New rules for family members of long-term residents in another EU country

From 1 October 2026, new rules will apply to family members of people who have long-term resident status in another EU country.

From 1 October, new rules will apply if you want to apply for a residence permit as a family member of someone who has long-term resident status in another EU country. The rules apply if you are applying for the first time or if you have already applied and are waiting for a decision.

Transitional rules for extensions

If you have applied or are going to apply for an extension, you do not need to meet the new requirements if you apply for an extension no later than 1 October 2027. This applies if you were granted your current permit before 1 October 2026. During this transitional period, your application for an extension will therefore be considered under the rules that applied until 1 October 2026.

No transitional rules if you are applying for the first time

There are no transitional rules if you are applying for the first time. This means that the new rules will also apply if you have already applied and are waiting for a decision. Below, you can read about what the changes mean.

Changes to who is considered a family member

From 1 October 2026, the following people are considered family members:

  • the partner (spouse, cohabiting partner or registered partner) of the person in Sweden
  • children under the age of 18 of the person in Sweden or their partner.

The family must have lived together in the first EU country

Another change from 1 October is a requirement that the family must have been formed in the first EU country. This means that you have or have had a residence permit in that EU country and have lived there together with your family member. For you to be granted a residence permit to live with the person in Sweden, the family must have lived together in the first EU country.

The family member in Sweden must meet a maintenance requirement

From 1 October, a maintenance requirement will apply to the family member in Sweden. This means that they must be able to support themselves and their family and have enough money to cover the family’s basic living and housing needs. Your income may also be included in the family’s total income.

Your family member in Sweden must

  • be able to fully support themselves and their family with their own funds, so that their basic needs for living expenses and housing are met. Your family member may also include your income as part of the family’s total income.

Your family member’s financial maintenance

Your family member needs to show that they have regular income sufficient for your financial maintenance. Income includes, for example

  • salary/wages from work
  • income from their own business (if they are self-employed)
  • sickness benefit.

Your family member may also meet the maintenance requirement if they have sufficient assets for you to live on.

The following are not counted as income:

  • income from subsidised employment
  • unemployment insurance benefits
  • activity grants
  • other benefits related to unemployment

Your family member’s income

The amount of income your family member needs depends on how large your family is and how high your housing costs are.

Your family member’s income after tax must be high enough so that after the monthly rent is paid, they still have a certain amount of money left over that can cover the costs of food, clothing, personal hygiene, telephony, and insurance for everyone in the household.

In 2026, the amount your family member must have left over after tax and the rent is paid is:

  • SEK 8,116 for a single adult
  • SEK 13,408 for cohabiting spouses or cohabiting partners
  • SEK 4,337 for children 0–6 years of age
  • SEK 5,205 for children 7–10 years of age
  • SEK 6,074 for children 11–14 years of age
  • SEK 6,941 for children 15 years of age or older.

The amounts applicable to children are reduced by any child allowance and large family supplement.

Exemptions from the maintenance requirement

The maintenance requirement does not apply in the following case:

  • There are special grounds for an exemption, for example because illness or a disability has permanently reduced your family member’s ability to work.

If you do not meet the new requirements

If you have not yet applied and do not meet the new requirements, you will need to apply for another type of permit in order to come to Sweden. The type of residence permit you should apply for depends on what you intend to do in Sweden. If the basis for your residence permit is your relationship with the family member who has long-term resident status, you should instead apply for a residence permit to live with someone in Sweden.

You want to apply – Live with someone

Migrationsverket - Desktop Logo Footer

The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for considering applications from people who want to live in Sweden, seek protection or become Swedish citizens. Our work is based on Swedish laws and international conventions, with a focus on legal certainty and effective reception and return.