Exten­ding a resi­dence permit for former asylum seekers and their families

If you have previously applied for asylum and were granted a temporary residence permit, you must apply for an extension of your residence permit if you want to stay in Sweden. This also applies if you are a family member of a person who previously applied for asylum and was granted a temporary residence permit.

This information applies to those who have applied for asylum and been granted a temporary residence permit as a refugee or a person in need of subsidiary protection, due to particularly or exceptionally distressing circumstances, or because there is a temporary impediment to enforcement that prevents them from being deported. It also applies to those who came to Sweden as a close relative of a person who has a temporary residence permit for one of these reasons, and to those who have been granted a residence permit for studies at upper secondary level.

How to get a resi­dence permit exten­sion

You can get a residence permit extension if you fulfil the requirements for one or more of the following reasons:

  • You need protection (asylum).
  • You are a family member of a person who is resident in Sweden.
  • You are studying at upper secondary level.
  • You want to look for work after completing studies at upper secondary level.
  • You have studied at upper secondary level and can financially support yourself.
  • There are particularly or exceptionally distressing circumstances.

Perma­nent resi­dence permit

You can apply for a permanent residence permit in connection with applying for a residence permit extension using the e-service on this page. Once you have stated why you wish to apply for a residence permit extension, you will have to state whether you also wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.

To be eligible for a permanent residence permit you must

  • have held a residence permit in Sweden for at least three years
  • fulfil the requirements for a continued residence permit
  • be able to support yourself financially if you are 18 years or older
  • be expected to live a law-abiding life if you are 15 years or older.

Each person must meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit, regardless of whether they have a temporary residence permit as a refugee or a person in need of subsidiary protection, due to impediments to enforcement, due to particularly or extraordinarily distressing circumstances, or if they have a residence permit as the close relative of a person who has a temporary residence permit on one of these grounds.

Read about the requirements for being granted a permanent residence permit

Those who have a residence permit due to studies at upper secondary level may also apply for a permanent residence permit using the e-service on this page, although they are subject to different requirements to be granted a permanent residence permit.

Read more about the requirements for being granted a permanent residence permit in accordance with the Swedish Upper Secondary School Act

Requi­re­ments for using the e-service

In order to use the e-service and apply for a residence permit extension, you need

  • an e-identification
  • an email address
  • to be able to upload your documents digitally.

The first time you log in, you have to identify yourself in two steps, with both an e-ID and a code that is sent to your email address. The Swedish Migration Agency may contact you via your email address if we have questions about your application. After that, if you need to log in again, for example, if you want to pause your application and continue later, or if you are applying for several people, you only need to use e-ID.

If parents use the e-service, they will be asked if they are applying for a residence permit extension for themselves or for a child under the age of 18 for whom they are legal guardians. Parents can use their e-ID to apply for themselves and several children, but must log out and then log in again for each person they wish to apply for. If you are going to apply for several people, you must complete and submit an application, and then log out, before you can log back in to make a new application for someone else.

This e-service cannot be used by a legal representative. It can only be used by someone who is applying for an extension for themselves, or by parents applying on behalf of their minor children.

Children without a parent/guardian in Sweden can apply themselves using the e-service. The Swedish Migration Agency will then contact the child's trustee and ask him/her to confirm the application.

You can pause your application and continue later. Remember to complete your application before your current residence permit expires.

How to apply if you cannot use the e-service

In order for your application to be complete, you may need to submit documents showing that you meet the requirements for staying in Sweden. What documents you must submit will depend on why you want to stay in Sweden. If you have several reasons for wanting to stay in Sweden, you can submit several documents. If you are only applying for a residence permit extension because you need protection, or because you need to stay due to particularly or exceptionally distressing circumstances, you do not need to submit any documents.

When you apply using the e-service, you need to have your documents available in digital form. Before you send in your application, you will see a compilation in the e-service of the information you have provided and the documents you have uploaded. If you have failed to upload certain documents, you will be able to go back and upload those documents. If you don't have ready access to all the documents you need, you can pause your application and upload them later. Please note that you must complete your application via the e-service and submit it before your current residence permit expires.

