Sweden Residence Permits

Sweden issues residence permits for anyone who wants to work, study, seek family reunification, or stay in Sweden for longer than three months (90 days). You can register for a Sweden dwelling permit only if you meet all the requirements. The residence license must be obtained before you enter Sweden.

Types of Sweden Residence Permits

There are several residence permits in Sweden that you can register for:

  • Residence permit for work.
  • Residence permit for studying.
  • Residence permit for marriage.
  • Residence permit by investment.

Furthermore, your residence permit can be either temporary or permanent depending on what is your reason for moving to Sweden

Residence permit for work

A residence permit for the purpose of work is issued to everyone who have obtained a work permit. Individuals employed in Sweden can obtain a residence permit if they meet the conditions:

  • They have been employed in Sweden for four years within a seven-year period.
  • They have sufficient income to support themselves as employees or self-employed people.
  • They must work for the same employer and the same job position.

Resi­dence permit for studies in higher educa­tion

If you are admitted to a higher education institution in Sweden for longer than three months, you can register for a residence permit. The permit must be issued before entering Sweden.

The requirements for a residence permit for studying are:

  • You must have a valid passport.
  • You must be admitted to a full-time study program in Sweden that requires your physical attendance.
  • You must be able to support yourself financially.
  • You must pay the tuition fee prior to submitting the application.
  • You must have health insurance.

Residence permit for family reunification

Citizens outside of the EU who want to reunite with their family members in Sweden need a residence permit.

The requirements for a residence permit for family reunification are:

  • The person you are going to live with in Sweden must have sufficient income to support both of you.
  • The person you are going to live with should have a home of sufficient size and standard for both of you.

Residence permit by investment

You can get a permanent residence permit in Sweden by contributing to the country’s development through investment. Wealthy people with the required funds can register for a Golden visa and automatically get a residence permit.

How to Register for a Sweden Residence Permit

There are two ways to register for a Sweden residence permit:

  • Online (e-service)
  • In person (embassy/ consulate-general)

Applying Online

One of the easiest and quickest ways to register for a residence permit is to apply online. The online applications go directly to the Swedish Migration Agency.  When registering online, you will receive clear instructions on how to fill out the application and what to include. Go to the Swedish Migration Agency webpage and start your online application.

Applying at the Embassy or Consulate/general

If for any reason an online application is unavailable in your country, follow the steps below to register in person for a Sweden residence permit at an embassy or consulate:

  1. Fill in the appli­ca­tion. Fill in the application form and attach the required documents before submitting them to the embassy or consulate-general.
  2. Submit your appli­ca­tion to the embassy or consu­late-general. Submit the application to the Swedish Embassy or consulate in the country you are currently living in, or another representative of the Swedish embassy nearest to you.
  3. The application is sent to the Swedish Migration Agency. After submitting the application, the Swedish Migration Agency will decide whether you meet the requirements for a residence permit or not.
  4. Receive the deci­sion. The embassy will notify you about your residence permit application status.

Sweden Residence Permit Fees

The table below presents the fees for residence permits in Sweden:

RESIDENCE PERMIT FEE
Residence/Work permit for the purpose of family reunification for people who are at least 18 years old200€
Residence/Work for the purpose of family reunification for people younger than 18 years old100€
Resident permit for purposes of studies150€
Residence permit for purposes of work200€
Residence permit for visit (Adults)150€ 
Residence permit for visit (Minors)75€

Sweden Residence Permit Duration

A Sweden residence permit is valid for three years with the possibility of extending to a maximum of five years. After having a residence permit for five years, you can apply for a Sweden permanent residence permit.

Sweden Residence Permit Extension

If you want to continue your stay in Sweden after your temporary residence expires, you need to apply for a permit extension. The application process depends on the type of residence permit you have registered for.  Keep in mind that you must apply for a new residence permit before your temporary residence permit expires.

Sweden Residence Permit Card

A residence permit card is received after obtaining a residence permit as proof that you are allowed to live in Sweden. You are required to have the residence permit card with you when you go to government agencies or health care services and show the card together with your passport when you travel.

The residence permit card holds information about what type of permit you have and the validity of your card, together with your personal data. A residence permit card is valid for only three years, however, if you have a long-term resident’s permit in the EU, the validity of your residence permit card will be five years.

How to Check the Status of My Sweden Residence Card?

Visit the webpage of the Swedish Migration Agency to check the status of your Sweden residence permit card. To use the e-services, you must log in to your account. After login into your account, you will have access to the information you are looking for.

Sweden Permanent Residence Permit

Since July 2021, there are new special requirements that applicants must meet in order to get a permanent residence permit in Sweden. The new requirements apply to everyone, regardless of their residence permit type.

To obtain a residence permit, all applicants must:

  • Meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (may be subject to change based on the type of permit you have at the time of application). To obtain a permanent residence, you must meet the requirements for an extended residence permit. If you do not meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit, you can obtain a continued temporary residence.
  • Have an uninterrupted residence permit for a certain period of time (may be subject to change based on the type of permit you have at the time of application). You must have had a residence permit for three years before obtaining a permanent residence permit. Self-employed people and quota refugees with a residence permit are exempt from this requirement.
  • Have enough income to support themselves financially during their stay in Sweden. You must be able to support yourself financially through income from your job or your own business, or a combination of both.
  • Live a formal life. The Swedish Parliament does not permit individuals who are likely to commit crimes in the future to obtain permanent residence in Sweden. To obtain a permanent residence permit, you must live an orderly life in the future. The Swedish Migration Agency will look at your previous way of living to make an assessment of whether you are eligible or not.

Note: Other rules apply for those who have a residence permit for upper secondary level studies or a residence permit to allow them to look for a job after completing their studies.

How to Apply for a Permanent Residence Permit in Sweden?

You can only register for a permanent residence permit by filing an application for an extended work permit via the online services. The application process to extend your current permit and obtain a permanent residence permit changes based on the type of permit you already have.

If your application for a permanent residence permit is successful, you will become a permanent resident in Sweden and receive a permanent residence card. As a result, you won’t be required to extend or renew your residence permit, but your residence card is valid for one to five years, so you may be required to renew your residence card.

How Long After Can I Obtain Sweden Citizenship?

After five years of continuous residence in Sweden you can register for citizenship. Your five years are counted differently based on the type of residence permit you had while you lived in the country. Usually, the time you lived under a permit that leads to permanent residence permit is counted towards that period. However, you need to check with the Migration Office to make sure that you are eligible for citizenship.

Can I Lose My Permanent Residence Permit?

Yes, you can lose your permanent residence permit if:

  • You leave Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency must be notified that you want to retain your permanent residence permit. In that situation, you can stay abroad for up to two years without your permit being affected. If you do not return to Sweden after two years, the Migration Agency will withdraw your residence.
  • You give false information. You can lose your permanent residence permit if you give false identity when applying for a residence permit or if you lie for something that is significant related to your residence permit.
  • You have a criminal record. You can be deported from Sweden if you have a criminal record or have been convicted of a crime. The Migration Agency will also withdraw your residence permit, even if you had a permit for several years.

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