decision within three weeks from the day when you received notification of the decision. Information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in your decision. If you have given someone a power of attorney document that authorises him/her to represent you, this person is able to lodge an appeal. If you are under 18, you cannot lodge an appeal yourself Instead, your parents or another person with custody will lodge an appeal in your place.
Power of attorney to represent you
If you want someone else to represent you in your case with the Migration Agency, you can grant someone a power of attorney. A power of attorney may, for example, give someone else the right to make an application, be advised of the reasons for a decision or appeal against a decision on your behalf. The power of attorney must be written and signed by you as the person granting the power of attorney to someone else, and must be presented, in the original, if requested by the Migration Agency. If you are over 18 and want a member of your family to represent you, you will also need to submit a power of attorney.
To grant a power of attorney to another person, you may use the form Power of Attorney. The form applies to you if you have applied for a residence permit on the grounds of work, study, connections or visit.
Information for persons arriving in Sweden with a residence permit
Do not forget to save your residence permit decision. It will be useful when contacting various national authorities and organisations.
To register as living in Sweden and obtain a Swedish personal identity number, contact the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket.
To be registered in the social insurance system, contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan.
Some municipalities have municipal housing agencies where you can look for accommodation. The municipality can also give you advice on private landlords.
The municipality in which you live will offer child care and schooling for children.
For questions about healthcare, contact the County Council or region where you live. Find the right health care at 1177 Vårdguiden.
For questions about learning Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), contact the municipality you live in. See also the website of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.
If you are looking for a job you can register with the Swedish Public Employment Service, Arbetsförmedlingen.
For information about studying at colleges or universities, see Universityadmissions.se or studera.nu.
For questions about student loans and grants, contact CSN.
For questions concerning driving licenses, visit the Swedish Transport Agency.
For questions about the right to vote, contact the Election Authority, Valmyndigheten.
Information from the Swedish National Agency for Education about the Swedish education system can be found at www.omsvenskaskolan.se.
Information about society in Sweden can be found in a number of languages at informationsverige.se.
For more information on society in Sweden visit the website of the Swedish Institute.
UR Nyanländ is a series of programmes about your rights and duties in Sweden.
The information service at the Swedish Consumer Agency can answer your questions about buying goods and services and about contract terms and conditions.
On the page Learn Swedísh on www.informationsverige.se,
you will find links to several programs for learning Swedish on your own.