Frequently asked questions about extending temporary residence permits for former asylum seekers and their families

Questions and answers about applying for an extended residence permit online

You log on to the online application with your electronic ID. The first time you log in, you also need to provide your email address and then enter the one-time code we send to your email address. After that, if you want to log in again (for example, if you want to pause your application or if you are applying for several people), you only need to use e-ID.

Once you have logged in, first you choose whether you want to apply for yourself or your child. Then choose one or more reasons for why your are applying for an extended residence permit. Some of the reasons require that you answer questions and upload documents.

Prepare ahead of your application by reading what is required for the different grounds and what documents you may need to upload.

The documents you must attach to your application depend on why you want to stay in Sweden. Because you may have several reasons to want to stay, you can attach multiple documents. When you answer the questions in the web application, you will find out which documents you should upload. You can prepare by reading about what is required, depending on why you want to apply for an extended residence permit.

Where you should send your attachments depends on where you live.

Use your postal code to find out where to send your application by post External link, opens in new window.

No, you cannot log in to the e-service with a username and password. You can only log in with a Swedish e-ID. The first time you log in, you also need to provide your email address and then enter the code that we send to your email address.

No, in order to apply for an extended residence permit online, you need to have a Swedish e-ID and an email address. If you do not have an e-ID, you can obtain one through your bank. If you do not use online banking services, you can use a e-ID linked to the Swedish Tax Agency's ID card.

If you are unable to apply online, you can print out the application form and send your application to the Swedish Migration Agency by post.

Read about the different ways to acquire an e-ID at the Swedish Tax Agency External link, opens in new window.

If you do not already have a Swedish e-ID, such as a BankID, you can obtain one by contacting your bank. If you do not use online banking services, you can apply for an ID card from the Swedish Tax Agency that contains an e-ID.

List of banks issuing BankID and Mobile BankID External link, opens in new window.

You can use another person’s email address to receive the code needed in order to log onto the e-service for the first time.

The Swedish Immigration Agency may contact you through that email address regarding your application, so you must have access to that email address until you have received a decision.

You can apply for an extended residence permit no earlier than two months before your current residence permit expires. You cannot log in to the e-service before that. Please prepare your application by reading about the requirements for the reasons for your application and acquire the documents you need.

The most common reason why a person is not eligible to use the e-service is that it is too early for you to apply for a residence permit extension. You cannot log in to the e-service until you have less than two months left on your current residence permit. Check the end date of your residence permit (stated on your residence permit card) and try again later.

You can read more about the e-service to check whether it is the correct service for your type of residence permit.

You can apply for a residence permit extension earliest two months before your current residence permit expires.

Yes, parents/legal guardians use their e-ID to apply for an extension for their underage children. Once you have logged in, you will be asked whether you are applying for yourself or for a child for whom you are the parent/legal guardian. You can submit multiple applications if you have multiple children, but keep in mind that you need to complete and submit the application for one person before you can log in again to submit a new application for someone else.

If your child has two parents/legal guardians in Sweden, the other parent/legal guardian must give their consent by signing form 207011 Pdf, 1.1 MB, opens in new window., which you then attach to the child’s application in the e-service. Fill out and upload one form for each child.

As the parent, you must apply for an extension for your children. Log in with your e-ID and then choose if you are applying for an extension for yourself or for a child for whom you are a parent/legal guardian.

First, make sure you have filled in the correct personal identity number or case number for your child. If the number is correct, but you still cannot fill out an application for your child, the child's other parent/legal guardian can try to log in with their e-ID and complete the child’s application. If this does not work either, please contact the Swedish Migration Agency so that we can assist you.

A guardian cannot log into the e-service. Children without parents/legal guardians in Sweden can make their own application online if they have an e-ID. The Swedish Migration Agency will then contact the child's guardian or specially appointed legal guardian to have the application confirmed. If the child does not have an e-ID, the legal representative can apply by submitting the form Application for an extension of a residence permit, 201011.

Application for an extension of a residence permit, form 201011 Pdf, 690.5 kB, opens in new window.

Applicants who want to use the e-service must log in themselves using their e-ID. Parents can log in using their e-ID and apply for a residence permit extension for their children aged under 18 years.

Children without a parent/legal guardian in Sweden can use the e-service if they have e-ID. The Swedish Migration Agency will contact the child's guardian or specially appointed legal guardian to have the application confirmed.

