Adult residence permit to live with another relative

You want to apply for a residence permit to live with a relative in Sweden who is not your spouse, cohabiting partner, or child.

It is very difficult to get a residence permit to move to Sweden to live with a relative who is not a close family member. By close family members, we mean married or cohabiting couples and their children.

Your relative in Sweden must have one of the following: permanent residence permit temporary residence permit due to a need for protection or particularly distressing circumstances, with a well-founded prospect of being granted a residence permit for a longer period.

You and your relative must have lived together in your country of origin immediately before the relative moved to Sweden.

You and your relative must be socially and emotionally dependent on each other in a way that makes it very difficult for you to live apart. Your interdependence must have already existed in your country of origin and go beyond the usual dependence that typically exists in a family. You cannot be granted a residence permit if you are solely dependent on the person in Sweden for your financial support.

Document(s) showing how you and the person in Sweden are related to each other Certificate(s) showing that you and your relative in Sweden are dependent on each other and find it difficult to live apart Document(s) showing that you lived with your relative immediately before they moved to Sweden

During the interview, you will answer questions about your relationship with the person in Sweden.

Your relative in Sweden must be able to support both of you and have a large enough home to house you both. Some people may be exempt from the maintenance requirement.

If you want to move to Sweden, fill in the application and attach the necessary documents. In your application, you indicate which Swedish embassy or consulate-general you wish to visit for your interview.

You can be granted a residence permit for a maximum of two years, but never for longer than your passport is valid.

Your residence permit can be extended.

Yes, this permit gives you the right to work and study.

From 1 October 2026, new rules for immigration due to family ties will apply. This will affect you if you are a reference person in Sweden or if you are applying for, or want to extend, a residence permit to live with a family member in Sweden.