International-protection applicant

You want to apply for international protection (asylum) in Sweden, because you are being persecuted or risk persecution or inhumane treatment in your country of origin.

Sweden is a party to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Among other things, this means that Sweden must examine each person’s application for international protection individually. Sweden must grant a residence permit to anyone who is a refugee or a person in need of subsidiary protection according to the EU’s common rules.

According to the Refugee Convention, EU rules and Swedish law, you are a refugee if you have a well-founded fear of persecution due to one of the following: your race your nationality your religious or political views your gender your sexual orientation the fact that you belong to a particular social group.

The persecution can be from individuals or from the authorities in your country of origin. You must show that it is likely that the national authorities are unable or unwilling to protect you from persecution by individuals or groups.

Under EU rules and Swedish law, you are in need of subsidiary protection if there is reason to assume that any of the following applies to you and your situation in your country of origin: You are at risk of being punished with death. You are at risk of corporal punishment, torture, or other inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. As a civilian, you are at serious risk of injury due to armed conflict.

If, during the investigation of your application, it emerges that you have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, or other serious crimes, or if you pose a threat to national security, you cannot be granted international protection in Sweden.

You cannot apply for international protection (asylum) before you arrive in Sweden. You must be in Sweden or on a border with Sweden.

If you encounter border police when you enter Sweden, tell them that you want to apply for international protection. Border police are located, for example, at passport controls at international airports, at ferry terminals, and wherever trains and buses enter Sweden. The border police will ask you some questions and then refer you to the Swedish Migration Agency, which will register your application for international protection.

If you are already in Sweden, please visit the Swedish Migration Agency to submit an application. You can apply for international protection at one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s Reception and Return Centres in Malmö, Gothenburg, Stockholm or Boden.

The police or the Swedish Migration Agency do a first check of your identity

Your fingerprints are used to see who you are and if you have applied for international protection in any other EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, or if you have a permit or are subject to a travel ban in any of these countries.

The health examination is carried out by medical staff and the purpose is to give you emergency help if you need it, and to check whether you have any infectious diseases.

You and your family apply together, and you will then be summoned to a joint interview. Children also need to show who they are by submitting identity documents. It is especially important for the Swedish Migration Agency to know how old your children are, since children who apply for international protection have different rights than adults.

Once you have applied for international protection, you will be assigned a place at one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s accommodations.

If you do not have your own money, you may also be entitled to financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency.

You will receive written information about the application process and what you need to do. We tell you about the right to free legal advise, and that you need to request to get it in order for us to assess whether you have the right to it. You will also receive information about practical issues, such as your right to accommodation, financial aid, care, and schooling for your children.

You can tell the border police at the Swedish border that you want international protection. In Sweden, you can also tell the police, the Swedish Migration Agency or the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

Organisations that can support those who have applied for international protection Amnesty International External link. Caritas Sweden External link. Flyktinggruppernas och asylkommittéernas riksråd External link. RFSL Newcomers External link. Asylrättscentrum External link. Save the Children Sweden External link. The Swedish Red Cross External link. The Swedish Red Cross Treatment Centres for Persons Affected by War and Torture External link. Social Mission External link. The Church of Sweden External link. Informationsverige.se External link.

It is illegal to provide inaccurate information about your identity. If you are granted international protection and it turns out that you have provided false identity documents or incorrect information about your identity, the Swedish Migration Agency may revoke your protection and decide that you should be expelled from Sweden. We report suspected fraud to the police, and this can lead to an investigation and legal consequences.