Why apply for a Sweden residence permit?

  • Live, work, and study in Sweden for more than 90 days
  • Over 20,000 job vacancies in the country
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency in Sweden
  • Apply  for Sweden citizenship
  • Reunite with your family
  • Access to Healthcare
  • Enjoy the Social benefits

Sweden Residence Permits from Canada

A Sweden residence permit allows an applicant to work, live, study, invest, and have family reunification, among other things. The permit will enable applicants to stay over three months (90 days). A Sweden residence permit is a document that will allow non-EU/EEA citizens to live in Sweden. Foreign nationals residing in Canada can move to Sweden by applying for the same visa as citizens of other non-EU countries.

There are two types of Sweden Residence permits:

  • Temporary Residence permit for Sweden

A Temporary Residence permit is issued for a limited period, mainly one year, which can be extended if the applicant confirms that they need to reside in the country longer.

  • Permanent Residence Permit for Sweden

A Permanent Residence Permit is for those who have lived in Sweden and have had a residence permit for a longer time. The term of validity of the permanent residency card is not limited, but the document is renewed after 5 years.

Benefits of the Residence Permit of Sweden

  • Live and work in Sweden
  • Access to Healthcare
  • Social Benefits
  • Free Movement in the Schengen Area
  • Access to Education
  • Avail Social benefits  in Sweden
  • Applying for loans and grants to study in Sweden
  • Work while extension of residence permit
  • Sponsorship of eligible dependents to come to Sweden
  • Apply for Sweden permanent residency after living in Sweden for five year
  • More extended vacations and Higher pay
     

Types of Sweden Residence Permits

There are several residence permits in Sweden that you can apply for:

Residence permit for work:

This residence permit is issued to skilled professionals who have obtained a work permit and are employed in Sweden so that they can reside there.

Residence permit for studying:

This residence permit is for students admitted to a higher education institution in Sweden for over three months and is issued before entering Sweden.

Residence permit for family reunification:

This permit is for family members outside of the EU who want to reunite with family members in Sweden.

Residence permit by investment:

This permit is for entrepreneurs contributing to the country’s development through investment.   

Residence Permit for Job Seekers:

This permit is for a job seeker who wants to reside and look for work in the country. It is granted for nine months.

Permanent residence permit:

This permit is granted to applicants who have resided in the country for five years and become permanent residents of Sweden.

Residence permit for marriage:

This permit is for partners in Sweden who plan to marry or live with a partner in the country.

Eligibility criteria to apply for the Sweden residence permits

To be eligible for a Sweden residence permit, an applicant needs to fulfill the following:

  • Aged above 18 years
  • Valid passport
  • Legitimate reason for staying longer than 90 days
  • Ability to support yourself financially
  • Meeting specific requirements based on the reason for applying
     

Requirements to apply for Sweden Residence Permits

To apply for a Sweden Residence permit, an applicant must fulfill the requirements:

  • Valid passport
  • Proof of sufficient  funds
  • Purpose of stay  for different reasons

Residence permit for Work

  • Must be employed in Sweden for four years with seven years
  • Sufficient income to support themselves as an employer or self-employed person
  • Must work for the same employer and the same job position

Residence permit for Study

  • Have a valid passport
  • Admitted to a full-time study permit
  • Able to support yourself financially
  • Pay the tuition fee before submitting the application
  • Must have health insurance

Residence permits for Family reunification

  • Must have sufficient income to support your family
  • Must have proper accommodation in the country 

Residence permits by Investment

  • Have a viable business plan
  • Able to prove that you own at least 51 percent of the business
  • Demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to start or run a business

Residence Permit for Job Seekers

  • Sufficient funds to support yourself
  • Valid passport
  • Health insurance

Permanent residence Permit

  • Holder of residence permit for 5 years
  • Sufficient funds
  • Lived in the country with a law-abiding life

Residence permit for Marriage

  • Both the partner must be over 18 years
  • Proof of relationship
  • Marriage certificate
     

How to Apply for a Sweden Residence Permit?

To apply for a Sweden Residence permit, an applicant must:

Step 1: Determine the reason for applying

Step 2: Sort out the documentation

Step 3: Submit the visa application

Step 4: Wait for the visa approval

Step 5: Once approved, migrate to Sweden
 

Sweden Residence Permit Processing Time

The processing time for Sweden residence permit applications varies depending on the type of permit, but generally, it can be done within 2 to 4 months.

