Children’s asylum process is different from the process for adults. Here you will find information about the rights of children when they apply for asylum. We also have information directly aimed at children who apply for asylum.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child contains the UN’s provisions on the special rights of children. All persons under the age of 18 are considered children, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children are individuals with their own rights, not the property of parents or other adults. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is part of Swedish law, and the rights it specifies apply to all children living in Sweden, no matter whether they are Swedish citizens, live here temporarily, or are asylum seekers.
According to the Aliens Act, in each individual case concerning a child, the best interests of the child must be taken into account. This means that the best interests of the child must be taken into account in every part of the asylum process: in the child’s reception in Sweden, in investigations, in assessments of humanitarian reasons, and in the event of a rejection or expulsion decision.
Most asylum-seeking children come to Sweden together with one or both of their parents, but some children come here alone, without a parent or other legal guardian.
Read more about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on UNICEF’s website
External link.
All children have the right to speak and be heard. A child may have other reasons for wanting asylum than their parents have. When the Swedish Migration Agency investigates a child’s grounds for asylum, the case officer must try to adapt the investigation to the child’s age, maturity and health. The child has the right to have an adult with them during the investigation. This can be a parent, another legal guardian, a guardian, or a public counsel.
All asylum-seeking children have the right to attend school and preschool on the same terms as other children living in Sweden.
Asylum-seeking children are entitled to the same medical and dental care as all other children residing in Sweden. Dental care is free for children under the age of 18. In most regions, medical care is also free for children.
Children have the right to be with their family. This means that the Swedish authorities will try to find unaccompanied minors’ close relatives while the Swedish Migration Agency investigates the asylum application of the child. Sometimes the family can be reunited in another country, where the child’s close relatives are living in safety. If it is not possible to reunite the child with their relatives in another country, the child’s immediate family may be granted a residence permit in Sweden, if the child has been granted a residence permit in Sweden as a refugee or person in need of subsidiary protection. Only the child’s parents are considered to be their immediate relatives.
You want to apply – Parents of unaccompanied minors
The Swedish Migration Agency has produced special information that is aimed directly at children who have applied for asylum, both children who came here with their family and unaccompanied minors.
2025-04-01
Changed rules for statute of limitations, re-entry ban and track change
On 1 April, several legislative changes will be introduced that affect those who have applied for asylum. The rules for when a decision to leave Sweden reaches its statute of limitation changes, re-entry bans may become longer, and the possibility of changing track disappears. The changed rules affect you if your application for asylum has been, or will be, rejected.
2025-03-05
The Swedish Migration Agency's new website has now been launched
On 5 March, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a completely new version of migrationsverket.se, with a new structure and a more user-friendly navigation. The purpose of the new website is primarily to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.
2025-02-28
Amended rules for asylum seekers living in their own accommodation (EBO)
From 1 March, virtually all new asylum seekers will be required to live in one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s asylum accommodation centres in order to receive financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency in the form of daily allowances and special grants.
2025-02-18
If you are returning to your country of origin, you can receive support worth EUR 5,000
If you withdraw your application for asylum or if it is rejected, you can receive support from the Swedish Migration Agency. On 1 March 2025, the support we provide for efforts to help you and your family members reintegrate into society in your country of origin will change. The amount of support you can get depends on when you choose to return.
2025-01-30
Legislative change on accommodation and financial aid for asylum seekers
The Swedish Parliament has decided on a legislative change that will affect asylum seekers’ right to financial aid and the option to live in their own accommodation. The change will be introduced in two stages. From 1 March, the change only applies to new asylum seekers, and from 1 September 2025, anyone who applied for asylum before 1 March and who lives in their own accommodation is also affected.
2025-01-20
The Upper Secondary School Act ends on 20 January
The 20 January is the last day to apply for a permanent residence permit under the Upper Secondary School Act. After this the law will expire, but many people who currently have a residence permit under the Upper Secondary School Act will be able to have their application for permanent residence considered even after 20 January.
2024-12-16
Now you can see your complete decision on My Page
If you are waiting for a decision from the Swedish Migration Agency, you can now see the complete decision on My page. Previously, you have only been able to see if the decision is positive or negative, and the justification has only been sent home to you in paper format.
2024-12-12
Now there are films that explain to children what happens when they apply for asylum in Sweden and why they may need to answer some difficult questions. Children will also learn more about life in Sweden, about children’s rights and about laws that protect children.
An asylum seeker is a person who has arrived in Sweden and applied for asylum, but who has not yet received a final decision about their application.
A refugee is a person who has applied for asylum and received a residence permit in Sweden because they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin due to their race, nationality, religious or political opinion or because of their gender, sexual orientation or other affiliation with a particular social group.
A person eligible for subsidiary protection is someone who has applied for asylum and received a residence permit in Sweden because they are at risk of being punished with death or subjected to corporal punishment, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in their country of origin, or because they are a civilian at high risk of being injured due to armed conflict.