Moving to family in Sweden — frequently asked questions
Who you can join or bring, the maintenance requirement and who is exempt, moving to a partner, your family's right to work, and how to apply.
Questions in this category
Can I bring my spouse and children to Sweden, and is there a maintenance requirement (försörjningskrav)?
A person living in Sweden can usually apply to bring a spouse, cohabiting partner and children. In most cases a maintenance requirement (försörjningskrav) applies: after housing costs, enough income must remain to support the household, and the home must be large enough. Some are exempt. Amounts change yearly — check the current figures with Migrationsverket.
I want to move to my partner in Sweden but we're not married and haven't lived together — can I get a residence permit?
Yes. Sweden grants permits for a newly established relationship where you plan to marry or become sambo but have not yet lived together. It must be serious, you are normally both over 21, and you must intend to live together in Sweden. Without prior cohabitation, deferred immigration assessment usually applies — check current rules at Migrationsverket.
If I move to a family member in Sweden, can I work and can my children go to school?
Generally yes to both. A family member's residence permit normally includes the right to work — no separate work permit while it is valid, though for some it starts at 16. Children with a permit may attend preschool and free compulsory school like other resident children. The exact scope depends on your permit — verify at Migrationsverket.
I have refugee/protection status — is my family exempt from the maintenance requirement, and how fast must they apply?
If you hold refugee status, the maintenance requirement does not apply if your family applies within three months of the day you got your decision. The window is strict — apply late and it generally applies. Those with subsidiary protection are normally not covered. Check your exact status at Migrationsverket.
How do I apply for a family residence permit, from where, and how long does it take?
The family member usually applies from outside Sweden via Migrationsverket's online e-service, then attends an embassy interview with their passport. The person already in Sweden answers questions about income, housing and the relationship. There is no fixed waiting time — check current processing times at Migrationsverket.
My family member is an EU/EES citizen in Sweden and I'm from outside the EU — do the ordinary family-permit rules apply to me?
No — you fall under EU free-movement rules, not the ordinary Swedish family-permit rules. As a non-EU family member of an EU/EES citizen with right of residence, you have a derived right. For stays over three months you apply for a residence card, which documents that right, not creates it. Confirm eligibility at Migrationsverket.
Read more on SVI Fokus
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.
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