What a permanent residence permit is
A permanent residence permit (permanent uppehållstillstånd, PUT) gives you the right to live and work in Sweden with no time limit. Unlike a temporary permit, you do not need to renew it while it remains valid. Migrationsverket, the Swedish Migration Agency, grants the permit and decides which conditions apply in your particular case.
A permanent residence permit is not the same as citizenship. With a PUT you are still a citizen of another country, but you may stay in Sweden. Many people apply for Swedish citizenship later — the time you live here on a permit counts towards the habitual-residence requirement.
Who can get a permanent residence permit
A permanent residence permit is not granted automatically. As a rule you must already have lived in Sweden on a temporary residence permit for a certain period before a permanent one can be granted. Exactly how long is required depends on the type of permit you hold and is decided by Migrationsverket.
- You have held a residence permit in Sweden for the required period
- You can support yourself
- You are judged to lead an orderly life
The conditions, in brief
The requirement to support yourself — the maintenance requirement — means having an income that is enough to live on, for example from work or your own business. What counts, which exemptions exist, and exactly how long you must have lived in Sweden are details that change and that only Migrationsverket can confirm in your case.
The conditions for a permanent residence permit sit close to the laws and rules that govern residence permits and citizenship. This page explains how the system is meant to work — it does not replace what the agency tells you.
How to apply
You apply for a permanent residence permit through Migrationsverket, usually at the same time as you extend your current permit. Which documents you need, how to apply and how long processing takes are always most up to date on Migrationsverket's own website — we link to it below.
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.