You are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country and want to move to Sweden to live with your family member who is a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Norway or Iceland.
If you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country and want to live in Sweden with a family member who is a Nordic citizen, you can either apply for a residence permit in accordance with Swedish rules or use EU/EEA rules and apply for a residence card.
Your family member who is a Nordic citizen can also be considered an EU/EEA citizen. You can therefore choose to use EU/EEA rules and apply for a residence card under those rules. In order to do so, your family member must meet the requirements for right of residence through work, running their own company, by studying here, or by living here with sufficient financial means to support themselves.
If you want to apply for a residence card, you can read more and apply on the page You want to apply – Family of EU/EEA citizens
If you want to apply for a residence permit according to Swedish rules, you can find more information about how to apply on the page You want to apply – Live with someone.
Depending on whether you choose to apply under the Swedish rules or the EU/EEA ones, the requirements and conditions differ:
Residence permit under the Swedish rules | Residence card under the EU/EEA rules |
|---|---|
To be able to be granted a residence permit, the family member in Sweden must be able to support their entire family. | In order for you to be granted a residence card, your family member must meet the requirements for right of residence through work, self-employment, studies, or by having sufficient funds to support themselves. |
If you plan to get married, become cohabiting partners or registered partners, but do not yet have this civil status, your residence permit must be granted before you enter Sweden. | If you plan to get married, become cohabiting partners or registered partners, but do not yet have this civil status, you cannot be granted a residence card. |
Possibility of being granted a permanent residence permit after three years in Sweden with a residence permit. | Possibility of being granted a permanent residence card after five years in Sweden with right of residence. |
Your residence permit can be revoked if the relationship ends. | Your right to be in Sweden may be revoked if the relationship ends, or if the family member in Sweden no longer meets the requirements for right of residence. |
You can apply for a residence permit on the page You want to apply – Live with someone | You can apply for a residence card on the page You want to apply – Family of EU/EEA citizens |
2025-09-11
How you will be affected when extended passports become invalid
We have previously reported that Swedish authorities will not accept extended passports from 1 October 2025. Here we answer frequently asked questions about what this means and who will be affected.
2025-07-23
Extended passports become invalid on 1 October
As of 1 October 2025, Swedish authorities will no longer accept passports that have had their period of validity extended by inserting a stamp or sticker into the passport. If you have such a national passport, you should apply for a new one.
2025-05-20
Are you going to visit the National Government Service Centre?
From May onwards, there will be changes to which of the Government Service Centers offer the services of the Swedish Migration Agency.
Cohabiting partners means a couple who are not married but who live together as if they were.
