Temporary Residency for Sweden

Permanent residency for Sweden

In general any Non-EU/EEA or Nordic applicant wishing to reside in Sweden for a period longer than 90 days is required to apply for a temporary residency permit. Typically, this permit is applied for and obtained prior to the applicant visiting the country. The applicant is required to apply for this particular visa through the Swedish Consulate or Embassy in their residence country. This is where an applicant applies for and receives approval for a residence permit. After this, they are entitled to live and work in Sweden. Further, applicants who have lived in Sweden for a minimum of 5 years are entitled to apply for a permanent resident permit. A permission of permanent residence will allow the applicant to live in Sweden without a passport for an indefinite period of time.

The main condition of the permanent residence permit is that the applicant must remain domiciled in Sweden, which means that a residence permit can therefore be revoked if the applicant leaves the country for more than one year. Other instances where your residence permit can be revoked are:

• A false identity in your application process

• You committed a crime or had illegal intent

• False information or withheld relevant information in your visa application

Certain documents are required in order to apply for a residence visa.

To be issued permanent resident status, you must

• Have lived continuously in Sweden for 5 years,

• Have had a residence permit for the last 5 years,

• Be able to support yourself and your family.

If you have had a Swedish residence permit for, for instance, studies or for a visit, you cannot count this period of time. That is because this type of permit is issued for a limited time, not to those who intend to live in the country.

Those who have been issued a Swedish residence permit as individuals otherwise in need of protection cannot be issued permanent resident status.

Citizenship for Sweden:

If you want to become a Swedish citizen, you have to submit an application to the Swedish Migration Agency. Those who want to become Swedish citizens must have reached the age of 18, have a permanent residence permit and have lived in Sweden for about five years. Children under the age of 18 can become Swedish citizens at the same time as a foreign father or mother.

If you are a citizen of Switzerland or in an EU/EEA country, you are able to travel freely within the European Union (EU). At present, 26 of the EU’s 28 member states are included in an agreement called the Schengen Agreement. This means that EU citizens can travel freely over these countries’ borders. If you are the citizen of a country outside the EU, what is called a third country national, you can also travel freely between the countries that are party to the Schengen Agreement. However, you can only travel for a maximum of three months.

If you wish to become Swedish you will need to apply for naturalization. To obtain Swedish citizenship you must meet the following requirements:

• Being at least 18 years of age.

• Holding permanent residence permit in Sweden.

• Living in Sweden for at least five consecutive years or two if you are a Nordic citizen.

• Having no criminal record.

The requirements can vary according to the applicant’s personal circumstances. Children that are under 15 and whose parent is obtaining Swedish citizenship can also obtain it by simple notification. To apply you will need to prove your identity using an original identity document from your home country. You will also need to fill in the application forms (which are only available in Swedish) and pay a fee of SEK 1,500. Application forms are available only in Swedish on the Swedish Migration Board’s website.

Dual nationality

Sweden legislation accepts holding dual or multiple citizenships. A Swede who has been given a foreign nationality will not lose his original nationality. Similarly foreigners obtaining Swedish citizenship will not lose their previous nationality, except if their country of origin does not recognize dual citizenship.

Work Permit for Sweden

A work permit is a decision by the Swedish Migration Agency that gives a foreign citizen the right to work in Sweden. The main rule is that you have to apply for a work permit and have been granted the permit before you travel to Sweden. Nordic citizens, EU/EEA citizens, Swiss citizens and their family members do not need to apply. People who have been resident in one of the above mentioned places for five years do not need to apply for a work permit either.

A self-employed person does not need a work permit, but must have a residence permit.

Nordic citizens

You won’t be required to issue any kind of permit or registration to live and work in Sweden if you are a citizen of the Nordic passport union (Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden).

EU/EEA citizens

The same applies for the citizens of the EU/EEA who are staying for less than three months in Sweden, there is no need for a permit to live and work in Sweden. You can start getting a job without registering at the Swedish Migration Board. In case you want to stay longer than three months, you must register in order to continue to be legally resident in the country. This is given to self-employed, students, service providers, employees and to those who have sufficient funds to support themselves. The certificate will be stretched to EU/EEA family members.

Non-EU citizens

In case you are a citizen from a country outside the EU/EEA you will need a residence permit and a work. The entry requirements are similar to EU/EEA citizens for individuals who already have a visa of permanent residency for an EU country or Switzerland.

Otherwise, there is a need to obtain a work permit and, if you are planning to stay more than 3 months, permission of residency will also be required (this will be received along with your permission of work). To be granted a permission of work you must have an employment offer prior to your arrival in Sweden. After 4 years of employment in Sweden, the holder is eligible for a permanent residence permit. Permission of residence can be given to members of your family for the same period of time. If you receive a permit for at least six months, members of your family can also obtain work permits.

As it was already mentioned the work and residence permit must be obtained and attached to the passport before arriving to the country. There are some exceptions, notably for students who have completed a number of postgraduate credits and who want to get a job in the country. Exceptionally, the candidates that are present in the country for an interview can be given a permit, in case the employment starts immediately and in case there is high demand in the sector.

If you are given a work/residence permit, a residence permit will automatically be received by your family for the duration of your stay. In this situation, your legal partner and your or his/her children under 18 are considered to be family, or if your child depended on you just before you left for Sweden (in order to find more see residence permit section).

Requirements for a work permit

•Offer employment terms that match those set by Swedish collective agreements or those that are customary within the occupation or industry

•The job you are applying for must have been advertised in the EU/EEA for at least ten days

•A minimum monthly salary of 13,000 SEK before taxes.

Visa for Sweden