Processing fee for the Sweden Residence Permit

Below are the processing fees for the Sweden Residence Permit:

Sweden Residence permits

Processing fees

Residence/Work permit for the purpose of family reunification for people who are at least 18 years old

SEK 1500

Residence/Work for the purpose of family reunification for people younger than 18 years old

SEK 750

Resident permit for purposes of studies

SEK 1500

Residence permit for purposes of work

SEK 2000

Residence permit for invest

SEK 1,500
 


How can Y-Axis help you?

As the world's No.1 overseas immigrant consultant, Y-Axis has provided unbiased and personalized immigration assistance for 25+ years. Our team of visa and immigration experts will assist you with the following

  • Arrange the documentation checklist
  • Filling out the application form
  • Documentation and petition filing
  • Getting your updates and follow-ups
  • Finding relevant jobs with Y-Axis Job Search Services
  • Obtaining Sweden Permanent Residence

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of a Sweden residence permit?
A Sweden residence permit allows non-EU/EEA citizens to reside in the country for longer than three months. A Sweden residence permit serves the purpose of work, study, family reunification, or investment in the country and must be obtained before entering the country.
What are the different types of Sweden residence permits?

There are different types of Sweden residence permits:

Residence permit for work

This residence permit is issued to skilled professionals who have obtained a work permit and are employed in Sweden.

Residence permit for studying

This residence permit is for students admitted to a higher education institution in Sweden for over three months to apply for a residence permit.

Residence permits for Family reunification

This residence permit is for family members outside of the EU who want to reunite with family members in Sweden.

Residence permit by Investment

This residence permit is for entrepreneurs contributing to the country's development through investment.  

Residence Permit for Job Seekers

This residence permit is for a job seeker who wants to residence and look for work in the country which is granted for 9 months

Residence permit for Marriage

This permit is for partners in Sweden who plan to marry or live with a partner in the country.

Permanent residence permit

This permit is granted to applicants who have resided in the country for five years and become permanent residents of Sweden.

What are the benefits of Sweden's Residence permit?

Below are some of the benefits of a Sweden Residence permit:

  • Reside and work in the country
  • Access to healthcare and education
  • Facilitates travel within the Schengen area
  • Pathway to gain Sweden citizenship

Enjoy the social benefits

What are the new rules for residence permits in Sweden?

The new rules for residence permits in Sweden include strict requirements for permanent residence, such as:

  • Maintenance requirements
  • Spouse employment
  • No automatic extension for children over 18
  • Living for 5 years in Sweden to apply for permanent residency in Sweden
  • Demonstrate good conduct with no criminal conviction
  • Sufficient funds
What is the validity of the Sweden Residence Permit?
A Sweden residence permit is initially valid for three years, with the possibility of extending the permit up to a maximum of five years. After that, an applicant can apply for a permanent residence permit that is valid until they remain a resident in Sweden.
Is it necessary to apply for a permit to visit in Sweden?
As Canadian citizens, they do not need a visa to visit Sweden for stays up to 90 days within any 180 days, but for more extended stays, an applicant must have a visitor's residence permit before traveling to the country.
How do you apply for a Sweden residence permit?

To apply for a Sweden Residence permit, an applicant can follow the step-by-step procedure:

Step 1: Determine the reason for applying

Step 2: Sort out the documentation

Step 3: Submit the visa application

Step 4: Wait for the visa approval

Step 5: Once approved, migrate to Sweden

How much bank balance is required for a Sweden residence permit?
As a Canadian resident applying for a Sweden Residence permit, an applicant must demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves, which requires a minimum of SEK 10,584 per month (as of 2025) or SEK 450 per day.
What is the difference between a Sweden residence permit and a Sweden residence card?
A Sweden residence permit grants an applicant the right to work, study, reunite with family, or invest in the country. In contrast, a residence permit card is a physical documentation that proves the Sweden residence permit.
How do you get Sweden citizenship as a Canadian?

Below are the requirements to become a Sweden citizen:

  • Aged above 18 years
  • Reside in the country for five years with a permanent residence permit
  • Have an orderly life
  • Identity prove
  • No criminal records
  • Clear debts to the Sweden government (if any)