If you complete your application in the e-service without uploading all the required documents, you will have two weeks in which to send the remaining documents to the Swedish Migration Agency by post. After that, we can start processing your application. If we see that certain information or a document that we need in order to make a decision is missing, we may contact you to ask for supplementary documents. If you do not submit the supplementary information we have asked for in time, we may make a decision on the basis of the information we have. It may take longer to process your application if we have to ask you for supplementary information.

Read more about the requirements that apply to you and the documents to be submitted depending on ​​the grounds of your application

If you want to stay in Sweden because you need protection (asylum), you must state whether you have the same grounds for asylum as before or if you have new grounds for asylum that you have not informed us about previously.

If you have applied for asylum before and still have the same grounds, you do not need to tell us about them again. The case officer knows the grounds for asylum that you have explained to both the Swedish Migration Agency and the Migration Court.

If you state you have new grounds for asylum, we will contact you to find out more about why you need protection (asylum). An applicant with new grounds for asylum usually needs to come to the Swedish Migration Agency for an interview. New grounds for asylum could be, for example, that something has happened after you applied for asylum which you have not told the Swedish Migration Agency or the court. Another example of new grounds for asylum could be something that you have not informed us about before because you came to Sweden as a close relative and have not applied for asylum before.

If your only reason for applying for a residence permit extension is because you need protection in Sweden, you do not need to submit any documents.

Read more about who can get asylum in Sweden

You can get a residence permit extension if you have a family member who has a residence permit or Swedish citizenship.

The following count as a family member

  • husband
  • wife
  • registered partner
  • cohabiting partner
  • child under 18 years
  • parent of a child under 18 years.

If you currently have a residence permit because you are a family member of a person with a temporary residence permit under the temporary law, you can get a residence permit extension if you are still living together.

You can also apply for a residence permit extension if you have a new family relationship. This applies both to those who came to Sweden to apply for asylum and received a temporary residence permit, and those who came to Sweden as a family member of someone who has applied for asylum. A new family relationship means that you do not already have a residence permit because this person is your family member. The person in question could be a new family member, but it could also be someone who has been a member of your family for a long time, but on account of whom you have not previously applied for a residence permit on grounds of family ties.

You will have to answer questions about who your family member is and what sort of relationship you have. The Swedish Migration Agency will check with the Swedish Tax Agency whether you are registered at the same address. In some cases, we may also contact your family member to ask questions.

If you apply for a residence permit extension for a child under 18 years, both of the child's parents/guardians in Sweden must approve the application. To show that he or she approves the child's application, the other parent/guardian must sign the form Confirmation of application for residence permit for child, form 207011, which you then upload in the e-service for the application for a residence permit extension. The form can also be sent to the Swedish Migration Agency by post afterwards.

Confirmation of application for residence permit for child, form 207011 Pdf, 697.3 kB, opens in new window.

Family members need to have passports

To be granted a residence permit on the grounds of ties to a family member, you must have a valid passport. Ideally, it should be a national passport. If it is not possible for you to obtain a national passport, you can apply for an alien’s passport.

Read about what is required in order to obtain an alien’s passport

If you have or are granted refugee or subsidiary protection status, no passport is required to be granted a continued residence permit.

You do not need to submit your passport or a copy of your passport when you apply for an extended residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency will contact you if we need to see your passport.

If you have a residence permit for studies at upper secondary level, you can apply for an extended residence permit if you need more time to complete your studies.

In this case, you must attach a new study plan that includes the new estimated date of completion, as well as a certificate explaining why you need more time.

You must also attach documents showing that you have participated actively in your studies as well as documents or certificates explaining why you need more time to complete your studies.

Read more about the requirements for a residence permit for studies at upper secondary level

As a general rule, you must have a valid passport in order to be granted a continued residence permit for studies at the upper secondary level. An exemption to the passport requirement may be made if you do not have a passport and cannot obtain a national passport within a reasonable timeframe.

You do not need to submit your passport or a copy of your passport when you apply for an extended residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency will contact you if we need to see your passport.

You may be entitled to a residence permit for up to six months after your graduation date in order to look for work after completion of your studies at upper secondary level.

You must submit your school diploma or another certificate showing the date on which you completed your studies.

If you have so little time left on your current residence permit that you must apply for a residence permit extension before you receive your diploma or equivalent certificate, you can instead submit a certificate (for example, a study certificate) showing that you will soon complete your studies. Once you have completed your studies, you must complete your application by submitting a new certificate showing the date you completed your studies.

