Residence permits for children moving to someone other than their parent in Sweden
An unmarried child under 18 years of age may, in exceptional cases, be granted a residence permit in Sweden in order to move to a person who is not one of the child's parents. The child and the person in question must be socially and emotionally interdependent.
Right to represent the child
In order for the Migration Agency to be able to process the child's application for a residence permit, the application must be made by a person who is legally entitled to represent the child in his or her home country.
Important to remember before applying
In order for the Migration Agency to be able to assess the child's right to a residence permit, it is important to describe in the application the relationship between the child and the person in Sweden, and why the child is moving to Sweden now.
Must have lived together in the home country
The child and the person in Sweden (the reference person) must have lived together in the home country, and must have done so during the period immediately before the reference person moved to Sweden. The reference person must have a permanent residence permit in Sweden when the application is made, or have been granted a temporary residence permit as a refugee or person with subsidiary protection status, and be considered to have well-founded prospects of being granted a residence permit for a longer period. As a rule, it is not possible to obtain a residence permit for the child if the reference person's permanent residence permit in Sweden was issued a long time before the application is made. Exceptions may be made if the applicant has special reasons for such an interval.
Interdependent
In addition to the requirement that the child and the reference person have lived together, the Migration Agency will assess how strongly interdependent they are. They must be socially and emotionally interdependent, making it difficult for them to live apart. This interdependence must have existed in the country of origin and must go beyond the kind of dependence that normally exists within families. The child will not be granted a residence permit if s/he is only dependent on the reference person in Sweden for his or her maintenance.
Maintenance requirement
The person with whom the child is going to live in Sweden must be able to support him/herself as well as the child. S/he must also have a home of sufficient size and standard for them to live in together when the child moves to Sweden.
How to make the child's application
To apply you fill in form Application for a residence permit to settle in Sweden – for a child under the age 18, 163011, and hand it in to the embassy or consulate-general in the country where the child is living. The application form specifies which documents you need to enclose. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit the application.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general
External link, opens in new window.
If there is no possibility of applying in the country where the child is living, you must apply at the embassy or consulate-general closest to the country where the child is living. Contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information before handing in the application.
In most cases, you will have to pay a fee.
Application fees for residence permits
You pay the fee when you hand in your application. For information about fees, contact the particular embassy or consulate-general since they do not follow the same rules for fees as the Swedish Migration Agency.
What to include with the child's application
- copies of the child's passport showing personal data, a photo, a signature (if applicable), passport number, country of issue, the passport's period of validity and if the child has residence permits in any countries other than his or her country of origin
- a document certifying that you are legally entitled to represent the child in his/her country of origin
- description of how the child and the person in Sweden were interdependent in the country of origin.
Make sure that the information on the documents you attach is clearly visible. Check that the numbers and characters at the top and bottom of the passport pages is clear and legible.
When we have received the child's application
Once the Migration Agency has examined the child's application you will receive a mail asking you to make an appointment with the relevant embassy or consulate-general for an interview with the child. During the interview, the child will be asked questions about him or herself and about his or her relationship with the person in Sweden. The child will be required to present his/her passport and other original documents attached to the application. The child will also be required to provide fingerprints and be photographed for his/her residence permit card.
After the decision has been made
The Migration Agency's decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate-general were you submitted your application. When going to collect the child's decision, remember to take your passport with you.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.
If the Migration Agency refuses the child's application
If the Migration Agency refuses the child's application, the decision can be appealed within three weeks of the day on which the child's parent/legal guardian received it. Information on how to appeal is included with the decision.
If the child is granted a residence permit
If the child is granted a residence permit, he or she will receive a residence permit card. On the card are the child's fingerprints and a photo. The fingerprints and photo are stored on the card's chip.
If the child needs a visa to travel to Sweden, he or she will need the residence permit card for the trip to Sweden. The child will therefore be photographed and have his or her fingerprints taken in connection with the interview at the embassy or consulate-general. Children under the age of 6 do not need to provide fingerprints.
Read more about residence permit cards
Once the residence permit card is ready, the embassy or consulate-general will entrust it to the person entitled to represent the child in the country where he or she lives. Bear in mind that it can take up to four weeks after the decision has been received to produce and deliver the card to the embassy or consulate-general. When the child enters Sweden, he or she must show the residence permit card and his or her valid passport.
Children who do not need a visa to travel to Sweden can travel without the residence permit card and can then instead book an appointment and visit the Swedish Migration Agency in Sweden to be fingerprinted and photographed for their residence permit card. However, their permit must be granted before they travel to Sweden.
Information to those who are new in Sweden and have a residence permit