Since 11 June 2026, you can apply for another kind of residence permit without leaving Sweden first. This is for people who hold protection under the massflyktsdirektivet (the EU mass-flight directive), which mainly covers people who fled Ukraine.
Normally you must apply for a new permit from outside Sweden. From 11 June 2026, people on the directive are exempt from that rule. You can apply from here.
Which permits you can apply for
You can apply from inside Sweden for these permit types:
- Work permit (arbetstillstånd).
- Permit to run your own business.
- Research permit.
- Studies in higher education.
- EU Blue Card (EU-blåkort, a permit for highly qualified work).
Family members can apply as your dependants at the same time.
The normal rules still apply
This change is about where you apply from, not an automatic new permit. You must still meet the normal requirements for the permit you want, and those requirements are different for each type.
Apply before your current permit ends
Timing matters. If your directive permit runs out while Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency) is still handling your new application, you can still get the new permit. The condition is that you met the requirements and applied before your current permit ended.
How long the directive lasts
Protection under the mass-flight directive is temporary. The EU decides how long it lasts, and the end date can be extended. Check Migrationsverket's page for the current end date before you plan around it.
What to do now
If you are on the directive and want a work, study, business, or research permit, you can now apply from inside Sweden. Check the requirements for that permit first.
This article describes the rule. Only Migrationsverket can tell you which permit you qualify for and what applies in your case.
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.