Read more about what is required to be granted an extended residence permit in order to look for work after completion of studies at upper secondary level

As a general rule, you must have a valid passport in order to be granted a continued residence permit that enables you to look for work after studies at the upper secondary level. An exemption to the passport requirement may be made if you do not have a passport and cannot obtain a national passport within a reasonable timeframe.

You do not need to submit your passport or a copy of your passport when you apply for an extended residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency will contact you if we need to see your passport.

You can apply for a permanent residence permit in accordance with the Swedish Upper Secondary School Act if you have studied at upper secondary level and can financially support yourself as an employee or a self-employed person. Which documents you must attach depends on whether you are supporting yourself as an employee or a self-employed person. You can combine your incomes from multiple jobs, multiple companies of yours or from both employment and self-employment. If you want to combine incomes from multiple jobs or companies, you must attach the documents below for all jobs and companies.

Read more about the requirements for being granted a permanent residence permit in accordance with the Swedish Upper Secondary School Act

Docu­ments you must submit with your appli­ca­tion if you are financially supporting yourself as an employee

You must attach the following to your application:

  • contract of employment
  • pay slips for the last 1–3 months
  • statement from a trade union, form 224011 (print and fill out the form and ask your trade union to sign it before submitting the form with your application).

Trade union statement, form 224011 (in Swedish only) Pdf, 1.1 MB, opens in new window.

If you work in an industry with SNI codes that start with some of the following numbers (81290, 81210, 55101, 56, 9602, 9604, 9609, 41200, 421, 42990, 43, 782, 471-478, 0113, 012, 02102, 452, 88101, 88102), you must submit

  • a balance sheet and profit report for the current financial year
  • information about cash and cash equivalents in the bank or overdrafts.

You can get these documents from your employer.

If you work in a start-up company (a company that has started its actual business in the last 12 months), you must submit

  • a balance sheet and profit report for the current financial year
  • information about cash and cash equivalents in the bank or overdrafts
  • any contracts you have signed regarding ongoing and upcoming assignments or the renting/purchasing of premises.

You can get these documents from your employer.

If you work in a start-up company or a company with one of the SNI codes listed above, and your employer has previously participated in applying for a work permit and has employed nationals of non-EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, you must submit

  • a tax account statement from the Swedish Tax Agency for the last three months.

You can get this document from your employer.

Docu­ments you must submit with your appli­ca­tion if you are financially supporting yourself as a self-employed person

You must attach the following to your application:

  • purchase contract
  • bank document showing that you have paid the purchase price or your share of the purchase price
  • any loan documents for the purchase of the company
  • bank statement for your private account for the last six months
  • your most recent private tax return (Income tax return 1 – income tax return sent to you by the Swedish Tax Agency and your income tax return receipt)
  • partnership (trading company) agreement or share register
  • the last two annual accounts or annual reports (if the company has been active in the past)
  • balance sheet and profit statement for the period you have been running the company up to and including the previous month
  • the company's tax account statement for the last six months
  • bank statement for the company account for the last six months
  • all salary specifications for the current year (if you are running a limited liability company)
  • the company's latest tax return:
    income tax return 4 if you are running a trading company (partnership),
    income tax return 2 if you are running a limited liability company,
    NE form if you are running a sole proprietorship business,
    N3A form if you are a partner in a trading company (partnership)
  • any permits for your specific business (e.g. operating licence for a taxi business or cash register permit)
  • contracts with customers or suppliers and any rental contracts for premises
  • business plan.

Documents that you must attach regardless of whether you are financially supporting yourself as an employee or a self-employed person

In order for the Swedish Migration Agency to be able to assess whether you can earn a living from your income, you will also have to answer questions about your housing costs and your travel expenses to and from work. Irrespective of whether you support yourself through employment or as a self-employed person, you must therefore submit

  • the rental agreement for the place where you live, if applicable
  • the most recent electricity bill for the place where you live
  • home insurance contract.

If you are under 25 years of age, you must also submit a certificate of completion of upper secondary education. If you have completed equivalent education in your country of origin, you can show this through, for example, a statement from the Swedish Council for Higher Education.

How to apply for a statement from the Swedish Council for Higher Education, UHR (in Swedish) External link, opens in new window.

