Bringing loved ones closer: Navigating the Swedish family reunification process

The Swedish family reunification visa allows you as a third country national to join your family members residing in Sweden. This blog post delves into the essentials of this visa, guiding you through the requirements and application process.

Eligibility criteria: Who qualifies for the visa?

To be eligible for the Swedish family reunification visa, you are seeking to join a family member who is a Swedish citizen, holds a permanent residence permit, or has a temporary residence permit as a refugee or person in need of subsidiary protection. The family member must live in Sweden and also meet certain conditions, including having sufficient income and housing to support you upon your arrival in Sweden.

Who is considered a family member?

The Swedish Migration Agency defines family members as spouses, cohabiting partners, registered partners, and unmarried children under the age of 21. In certain cases, unmarried children over 21 may also be eligible if they are financially dependent on their parents.

Essential Requirements: What you need to apply

To apply for the Swedish family reunification visa, you will need to provide the following documents:

You have to prove your identity through a valid passport.

Proof of your relationship with the family member in Sweden, such as a marriage certificate.

You must have comprehensive health insurance that covers you while you stay in Sweden. This is essential to ensure that you can access healthcare services when needed.

Proof that your family member in Sweden meets the income and housing requirements.

Income requirement: To meet the maintenance requirement for family reunification in Sweden, your family member´s after-tax income must be sufficient to cover the accommodation costs and basic living expenses for all household members. These expenses include food, clothing, personal hygiene products, telephone costs, and insurance. The source of incomes could be from her or his employment, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits, or pensions.

Accommodation requirement: Your family member must provide suitable housing for you and all family members. The place where you are going to live should be large enough to accommodate the entire family. A kitchen or kitchenette, as well as at least one room, are required by Swedish law for an accommodation (home or equivalent) for two individuals without children.

There are some exceptions where your family member is not required to fulfil the income requirement and have accommodation, such as if she/she is under 18 years of age and you are joining him/her as family member to Sweden.

The application process for the Swedish family reunification visa is relatively straightforward. You can either apply online through the Swedish Migration Agency website or submit a paper application to the Swedish embassy or consulate in your country of residence. It is important to know that you must wait for the decision in your home country before you can move to your Swedish family. If approve, the first family reunification visa is valid for a duration of two years and it can be renewed.

You can visit Sweden while you are waiting for the decision, however you must make sure that you do no stay longer than 90 days and that you can prove you will leave the country before your visa expires.

The Swedish family reunification visa offers a pathway for families to reunite and build a life together in Sweden. By understanding the eligibility criteria, requirements, and application process, you can take the first step towards reuniting with your loved ones in Sweden.