Recently, we have received many questions about family reunification with Swedish citizens. Therefore — briefly and to the point: what are family grounds for a residence permit, when to apply, and what the waiting process looks like.

When it comes to residence permits based on family ties, this usually refers to permits as a spouse, cohabiting partner, or children under 18 to a person living in Sweden.

It is important to remember: cohabitation (sambo) and marriage provide the same right to apply, but the Swedish Migration Agency always checks whether the relationship is genuine, whether you have lived or plan to live together, and whether there are any inconsistencies in the provided information.

The person you are reuniting with is usually:
– a Swedish citizen
– a person with permanent residence
– sometimes with temporary residence, if there are prospects for long-term stay

Not every status qualifies, so this must be checked under the law.

Maintenance requirements

The Migration Agency assesses whether the person you are reuniting with meets the maintenance requirements.

These consist of two parts:
– stable income sufficient after housing costs
– accommodation of adequate size for the family

Possible exceptions:
– if the applicant is a child
– if the sponsor is a Swedish/EU citizen, you are married or cohabiting, and the relationship is well established

How is an established relationship proven? Most often through long-term cohabitation abroad. However, this is not an absolute requirement. An exception may apply if requiring maintenance would be unreasonable.

Important: this is always an individual assessment. Everything must be clearly explained in the application.

Main rule: apply before entry

The application for a residence permit must be submitted and approved before entering Sweden. Under the law, an application generally cannot be granted after entry.

In a typical situation, the applicant must wait for a decision outside Sweden. In recent years, applicants waiting in Sweden often received refusals, while those waiting abroad had a higher success rate.

Exception to the rule

The most important exception is provided in the Aliens Act (Chapter 5, Section 18, paragraph 5). It applies where there is a strong connection to a person in Sweden and it would be unreasonable to require departure to apply.

Arguments concerning children and separation are often used here. The law requires special consideration of the child’s best interests. This is more commonly applied in reunification cases involving children. For partners, the likelihood is significantly lower.

The Migration Agency assesses:
– the strength of the relationship
– its authenticity
– consequences of separation for the child
– duration of separation
– legal stay
– possibility to apply earlier
– other relevant circumstances

Processing time

Usually 12–18 months. After six months, you may request a decision. The authority must respond within four weeks, after which the decision may be appealed.

Family reunification with a Swedish citizen and residence rights as a family member of an EU citizen are different legal frameworks. In the latter case, no residence permit is required if residence rights apply. However, if the partner holds dual citizenship and is a Swedish citizen, a residence permit is required.

As someone who has personally gone through family reunification, I can say that it is a stable process in the long term. However, for individuals under temporary protection already living in Sweden, the process can be difficult, as it may require leaving the country, interrupting studies or work, and waiting for an extended period.

The Empower HUB project is implemented by HUG and partners. Co-funded by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).