In exceptional cases, a person may be granted a residence permit even though he or she is not in need of protection from persecution or does not meet the requirements for a residence permit on some other grounds. This requires the existence of particularly or exceptionally distressing circumstances. When the Migration Agency makes a decision, an overall assessment is made of the person’s state of health, adaptation to Sweden and the situation in the country of origin.

If you are applying for an extended residence permit due to particularly or exceptionally distressing circumstances, you do not need to attach any documents. We make contact with you if we need any more information.

Apply before your resi­dence permit expires

It is important that you apply for an extension before your temporary residence permit expires, but no earlier than two months before it expires.

If the members of your family all have permits that expire more or less at the same time, you should all apply for an extension at the same time.

If you apply for an extension on time you may work while you wait for the decision. If you do not apply on time you risk losing certain benefits, such as start-up support, study allowance or parental allowance.

If you already have a valid expulsion order, it can be enforced when your residence permit expires if you do not apply for an extension in time.

After you have submitted your appli­ca­tion

When you apply for an extension on the web, you will receive confirmation straight away on your screen that the Swedish Migration Agency has received your application. You can save the confirmation by sending it to your email address, downloading it or printing it off straight away.

Not everyone who has applied for a residence permit extension needs to visit the Swedish Migration Agency for an interview. We will contact you if we need more information. We may need to see you to ask questions, for example, if you wrote in your application that you have new grounds for asylum. We may also ask questions over the phone or ask you to submit additional information by letter.

If your situation changes before the Swedish Migration Agency has made a decision, you can supplement your application by post. It may be, for example, that you have started working, that you have completed your studies or that your family situation has changed.

Find out where to send your attachments External link, opens in new window.

You should not leave Sweden while you are waiting for a decision. In most cases, the Swedish Migration Agency cannot grant a residence permit extension to a person who is outside Sweden. To enter Sweden, you need a valid residence permit card that you will be given when the Swedish Migration Agency has granted your application for a residence permit extension. This means that you will not be able to come back to Sweden if you are abroad when your residence permit expires.

After the deci­sion

Once the Swedish Migration Agency has made its decision, you will be sent a letter. Usually, we use simplified notification which means we send you a letter with the decision by post to your home address. In some cases, you will receive a summons asking you to come to a meeting at the Swedish Migration Agency so a case officer can tell you about the decision.

When sending letters and summons to your home, the Swedish Migration Agency will primarily use your registered address, which we will get from the Swedish Tax Agency. Therefore, it is important that you notify the Swedish Tax Agency if you move. The Swedish Migration Agency cannot change your registered address.

If you have applied for a residence permit extension for your child, the Swedish Migration Agency will send the decision to the child's registered address. Parents/guardians can change their children's registered address by contacting the Swedish Tax Agency.

If you get a residence permit extension, you will need a new residence permit card. Then you need to make an appointment so you can have your fingerprints taken and be photographed so the Swedish Migration Agency can make a new residence permit card for you. You must make an appointment for each family member who needs a new residence permit card.

Read more about residence permit cards

Make an appointment before you visit us

The decision states whether or not you have been given a residence permit and for how long the permit is valid.

The decision also states why you have been given a residence permit. If you have been given a residence permit because you need protection (asylum) in Sweden, it will also say whether you have been given a new declaration of protection status. Those who already have protection status will retain it in most cases if they stated in their application that they still need protection.

Not all decisions can be appealed. Your decision states whether you can appeal and how to appeal if you are not satisfied with the decision.

Read more about how to appeal

Permits of diffe­rent lengths

When you are granted an extended residence permit, you will usually receive a residence permit that is valid for two years. The length of the permit may sometimes be shorter if you have committed a crime.

If you already have a residence permit for studies at upper secondary level, but need more time than planned in order to complete your studies, you will normally be granted a residence permit for the time left on your study programme plus an additional six months, but no longer than 13 months at a time. The extra six months are to give you time to look for work after you have completed your studies.

If you are granted an extended residence permit to look for work after completion of your studies at upper secondary level, you will receive a residence permit that is valid for up to six months after your graduation date.

If you are granted a permanent residence permit, you do not need to apply for an extended residence permit again.

If you have applied for a permanent residence permit, but are only granted an extended temporary residence permit, in some cases you can appeal the decision.

Read the requirements for being granted a permanent residence permit

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