Residence permits for those granted refugee status
If you have been granted refugee status will be given a three-year residence permit. If you are able to support yourself by the time your residence permit expires you can be granted a permanent residence permit.
Your temporary residence permit gives you the right to live and work in Sweden for three years. During that period you have the same right to medical care as a person with a permanent residence permit.
As proof of your residence permit you will receive a residence permit card. This card is not an identification document or a travel document. You can travel into and out of the country as long as your permit is valid, but if you travel outside of Sweden you must have a valid passport and a valid residence permit card in order to re-enter the country.
Read more about residence permit cards
Registering with the population register
When you have received a temporary residence permit you should register with the population register at the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) as soon as possible. Registration is required before you can attend Swedish for Immigrants (sfi) classes and be entitled to the benefits of the Swedish social security system. Once you have registered with the population register you can also get a Swedish identity document which is necessary in order to, for example, open a bank account and get an e-identification.
To register with the population register you should go to the Swedish Tax Agency which will record where you live, your marital status (whether or not you are married), your citizenship and your place of birth. When you go to the Tax Agency you need to bring your residence permit card and a valid identification document. If your identification document is held by the Swedish Migration Agency you can ask for a copy of it. The copy should be signed by a person who certifies that it is a true copy of the original. This person should also write their name in capital letters and give their telephone number.
Information about how to register at the Swedish Tax Agency
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Establishment contributions
If you have recently received a residence permit in Sweden and have the right to work here, you may be entitled to establishment contributions to get started in the workforce. Establishment contributions are activities that can provide support for you in e.g. learning Swedish, getting started in the workforce, and providing for yourself. The Swedish Public Employment Service is responsible for establishment contributions and job seekers in Sweden. You can find more information on the Swedish Public Employment Service's website. The information is available in several languages.
The Swedish Public Employment Service can help you find work until you turn 65, which is the most common retirement age in Sweden. People who come to Sweden late in life often receive a low or no pension. If you do not have a pension that you can live on, you can turn to the Swedish Pensions Agency and apply for so-called income support for the elderly.
Working in Sweden
You who have been granted a temporary residence permit for three years may work in Sweden.
When you apply for work you should bring copies of the documents which show that you have the right to live and work in Sweden. Also take your residence permit card with you. The employer will want to know for how long you are allowed to work in Sweden and whether your permission to work in Sweden is subject to any restrictions. Your employer will want copies of your documents and will also inform the Swedish Tax Agency that you have been employed.
Family reunification
If you have a residence permit with refugee status and are considered to have well-founded prospects of being granted a lasting residence permit, your family can apply for residence permits in order to join you.
Only your immediate family can apply for residence permits to come and join you in Sweden. Your family may be granted residence permits for as long as your own permit is valid.
If you have the right to family reunification, you may be subject to a so-called financial support requirement. This means that you must be able to financially support yourself and your family. You must also have a home of an adequate size and standard that you can live in together when your family moves to Sweden. There are certain exceptions from the maintenance requirement, for example if your family applies for residence permits within three months of the date on which you received your residence permit.
Read more about family reunification and the maintenance requirement
The residence permit can be withdrawn
Your residence permit can 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. If you are convicted of a crime, the court can decide that you should be deported. The Migration Agency will then withdraw your residence permit. Your residence permit can be withdrawn even if you have had the permit for several years.
Extension of a temporary residence permit
When your temporary residence permit expires, you will have the opportunity to apply for an extension. You may be granted an extended residence permit if you are still in need of protection. After three years, you can also apply for a permanent residence permit.
Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit
On the page Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit, you will find information that is useful to know before you move or after you have moved to Sweden, such as work, healthcare, school and education in Sweden.
Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit