Someone moves to Sweden to study and remains there for life, someone moves, finding a job, and someone has family circumstances in such a way that Sweden becomes a second home.
Nevertheless, moving to another country is always associated with rather responsible and not the simplest administrative procedures. Therefore, if you are going to move to Sweden, we recommend that you familiarize yourself in advance with all the features and conditions of legal registration of residence in the country for foreigners.
Sweden residence
Today, such grounds are:
- Education in educational institutions in Sweden;
- Marriage / marriage, family reunification;
- Employment;
- Request for political asylum / refugee.
It is important to understand that after you arrive in Sweden, the authorities will not immediately issue you a passport of a citizen of the country. The following may act as a residence permit in the country:
- temporary residence permit (residence permit);
- permanent residence permit;
- citizenship.
A temporary residence permit is the first type of document that a foreigner can apply for. The next step on the path to citizenship can be considered a permanent residence permit. How long the process of obtaining citizenship will take depends on several different factors. The main one is the condition that serves as a justification for your move to the country. Next, we’ll look at the most common scenarios.
Obtaining a residence permit based on obtaining education in Sweden
Upon entering the educational institution of the country, you can get a temporary residence permit. However, it is important to understand that after graduation you cannot legally stay in the country.
However, if during your studies you can find a permanent job or decide to start a family, then you will be able to obtain a residence permit in the country, and in the future, you will have the opportunity to apply for citizenship.
Moving to Sweden for work
To obtain a permit, you must have:
- confirmation that you are employed by the company as an employee;
- or an invitation to seasonal work;
- or having your own business in Sweden.
However, it should be noted that in recent years, it has become quite difficult for foreigners to obtain official employment in Sweden. For the employer to be eligible to hire a citizen of a non-EU country, it is necessary to confirm that there is no application for this position in the European Union. And this is a complicated procedure.
Obtaining a residence permit through marriage
The main feature of this scenario is the fact that you do not have to be officially married to your partner (in Sweden, family law is gender-neutral), civil marriage is also recognized in Sweden.
If you want to move to Sweden with your boyfriend/girlfriend (husband/wife), then he/she will need to prove that he/she has the necessary material and living conditions that will allow them to accept you.
Thus, you can obtain a residence permit for 2 years. After these two years, you will have an interview with the authorities (they want to make sure that you are still in a relationship), as a result of which you will be able to obtain a permanent residence permit. As for family reunification, based on this condition, only a spouse and children under 18 can apply for a residence permit. Adult children do not have this opportunity.
Refugee status
Sweden, like other European states, is loyal to people forced to apply for asylum with the whole family. A person who applies for a residence permit, and then citizenship, must comply with refugee status. That is, the refugee undertakes to provide all documents confirming that he/she left the troubled and dangerous region. Such a region can be, for example, a state in which hostilities are actively being conducted. If the applicant provides all the necessary documents, he/she may be offered to settle in a refugee camp.
Another factor is that no one can give exact guarantees of permission to stay in Sweden in refugee status. Every year, the percentage of refusals in refugees becomes higher and higher.
Moving to Europe is possible!
As noted above, you must have a permanent residence permit to obtain citizenship. And at the same time, you must legally reside in the country for at least 5 years.
Make sure, if the doors of Sweden are closed, then a potential immigrant can pay attention to other European states. Getting to the Czech Republic or Slovenia is much simpler.