The descriptions below outline the processes for people without EU citizenship, since EU citizens have the option to move to Sweden without a permit or visa.
Although this article specifically outlines the rules for Americans wishing to move to Sweden, the same rules apply for most other non-EU, non-Nordic citizens wishing to move to the country. Different rules will apply if you're an American citizen who also holds EU citizenship. In that case you can apply under EU rules.
For any permit application, you will need to prove your identity, usually with your passport. You will also, as a general rule, need to apply for your residence permit from your home country – meaning you can't move to Sweden until your application has been approved.
Moving to a partner or family member
You can get a residence permit to move to a family member in Sweden, which most commonly means a partner or spouse or a child aged under 18, but in exceptional circumstances may include other family members.
You will need documents proving your relationship, which depend based on what kind of relationship it is. For couples, it might include a marriage certificate or copies of rental contracts proving you have previously lived together. If you haven't previously lived together but plan to do so in Sweden, you must also attend an interview.
The person you are moving to also needs to prove that they can support you, by having suitable accommodation and a large enough salary to support you both. This is the case regardless of any income or assets you as the permit applicant have.You also pay a fee of 2,000 kronor (1,000 kronor for children under 18) which is refunded if your application is refused. Find out more about permits for moving to a family member here.
How long will it take? Factors such as which family member you are moving to, how well you can prove your relationship (including documents showing you have lived together), which country you are from and what your family member's residence status in Sweden is may all affect the processing time, but in general you should expect that it could take as long as a year or even more.
Moving for work
If you are moving to Sweden for work, the crucial thing is that you need a signed job contract before you arrive in Sweden. Non-EU citizens cannot move in order to look for work, unless they apply for a three-month talent visa, officially known as a “residence permit for highly qualified persons to look for work or start a business”.
More on that visa and how to apply is available here.
Certain jobs are exempt from the work permit requirement, typically shorter, fixed-term work such as au pairs, researchers, and seasonal workers.
A job contract must offer a salary and conditions that both allow you to support yourself (defined as at least 80 percent of the median salary), as well as being on par with the industry standard. You must also be able to financially support any family members who will be moving to Sweden with you.
Your employer must also commit to providing several kinds of insurance from the day you start working. Make sure your employment meets all the conditions, otherwise you may run into problems when you try to renew your work permit further down the line.
For work permits, it is your employer who starts the permit application process, and you should be contacted by the Swedish Migration Agency after this is done. Then, you submit your documents such as a passport, and the passports of any family members who will be joining you in Sweden, and pay the fee, which varies slightly depending on your profession but is roughly 2,000 kronor.
Family members will also get permits to live and work in Sweden for the same length of time as you, if you can prove that you will be able to support them financially while you are in Sweden. Find out more about moving to Sweden for work here.
How long will it take? If you're seen as a highly qualified worker, it generally takes less than a month. For other categories it varies.
Moving for studies
If you want to study in Sweden for longer than 90 days, you need a student permit.
To do this, you will need a place on a course of study in Sweden, which means you need to apply and be accepted. Be aware that there are earlier deadlines for international students than for those in Sweden, in order to give you time to get your paperwork sorted.
As well as proof of your place to study, you need to have paid the tuition fees, and have proof that you can support yourself during your studies, as well as proof of health insurance.
You can also apply for permits for any family members who will join you in Sweden while you study, as long as you can provide proof of their identity and that you have sufficient funds to support yourselves. Find out more about moving to Sweden for studies here.
Can I retire to Sweden?
As a general rule, it’s not possible to retire to Sweden as a non-EU citizen unless your partner is a Swede or an EU citizen, or unless you're a long-term resident of another EU country (if that applies to you, see below for details of these routes).
This is due to the fact that non-EU citizens need residency permits to live in Sweden, and these are only granted due to work, studies, or moving to live with someone who already has the right to live in Sweden.
If you don't have a Swedish or EU partner but you have plans to retire to Sweden at some point in the future, you could in theory get a work permit in Sweden and work until you qualify for permanent residency, which usually means working in Sweden for at least five years. Be aware that if you leave Sweden for an extended period of time you will lose this permit.
Originally published in November 2020. Updated in April 2025.
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