Diana Weber
Lawyer of international law
Rating:
24
October
Permanent residence in Sweden
Permanent residence in Sweden is a document of a foreigner, which gives him the right to permanently reside in the country for an unlimited period of time. You can get it after five years of continuous stay in the state with a residence permit of the immigration type. You will also need to provide a passport and have a stable legal income sufficient to support yourself and dependent family members. The Kingdom of Sweden is a member of the European Union, so the permanent resident card is equivalent to an EU residence permit with corresponding preferences, such as work or study in other countries of the association.
Moving to Sweden for permanent residence gives you the opportunity to legalize your stay in a highly developed state, which ranks 10th in the world ranking of living standards. It is worth to immigrate here for high wages, decent social security, protection of personal rights and freedoms, democratic values and prospects for raising children. Sweden is famous for good medicine, prestigious education, ensuring equal rights for its inhabitants without any kind of discrimination. The country is attractive with high purchasing power of the population and business prospects.
To find the best way to move to Sweden for permanent residence, you can get the support of Immigrantinlaw dedicated lawyers. Specialists of international law proceed from your request and wishes when drawing up an individual plan of action for a quick and comfortable relocation for the whole family.
Permanent resident status equates the holder with Swedish citizens in most rights, such as:
The holder of a Swedish permanent residence also receives a special EU residence permit, with which it is possible to work, study, conduct business throughout the territory of the association, and be served in banks and hospitals. Permanent residents of the kingdom are obliged to adhere to national laws and migration policy of the Schengen zone. In order to avoid revocation of status, it is impossible to leave the territory of the European Union for more than 12 consecutive months without a valid reason.
To emigrate from other countries to Sweden, it is necessary to obtain temporary resident status in standard procedure. It is granted for one of the reasons regulated by law. For example, you may relocate for work or professional activities, education, cohabitation with close relatives, or less popular tasks such as a religious mission or intra-corporate transfer.
You will need to maintain a reason for being in the country and regularly renew your residence permit until you meet the inhabitancy and related requirements to open a permanent residence.
Not all residence cards in Sweden are eligible for subsequent naturalization and permanent residency. Time spent in the Kingdom with a residence permit for studies, internships, volunteering, long-term medical treatment, business and family visits are not counted in the period of prior residence required to open a permanent residence.
It is possible to obtain a residence permit on one of these grounds, and while living in Sweden find a reason to apply for a resident immigration card. For example, after graduation there is a chance to stay to look for a job with the appropriate authorization.
An immigration-type residence permit in Sweden includes documents opened on one of the following grounds:
The easiest way to move to Sweden for permanent residence is with a passport of one of the EU countries. EU citizens have the right to reside in the kingdom for an unlimited period of time without additional requirements and without searching for a reason to open a residence permit. You can analyze the chances of obtaining an EU passport for up to 12-14 months with the help of Immigrantinlaw migration specialists.
The main condition for obtaining a permanent residence permit is that you must have resided in Sweden for five years uninterrupted with an immigration-type residence permit. During this period, you can stay abroad for up to 6 consecutive months or 10 months in total. Sometimes the period of stay is reduced, for example, for those who live and work in the kingdom for 4 years in total from the seven-year period preceding the date of application. The applicant also needs to meet the following requirements:
To move to Sweden, it is necessary to make the following steps:
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To apply for a residence permit, you need to collect a dossier and send it to the Swedish Migration Agency at Box 3100, 903 03 Umeå. The list of required documents includes:
A criminal record certificate is not required: the Swedish authorities obtain information about the applicant's lawfulness from their own sources. Documents issued abroad must be officially translated and notarized. The exact period of consideration of requests for permanent residence is not established by law, but on average is about 6-8 months. Additionally, you will need to spend about one month to prepare the documents, as the bureaucratic services of the kingdom do not work too fast.
The status of a Swedish permanent resident is valid without time limit, but from time to time the resident card itself needs to be changed. A permanent residence permit is issued for a standard period of five years. To prolong the document, it is necessary to personally visit the migration service each time, submit fingerprints and take a photo. This can be done not earlier than 3 months before the expiration date of the current permanent resident card. You will also have to pay the administrative fee in full again.
Permanent residence in Sweden is revoked if you have been deported from the kingdom or if you pose a threat to public order. The document is revoked if it turns out that for its registration were used false data or knowingly concealed important information. It is also revoked if you have been abroad for six consecutive months or have been out of the European Union for 12 months or more. If you obtain permanent residence status in another EU country, it is revoked in Sweden.
You can apply for Swedish citizenship as soon as you become a permanent resident. It is necessary to be of legal age, have enough finances for self-sufficiency, do not violate local laws during the entire period of stay in the kingdom. In the case of a criminal record, naturalization is possible, but only with an increase in the period of residence in the country, which depends, in turn, on the duration of imprisonment. Children can be included in the application for citizenship, provided that the second parent agrees to this.
It is possible to get all the rights of a Swedish citizen immediately with an EU passport. In some countries, second EU citizenship is granted without prior residence with residence permit/permanent residence, information about income and language proficiency. You can find out the details at a free legal consultation Immigrantinlaw.
Immigration to Sweden should start with the paperwork, renting or buying a residential place, and finding sources of income. Families with children should find out about the availability of places in kindergartens and schools, and if the child is older - the prospects of enrolling in university at their own or state expense.
