Sweden's Migration Agency Limits Family Member Permits

On 1 October 2026, Sweden's Migration Agency implemented new rules that narrow the definition of "family member" for residence permit applications. The revised criteria now recognize only two categories of family members: the partner of the person residing in Sweden, which includes spouses, cohabiting partners, or registered partners, and children under the age of 18 belonging to the person or their partner.

This change impacts both new applicants and those who had submitted applications prior to the rule change and are still awaiting a decision. Individuals who do not meet the new definition must seek alternative residence permits based on their circumstances.

There are no transitional arrangements for first-time applicants, meaning those who submitted applications before the change must comply with the new requirements. However, a transitional provision exists for those seeking to extend an existing permit, allowing applications submitted by 1 October 2027 to be assessed under the previous rules.