Residence permits for those who have had permanent residence permit and will be moving back to Sweden
You are entitled to apply for a new residence permit if you are planning to move back to Sweden. You must previously have lived in Sweden and held a permanent residence permit, and have some form of tie to Sweden.
Ties to Sweden
If you have previously lived in Sweden you may be granted a residence permit because of your ties to Sweden. Your ties to Sweden are primarily defined by how long you lived here in the past.
Length of your previous stay
If you have been living abroad for up to three years, you need to have lived in Sweden for at least four years prior to that in order to be granted a new residence permit. If more than three years have passed since you lived in Sweden, you will only be granted a new residence permit if you lived here for at least ten years, or if you have other grounds stated in your application.
Assessment of your ties
In addition to considering the time you have been living outside Sweden, the Migration Agency will assess how strong your ties are to your home country, or to another country where you have lived during this time. If you have started a new family in another country, for example, you are less likely to be granted a residence permit with reference to your ties to Sweden.
Swedish citizens planning on moving back to Sweden with family
If you are a Swedish citizen living in another country who now wants to move back to Sweden with your family who are not Swedish citizens, your family members have to apply for a permit to live here.
If you and your family member have lived together in a country outside of the EU/EEA the family member can apply for a residence permit according to the same rules as somebody who wants to move to a spouse or partner who already lives in Sweden.
If you and your family have lived together within the EU/EEA your family member can instead choose to apply for a residence card.
Important to remember when applying
In order for the Migration Agency to be able to assess whether you are entitled to a new residence permit, you must describe your specific reasons for wanting to move back to Sweden.
In some cases you may be granted a new residence permit even if you have been away from Sweden for a long time. When the Migration Agency assesses whether you are entitled to a new residence permit, it will also consider your reasons for moving away from Sweden. If you left Sweden for reasons you were unable to influence you may, in some cases, be granted a new residence permit even if you do not fulfil the requirements regarding the length of your previous stay in Sweden.
How to apply
To apply, you must fill out the form Application for residence permit to settle in Sweden, 161011, and submit it to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence. The application form specifies which documents to enclose.
If there is no possibility to submit an application in your country, you must apply at the embassy or consulate-general closest to your country of residence. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit your application for further information.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general
External link, opens in new window.
In most cases, you will have to pay a fee.
Application fees for residence permits
You pay the fee when you hand in your application. For more information about the fee, contact the embassy or consulate-general where you are applying, as they do not have the same fees and terms of payment as the Migration Agency.
Include copies of the pages in your passport which show your personal information, photograph, signature, travel stamps, 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.
Once we have received your application
Once the Migration Agency has examined your application you will receive a mail asking you to make an appointment with the relevant embassy or consulate-general for an interview. During the interview, you will be asked questions about why you want to move back to Sweden. You will be required to present your passport and other original documents attached to the application. You will also be required to provide fingerprints and be photographed for your residence permit card.
After the decision has been made
The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate-general were you submitted your application. Take your passport along when picking up your decision.
If you obtain a permit for more than three months, you will also receive a residence permit card. The card, which is proof that you have the right to be in Sweden, contains your photo and fingerprints.
If you need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should go to the embassy or consulate-general as soon as possible to have your picture and fingerprints taken. Your photo and fingerprints cannot be saved, so you need to go through the process even if you had a residence permit card before. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before your visit.
The Swedish embassy or consulate-general will hand over or send you the residence permit card as soon as it is ready. Don't forget that it might take up to four weeks to make and send the card to the embassy or consulate-general after you receive your decision.
When you enter Sweden, you must show your residence permit card along with a valid passport.
If you do not need a visa for travel to Sweden, as soon as possible after your arrival in Sweden you should book an appointment to be photographed and fingerprinted at the Migration Agency.
Read more about the residence permit card
If you do not need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should be able to show a copy of the decision when you arrive. As soon as possible after you have arrived in Sweden, you should book an appointment to be fingerprinted and photographed. When your residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to your address in Sweden.
The Swedish Institute's website about Sweden External link, opens in new window.
Useful links if you have recently moved to Sweden and have a residence permit
Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.
If the Migration Agency refuses your application
If the Migration Agency refuses your application, you can appeal the decision within three weeks from the date when you were informed of the decision. Your decision contains information about how to do so.