A legal representative who is helping someone to apply for a residence permit extension must send in the application by post and enclose a written power of attorney.

Yes, you can apply for an extended residence permit for all the reasons stated on the e-service. You can apply for an extension because you

need protection
are a family member of someone in Sweden
study at upper secondary level
want to look for work after completing studies at upper-secondary level
have studied at upper secondary level and can financially support yourself
need to stay in Sweden due to particularly or exceptionally distressing circumstances.

In the e-service, you will find answers to questions about your reasons and you can upload all the documents that needs to be attached to your application. You will also be asked whether you wish to apply for a permanent residence permit in connection with your application for an extension.

When you have completed your application, you will receive confirmation on your screen that the Swedish Migration Agency has received your information. You can also download a summary of your application in the form of a pdf.

Shortly after you submit your application, the Swedish Migration Agency will confirm it has been received by sending an email to the address you entered the first time you logged in to the e-service.

You do not need to call the Swedish Migration Agency to ask if your application has been received. If you want to know whether your application form or attachments you have sent in by post have been received by the Swedish Migration Agency, you can use the "My page" and "Check your application" services. Remember it can take up to one hour for an online application to appear in the system and it may take several days for documents that have been sent in by post to be registered.

Go to the My page and Check your application e-services

Once your application has been registered, the Swedish Migration Agency will send confirmation by email to the email address you provided when you first logged into the e-service, that is, the same email address the login code was sent to. It can take up to one hour for the email to be sent.

If more than one hour has passed and you have still not received confirmation by email, or your application has still not appeared in My page or Check your application, you should log into the e-service again to see if there is a paused application there. Sometimes people pause their application and then forget to complete it. It is important to complete your application before your current residence permit expires. You will know that your application has been completed and submitted to the Swedish Migration Agency when you get the message "The Swedish Migration Agency has received your information" on your screen.

If you are unsure, you can log in to My page or use the Check your application service to see if your application has been registered.

Go to the My page and Check your application e-services

The e-service becomes available to you when you have two months left on your current residence permit. During that time, you can log in to the e-service as many times as you like, provided you have not submitted the application. If you discover that you do not have all your attachments available digitally, you can pause your application and acquire the documents you need. When you are ready you can log in again and continue your application by uploading the documents. Remember that you must complete and submit your application before your current residence permit expires. If you have paused your application, you need to remember to complete it on time. You will not be sent a reminder.

If you submit the application without uploading the required documents for the application, you have to send the missing documents to the Swedish Migration Agency by post within two weeks. If we need to remind you to submit your documents, this may result in a longer processing time.

Use your postal code to find out where to send your application by post External link, opens in new window.

You can upload digital attachments, such as PDFs, or scans or photographs.

You may upload multiple files in the same session, but it is important that you use the upload boxes to attach the required documents. Next to the box, there is a text describing which document you need to upload into the box in question. If you upload a document in the wrong box, it will be more difficult for the administrator to assess whether your application is complete.

Attachments uploaded to the service must be in PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, and TXT file format.

General questions and answers about applying for an extended residence permit

The easiest way to apply is online with your e-ID. If you are unable to apply online, you can send your application by post to the Swedish Migration Agency. You should not make an appointment to submit your application.

You must apply for an extension before your residence permit expires, but no earlier than two months before.

If you do not apply for an extension before your residence permit expires, you are not allowed to work while you are awaiting a decision, and you also 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.

When we examine your application, we will make a decision based on the information we have received. You can supplement your application by sending documents by post to the Swedish Migration Agency if we have not made a decision yet. The processing times can vary, therefore it is not possible to predict when your application will be tried.

Use your postal code to find out where to send your application by post External link, opens in new window.

No, the Swedish Migration Agency can only provide compensation for travel expenses to those registered at one of the Swedish Migration Agency's Unit for Reception and who have a valid Asylum Seeker card.

Where to send your forms and attachments depends on where you live. Use your postal code to find out which address to use.

Use your postal code to find out where to send your application by post External link, opens in new window.

The Swedish Migration Agency cannot answer how long the processing time is going to be. However, if you apply for an extension before your temporary residence permit expires, you have the right to stay in Sweden and continue to work or study while you wait for a decision.

Be sure to attach all documents to your application. If your application needs to be supplemented, it may take longer to process your application.

In the application you can state that you are applying for an extension because you need protection (asylum). You can also provide information as to whether you have new grounds or the same reasons as before.

