If you cannot prove your identity
In order to obtain a residence permit in Sweden, the person applying for a permit must be able to prove their identity with an approved passport or another type of ID document. Those who do not have an approved passport may, in exceptional cases, obtain a residence permit by proving a biological relationship with the person in Sweden. This only applies to families with children who have lived together outside of Sweden.
If you want to move to Sweden in order to reunite with your family or family members, you may, in exceptional cases, obtain a residence permit despite lacking an approved passport. This applies only to you who cannot obtain a passport or if the Swedish Migration Agency deems that the passport from your country of origin does not prove your identity, as well as if you are one of the following:
- A child who wants to move to a parent in Sweden.
- A parent who wants to move to a child who already lives in Sweden.
- A parent who wants to move to a partner in Sweden with whom you have a child.
In order to obtain a residence permit, a DNA analysis must prove that the child and parent are related.
A child who wants to move to a parent in Sweden
If you are under 18 you may apply for a residence permit in order to move to a biological parent in Sweden who has a permanent residence permit or is a Swedish citizen. Please note that you cannot submit an application yourself. An adult must submit an application on your behalf.
A child to a parent who is married or the cohabiting partner to someone who is living in Sweden can be granted a residence permit even if the parent has a temporary residence permit.
If the parent in Sweden has been granted asylum and received a temporary residence permit, special rules apply.
Read more about family reunification when a person has a temporary residence permit
A parent who wants to move to a child in Sweden
If you are a parent you may apply for a residence permit in order to move to your biological child living in Sweden if the child is under 18 years of age and has been granted a residence permit in Sweden as a refugee or a person with subsidiary protection status.
A parent who wants to move to a partner in Sweden
As a parent, you may apply for a residence permit in order to move to a partner living in Sweden if you have a shared biological child under 18 years of age. The child must have a residence permit in Sweden or apply for a residence permit together with you. You and your partner must have previously lived together outside of Sweden. It is not possible to obtain a residence permit if the relationship began after your partner came to Sweden. Your partner in Sweden must have a permanent residence permit or be a Swedish citizen.
If your partner has been granted asylum and received a temporary residence permit, special rules apply.
Read more about family reunification when a person has a temporary residence permit
Maintenance requirements
The person you are to live with in Sweden must be able to support you both. They must also have suitable accommodation in terms of size and standard where you can live together when you move to Sweden. The maintenance requirement does not apply if the person you want to move to is a child under 18 years of age.
Read more about the maintenance and accommodation requirements
DNA analysis
If you cannot prove your identity through an approved passport when you apply for a residence permit, you may need to submit a DNA test. A DNA test consists of you providing a saliva sample during a visit to the embassy or consulate-general. Your family member (parent, child or partner in Sweden) provides a DNA test during a visit to the Swedish Migration Agency. Using your DNA samples, a DNA analysis then shows whether you and your family member are related.
If an adult submits an application on behalf of a child who will move to a parent in Sweden alone, consent for a DNA sample to be taken from the child must be submitted alongside the application. The consent must be given in writing by the parent in Sweden.
The Swedish Migration Agency pays for the DNA analysis.
Alien's passport
If you do not have a passport, you must also apply for an alien’s passport when applying for a residence permit. You can do this at the embassy or consulate-general in connection with submitting your application or during the interview. Contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information on how to apply for an alien’s passport.
Online application
If you are a parent and fulfil the requirements on this page you may submit an application online for yourself and your children under 18 years of age. You must have lived together outside of Sweden. If you have a child over 18 years of age, you cannot apply online, but must submit your application at an embassy or a consulate-general.
You must not submit an online application if you have already applied for a residence permit at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general and the case has not yet been resolved. If you do, the Swedish Migration Agency will write off the online application.
Instructions for online application
Application at an embassy or consulate-general
If you do not meet the requirements for an online application, you can submit an application at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in the country where you are living. If there is no Swedish embassy or consulate-general, you can submit your application at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in a neighbouring region.