Planning to get married or become a cohabiting partner
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and want to move to a family member in Sweden, you require a residence permit. You can be granted a residence permit if you are planning to marry or become the cohabiting partner of someone in Sweden.
The family member in Sweden must be a Swedish citizen, have a permanent residence permit, a right of permanent residence, a permanent residence card or have a temporary residence permit as a refugee or person in need of subsidiary protection, on the grounds of impediments to enforcement or exceptionally distressing circumstances, and is considered to have well-founded prospects of being granted a residence permit for a longer period. It is also a requirement that you can show that you have a serious relationship that was already established in the country of origin, but that you did not have the possibility of living together in the country of origin.
Both you and your family member must be 21 years or older in order for you to be able to obtain a residence permit in Sweden. Exceptions can only be made if there are particular reasons, for example if you have children together.
Future spouses or cohabiting partners
You may be granted a residence permit if you are planning to marry or become the cohabiting partner of someone who lives in Sweden.
Instructions for online application
If your partner have a residence permit in Sweden in order to work or study you should apply for a residence permit as a family member for her or him.
Read more about how to apply as a family member to a person with a work permit in Sweden
Maintenance requirement
The person you are to live with in Sweden must be able to support you both. He or she must also have suitable accommodation in terms of size and standard, where you can live together when you move to Sweden.
Read more about the maintenance requirements
You must be able to prove your identity
In order to obtain a residence permit to move to someone in Sweden, you must be able to prove your identity. You usually do this with a valid passport.
Vanida lives in Thailand and has met Olle from Sweden. They have decided that they want to live together in Sweden. Vanida applies for a residence permit online. As Vanida has a child from a previous relationship who will move with her to Sweden, she includes a residence permit application for the child in the same online application. She has also asked her ex-husband for approval to have the child move to Sweden. Olle is sent a questionnaire by email. When Olle has answered the questionnaire, the Swedish Migration Agency begins processing Vanida's application. Vanida gets an email with information about scheduling an interview at the Swedish embassy in Bangkok. Vanida's child must also come to the interview.
If Vanida is granted a residence permit she will also be issued with a residence permit card. This card proves that she has permission to live in Sweden and it contains information such as her fingerprints and photograph. Vanida therefore has her fingerprints and photograph taken at the interview. Vanida's child is also photographed but does not need to have fingerprints taken as the child is under 6 years of age. Vanida cannot move to Sweden until she has received her residence permit and the residence permit card is ready. She will receive the residence permit decision and residence permit card through the Swedish embassy.
Kim and Charlie met online. Charlie visited Kim in China and they became a couple. While Kim is visiting Charlie in Sweden, they decide that they want to live together in Sweden. Kim submits a residence permit application to the Swedish Migration Agency.
The Migration Agency rejects the application as he must apply from his country of origin. Kim returns to China and applies online instead.