If you have the same grounds for asylum as before, you normally do not have to visit the Swedish Migration Agency. We will then look at your previous application and make an assessment regarding your need for protection based on the current situation.

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.

If you received a temporary residence permit due to impediments to enforcement after you applied for an asylum, and you believe that you are still unable to return to your country of origin, you can apply for an extended residence permit online or through the form 201011 Pdf, 690.5 kB, opens in new window.. In your application, you must state why you want to stay in Sweden.

We will go over your previous application and the documentation for your last decision, and then contact you if we need to ask additional questions about why you want to stay in Sweden.

It is very important that you apply for an extended residence permit before your current residence permit expires. If you have already received a deportation order and do not apply for an extended residence permit in time, your deportation decision can be enforced when your current residence permit expires.

You can apply for an extended residence permit online or by sending an application form with attachments to the Swedish Migration Agency by post

More frequently asked questions about extending permits for studies at upper-secondary education level

Yes, if you have applied for a residence permit extension in time (that is, before your old residence permit expired), you will be allowed to work while you wait for a decision.

Family

Both you and your family should apply for an extension in the same manner. The easiest way to apply is online with your e-ID. The parents can use their e-ID to submit an application for children under the age of 18. In the application, each person states why he or she wants to stay in Sweden. You can select multiple reasons, and different family members can have different reasons for wanting to stay in Sweden.

After three years in Sweden with a residence permit, you can also apply for a permanent residence permit in connection with your application for an extended residence permit. In this case, each family member must meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit.

The maintenance requirement for close relatives only applies the first time your family applies to relocate to Sweden to live with you. If your family has already been granted a residence permit through ties and lives with you in Sweden, there is no requirement that you must be able to support your family when applying for an extension of their residence permit.

If you are also applying for a permanent residence permit in connection with your application for an extension, each adult family member must be able to financially support himself/herself.

When you apply for an extended residence permit, the general rule is that you are granted a residence permit for two years. This applies to both you and your family. After three years of holding a residence permit in Sweden, both you and your family members can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Frequently asked ques­tions about exten­ding tempo­rary resi­dence permits for former asylum seekers and their fami­lies

Questions and answers about applying for an extended residence permit online

How do I apply for an extension online?

What documents do I need when I make an online application for an extended residence permit?

I made a web application, but I couldn’t upload all the attachments digitally. I want to send in my attachments by post. Where should I send them?

Can I log in with a username and password?

Can I apply if I do not have an e-ID?

How do I get an e-ID?

I don't have an email address, how should I go about it?

My residence permit expires in three months and I want to apply for an extension online, but I cannot log into the e-service, why?

Why am I not eligible to use the e-service?

How soon can I apply for an extension via the e-service?

Can I apply for an extended residence permit for my children online?

My children do not have e-ID. How do I apply for them?

I cannot submit an application for my child through the e-service, what should I do?

Can a guardian use the e-service to apply for an extended residence permit for unaccompanied minors?

Can this service be used by a legal representative who is helping someone with their application or must a paper form be used instead?

Can I apply for an extension based on all the reasons in the e-service?

How do I know if my application for a residence permit extension has been received by the Swedish Migration Agency?

Why have I not received confirmation that my application in the e-service has been received by the Swedish Migration Agency?

I do not have digital copies of all the documents I need to apply in the e-service. What should I do?

How do I upload attachments to the e-service? Which file format can I use?

General questions and answers about applying for an extended residence permit

What should I do to apply for an extended residence permit?

When should I apply for an extension of my residence permit?

What happens if I submit my application for an extension after my current residence permit expires?

What happens if I apply on time, but fail to submit all the attachments before my residence permit expires?

Does the Swedish Migration Agency pay for my trip if I come to an interview?

I want to apply for an extension by post. What address should I send my application to?

How long does it take to receive a decision?

How can I attest that I still need protection and therefore my residence permit in Sweden should be extended?

I have been granted a temporary residence permit due to impediments to enforcement and am still unable to return. What can I do to stay in Sweden?

I have permission under the Swedish Upper Secon­dary School Act. What should I do to apply for an extension of my residence permit?

Can I work while waiting for a decision on extension?

Family

I have been granted asylum, but my family has a residence permit because of connections. What can my family do to stay in Sweden?

Do I have to be able to financially support my family when we apply for an extension?

How long is my family’s residence permit valid?

Frequently asked questions about extending temporary residence permits for former asylum seekers and their families