Swedish is a difficult language of the Scandinavian group, which is not always possible to learn even if you live in the country permanently. Many residents speak fluent English, which makes immigration easier if you know it at least at the B1 level. At the same time, employers generally welcome those who speak Swedish, especially when it comes to national rather than international companies.
The Swedish social system is well-developed, so every legal resident can receive financial assistance in difficult situations. The Försäkringskassan is the social insurance fund. Basic benefits include:
It is worth moving to Sweden for decent salaries, even for unskilled personnel. The average monthly income “net” in the kingdom is about 2700 EUR, and before taxes - about 4000 EUR. Even without work experience, language skills and special qualifications you can earn from 1500-1800 EUR after taxes. With a residence permit card unlimited employment is available, except for positions in the public sector. Doctors, IT-specialists, engineers, teachers, ecologists are in the greatest demand.
Sweden has public and private kindergartens, including nursery schools. The cost of attendance can be partially paid by the country, provided that both parents are employed. Schools in the kingdom are predominantly free, and their attendance is compulsory for every child between the ages of 6 and 18 (or until the end of the educational program). After moving, it is possible to send your child to an integration class for a year, where there is an emphasis on in-depth Swedish language learning and adaptation to society. In the final school years, there is an emphasis on individualized study of major subjects before university.
A pension in Sweden usually consists of several parts: allmän pension is paid by the state, tjänstepension is paid by your former employer, and you are allowed to have your own pension savings. The final payment depends on the seniority and salary. Those who have not accumulated the necessary seniority are not entitled to a pension, but can apply for additional financial support, such as housing subsidies and social benefits - äldreförsörjningsstöd. The right also applies to permanent residents of the kingdom.
To immigrate to Sweden, you need to pay administrative fees for documents, translator, notary, real-estate agent, and migration specialists. Money will be needed to transport things, buy tickets, rent housing. While waiting for permanent residence, you will need to pay monthly living expenses. Approximate prices of different categories of costs are presented in the table below.
Category of costs | Cost, € |
Visa for entering the country | 60 |
Primary residence permit | 130–193 |
Prolongation of residence permit | 130–193 |
Obtaining permanent resident status | 88 |
Notary services | 10–15 (per page) |
Rent of one-bedroom apartment | 700–900 |
Real-estate agent services | 100 % of the monthly rental fee |
Daily expenses (per person) | 900 per months |
Monthly utilities | 150–200 |
Shipping of the stuff by post | 30 per actual kg. |
Sweden is one of the most favorable countries in the world for relocation, which is confirmed by global rankings. In the ranking of the quality-of-life index by Numbeo and Take Profit, the kingdom ranks 10th. The average monthly salary here is about 3 times higher than the estimated costs per person, and in case of lack of means one can apply for social support. Insurance medicine is well developed in the country, and the average life expectancy reaches 82-85 years. The pros of Sweden also include a high level of WFP, quality education and a high level of security.
The disadvantages of moving to Sweden include the difficulty of legalization of stay. The list residence permits of immigration types here is significantly limited, and to get a work and residence permit or open a business in practice is possible only if you have a good level of foreign language and an in-demand profession. The disadvantages of the kingdom include a high level of bureaucracy, queues in hospitals, limited offers in the real estate market. Life in Sweden is quite expensive, but this is justified by the population's income and high purchasing power.
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According to the reviews of immigrants who have moved to Sweden, you can understand that it is a complicated and long procedure. The migration policy of the kingdom is very strict, so it is extremely difficult to get here for permanent residence without relatives, investments or an in-demand profession. The process of opening a residence permit stretches for 1-2 years, the subsequent re-registration of residency takes another 6-8 months. As a result, in fact, from the moment of applying to the consulate for a residence permit to obtain a permanent residence permit many people take 7-8 years, taking into account the waiting and collection of documents. To speed up the procedure, foreigners enlist the help of lawyers.
Immigrants inform that it is better to move to large Swedish cities like Stockholm or Malmö. Here is the most developed labor market, there are chances for successful business, study in popular universities and rent a comfortable apartment. Smaller cities are also have everything necessary for comfort, but there may be difficulties with work. Immigrants note that the Swedish language is difficult to master, so it is better to study it in advance and improve it at least to level B1. Immigrants also advise to tune in to the leisurely rhythm of life that Swedes are used to.
Sweden's migration policy is quite strict. A number of grounds for immigration here is significantly limited, including the inability to legalize stay through the purchase of real estate or investment in the economy of the kingdom. Obtaining a residence permit is available only after 5 years after moving, during which it is necessary to maintain a legitimate reason for living and owning a residence permit, as well as to have a stable and legal source of income.
It is possible to obtain all the rights of a Swedish permanent resident if you have a passport of one of the EU countries. Citizens of the EU and EEC are free to choose their place of residence within the association, and to fulfill any special conditions for opening a residence permit is not required. You can live in the territory of the kingdom with access to work, study, do business, including moving with family members without additional requirements.
In some EU countries there are simplified programs for obtaining citizenship. It is possible to obtain a second passport within up to a year, without first opening a residence permit, providing information on income or passing a language exam. International law specialists Immigrantinlaw help to analyze the chances of participating in such a procedure. Lawyers analyze in detail the situation and the applicant's biography, and accompany the applicant step-by-step to obtain citizenship of an EU country.
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