If you are trying to become varaktigt bosatt (EU long-term resident, a status for people who have lived here a long time), the rules changed on 12 July 2026. You now get a permit that lasts five years, not a permanent one.
This applies to new grants. If you already had a permanent uppehållstillstånd (PUT, permanent residence permit) when you got the status, you keep your PUT.
What changed on 12 July 2026
Before, being granted status as varaktigt bosatt came with a permanent uppehållstillstånd. Now the same status comes with a time-limited permit for five years. You renew it five years at a time, as long as you still meet the requirements.
One thing is important. While you hold the varaktigt bosatt permit, you cannot be granted a PUT. Migrationsverket states that you will not get a permanent permit later, not as varaktigt bosatt and not on any other basis.
Who can become varaktigt bosatt
The main requirements have not changed. You need a long, unbroken stay in Sweden and you need to support yourself.
- About five years of unbroken residence in Sweden.
- Självförsörjning (self-support): you support yourself through work, your own business, or sufficient means.
- A valid passport.
The government also acted on misuse. On 18 March 2026 it asked Migrationsverket to counter extensive fusk (misuse) in the varaktigt bosatt system. That is part of why the checks matter.
What to do now
If you were counting on this status to give you a permanent permit, plan for a five-year permit instead. If you already hold a PUT, nothing changes for you.
This is general information, not advice for your case. Whether you qualify, and what the change means for your own application, is something only Migrationsverket can tell you.
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.
