Free movement within the EU – how does it work?
Freedom of movement within the EU means that a French or German citizen can come and work in Sweden – but what about an Indian who has a residence permit in Spain, or his wife and children? The rules for different groups coming to Sweden differ somewhat – in this article we clarify the concepts.
According to Statistics Sweden’s statistics on Sweden’s population, in 2023 there were approximately 600,000 people who were born in the EU or the Nordic region. The Swedish Migration Agency keeps statistics on EU/EEA cases, but these statistics only cover the agency’s cases – we review who these cases concern below. The agency receives around 20,000 applications each year (including extension applications) and approximately 60 per cent of cases are granted.
The Swedish Migration Agency's statistics page shows that approximately 7,600 EU/EEA applications (first application) were granted a residence permit in 2024.
See statistics on residence permits granted in 2024
In addition, there are a few groups of people who may be in Sweden but do not need a residence permit; EU/EEA rules on free movement can, for example, give people right of residence in Sweden. Here is a description of each group of cases and what rules apply.
EU/EES citizen
Citizens of an EU/EEA country have the right to come and live in Sweden without a residence permit. This is called right of residence and assumes that you work, run a company, study or otherwise have enough money to support yourself. When you have a right of residence as an EU/EEA citizen, you do not need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency, but you must contact the Swedish Tax Agency to enrol on the population register and get a Swedish personal identity number.
After having had a right of residence in Sweden for five years, the person receives a permanent right of residence. They can then apply for a certificate of permanent right of residence that can be used in contacts with national authorities etc. Permanent right of residence is more permanent and only ends if you stay outside Sweden for more than two consecutive years.
Working, studying or living in Sweden for EU/EEA citizens
You want to apply – Permanent right of residence
Close relatives of EU/EEA citizens
EU/EEA citizens’ close relatives from third countries must apply for a residence card if they are to be in Sweden for more than three months. EU/EEA citizens must be able to show that they have a right of residence and can support their family in order for their relatives to come here and receive a residence card.
After five years, the family can receive a permanent residence card in Sweden provided that the EU/EEA citizen in the family has had the right of residence for at least five years and they have lived together in Sweden during that time.
Examples
Gabriella – Italian doctor working at the hospital in Malmö.
- She has a right of residence in Sweden because she has work here.
- She must contact the Swedish Tax Agency for population registration
- After five years, she can apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for a certificate of permanent right of residence and Swedish citizenship.
Gabriella’s husband Steve from Kenya wants to come to Sweden and stay here for a year.
- Steve must apply for a residence card because he wants to stay here for more than three months
- He can come to Sweden immediately and does not need to apply and wait for a decision before entering.
- After five years, Steve can apply for a permanent residence card in Sweden.
- After five years, Steve can apply for Swedish citizenship.
You want to apply – Family of EU/EEA citizens
You want to apply – Permanent residence card
Long term resident third-country nationals
If you have had a residence permit - or lived legally in some other way - in Sweden for at least five years without interruption, you can apply for long-term resident status in Sweden. It is important to wait until five years have passed (when you have had a residence permit in Sweden without interruption) before applying. If you are granted long-term resident status, you will also be granted a permanent residence permit. Among other things, this provides the opportunity to move to another EU country to work, study or otherwise support yourself.
Anyone who has been granted permanent resident status in another EU country can move to Sweden to, for example, work or study. If you are going to stay in Sweden for longer than three months, you must apply for a residence permit for permanent residents of another EU country.
Close relatives of long-term residents of an EU country can apply for a residence permit in Sweden regardless of whether they have lived in the EU before or not. It is a requirement that the person you are a relative of has a residence permit in Sweden as a long-term resident of another EU country (or applies for and meets the requirements for a permit at the same time).
You want to apply – Long-term residents in Sweden
You want to apply – Long-term residents in another EU country
Examples
Elias, who comes from Syria and has been resident in Greece since 2016, was granted long-term resident status in Greece in 2021. He wants to come to Sweden to work.
- He can apply for a residence permit in Sweden on the basis of long-term resident status in another EU/EEA country.
- Elias is not granted a permanent residence permit.
Elia’s wife Amina and their common children have been in Syria but now they also want to come to Sweden.
- Amina and the children can apply for a residence permit in Sweden as relatives of a third-country national who is a long-term resident of Greece.
- The family also does not receive a permanent residence permit.
Nordic citizens
Citizens from the Nordic neighboring countries – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland – have no residence permit requirements, but only need to register with the Swedish Tax Agency. They can approach the Swedish Migration Agency if they want to apply for citizenship.
Swiss citizens
Swiss citizens have their own rules. Those who can support themselves can apply for a residence permit in Sweden if they want to stay longer than three months. They can start working or studying in Sweden before the Swedish Migration Agency has made a decision on their case.
You want to apply – Swiss citizens
UK citizens
Due to the United Kingdom having left the EU, UK citizens and their family members were able to apply for residence status in Sweden for a period, but that possibility ceased in December 2021. Those who have already received residence status can apply for permanent residence status. Then there are some exceptions for family members (such as newborn babies) who can still apply. Anyone who has had a right of residence in Sweden for five years can receive permanent residence status. UK citizens are now subject to the same rules as other third-country nationals.
You want to apply – British citizens
EU Blue Cards
An EU Blue Card is a combined work and residence permit for third-country nationals with highly qualified employment in the EU. Third-country nationals with a university degree or at least five years of professional experience and a salary that is at least 1.25 times greater than the average gross annual salary may apply for an EU Blue Card. These are included in the statistics for work permits, not EU/EEA cases.
Granted residence permits. Last year, 7,619 EU/EEA applications (first application) were granted a residence permit in 2024. This category includes residence permit for third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA nationals), long-term residents of an EU country and any close relatives they have, third-country nationals who are close relatives of EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens and any close relatives they have.
Other rules when children become adults
The provisions on family reunification/immigration are based on the idea that families should be kept together – therefore the issue is emotionally charged and raises certain questions when a young adult is to be deported while the rest of the family is allowed to stay in Sweden. How can that happen? In this article, we will answer questions about people who reach adulthood and are no longer subject to the rules on family reunification.