Residence permit to live with a partner
spouse, registered or cohabiting partner
A non-EU national can apply to live in Sweden with a spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner (or someone they plan to marry or live with) who is a Swedish or Nordic citizen or holds permanent or qualifying residence. Both partners must be over 21, the applicant generally applies from outside Sweden and is interviewed at a Swedish embassy, and the person in Sweden must usually meet a maintenance requirement and have a large enough home.
Life in Sweden
Money
3
Currency
Swedish Krona
SEK
Swedish Krona
Cost of living
91
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20%
Income tax (national)
VAT 25% · social security 7%
No state income tax below SEK 643,000 taxable income; 20% above. Municipal tax averages 32.38% on all earned income.
Living
1
Happiness
#5 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Non-EU nationals who are married to, in a registered or cohabiting partnership with, or planning to marry or cohabit with a person living in Sweden with Swedish or Nordic citizenship or a qualifying residence status.
Eligibility
Age
Both partners must be over 21. Exceptions only on special grounds, for example if you have children together.
Status of the person in Sweden
Swedish or Nordic citizenship, permanent residence permit or card, permanent right of residence, permanent or long-term resident status with prospects of permanent residence, or a temporary permit of at least 1 year with well-founded prospects of permanent residence.
Residence requirement
If the person in Sweden has a temporary permit, they must have lived in Sweden with a permit for at least 2 years before you apply (exceptions for some refugees or special grounds).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementMaintenance requirement
- Document checklistCopies of passport
- FeesApplication fee, adult
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 2 more requirements
- 4 documents
- 1 fee
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Sweden
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Sweden
- Visit & tourismSchengen tourist & business visa
- StudyResidence permit for higher education studies
- Work permitsWork permit for employees
- Asylum & protectionInternational protection (asylum) in Sweden
- CitizenshipSwedish citizenship by application
Family in other countries
- SingaporeDependant's Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass for family of work pass holders
- SloveniaTemporary residence permit for family reunification
- SlovakiaTemporary residence for family reunification
- San MarinoOrdinary residence permit for family reunification
- EswatiniTemporary Residence Permit
- TunisiaSpouse and family of a Tunisian citizen
