gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Family reunificationEffectiveHigh impactVerified

Sweden Introduces New Immigration Rules for Family Ties and Young Adults

🇸🇪 SwedenFamily Reunification1 recorded versionLast change 1 Oct 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

New rules introduce stricter requirements for reference persons in Sweden, including an increased maintenance requirement that also applies to extension applications. Young adults aged 18-21, or those over 21 with a special relationship of dependence, can now apply for an extension of their residence permit on family ties to their parents. Temporary rules allow certain young adults (over 18, held a residence permit as a child after 1 October 2023, and received an expulsion decision legally binding on or after 1 January 2025) to apply for another type of permit (work or studies) or an extension of their family ties permit without leaving Sweden, until 31 December 2027. Reference persons holding a temporary residence permit must have resided in Sweden for two years with a residence permit for their family members to be granted residence permits.

Overview

Sweden has introduced new regulations concerning immigration based on family ties and for young adults, effective from 1 October 2026. These rules impose more stringent maintenance requirements on individuals in Sweden sponsoring family members and increase the necessary income threshold. Simultaneously, greater opportunities are afforded to young adults to remain with their parents in Sweden, including a temporary pathway to apply for alternative permits without leaving the country. The changes affect reference persons and those applying for or extending residence permits based on family reunification.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Reference persons in Sweden: Must meet increased maintenance requirements and, if holding a temporary permit, a new two-year residence period for family reunification
  • Family members of reference persons: Face stricter conditions for initial and extended residence permits due to their sponsor's new obligations
  • Young adults aged 18-21: Can now apply for an extension of their family-tie residence permit to parents
  • Young adults over 21 with special dependence: Can now apply for an extension of their family-tie residence permit to parents
  • Young adults facing expulsion: Temporarily offered avenues to apply for other permits or extensions from within Sweden, avoiding mandatory departure
  • Applicants for residence permit extensions granted before 1 October 2026: May benefit from a temporary exemption from the increased maintenance amount if they apply for extension by 1 October 2027

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before 1 October 2026, a person holding a temporary residence permit could generally act as the reference person for family immigration without the new general requirement to have already lived in Sweden for two years. The reform introduces the two-year period as the main rule, subject to specified exemptions. The maintenance requirement also previously applied primarily to first-time applications. From 1 October 2026, it is extended to applications for continued residence in the relevant family-immigration categories. There was also a more limited route for young people who had received residence permits as children. Previously, the ordinary family-ties rules generally focused on children below the age of 18. The new legislation specifically creates a route for certain people who have turned 18 and, in some circumstances, for those aged 21 or older who remain particularly dependent on a parent. The position concerning applications from inside Sweden was also more restrictive. Many non-EU/EEA nationals normally need to obtain their residence permit before entering Sweden, meaning that someone whose existing child-based status ended could face significant procedural restrictions when seeking another type of residence permit.

After

New rules introduce stricter requirements for reference persons in Sweden, including an increased maintenance requirement that also applies to extension applications. Young adults aged 18-21, or those over 21 with a special relationship of dependence, can now apply for an extension of their residence permit on family ties to their parents. Temporary rules allow certain young adults (over 18, held a residence permit as a child after 1 October 2023, and received an expulsion decision legally binding on or after 1 January 2025) to apply for another type of permit (work or studies) or an extension of their family ties permit without leaving Sweden, until 31 December 2027. Reference persons holding a temporary residence permit must have resided in Sweden for two years with a residence permit for their family members to be granted residence permits.

These changes significantly alter the landscape for individuals seeking to join family in Sweden and for young adults already there. The increased maintenance requirement means reference persons must demonstrate a higher income or asset level, potentially making it more challenging for lower-income households to sponsor family members. The extension of the maintenance requirement to renewal applications introduces an ongoing financial burden and assessment point for families already residing in Sweden. The new two-year residence requirement for reference persons with temporary permits creates a waiting period before their family can join them, impacting family unity and planning. For eligible young adults, the expanded ability to extend family-tie permits and, temporarily, to switch to work or study permits from within Sweden offers crucial pathways to legal residency and integration, preventing mandatory departure that was previously often the case. However, those taking advantage of these temporary provisions must still meet the underlying requirements for the specific permit they are seeking, and strict deadlines apply to applications under these temporary rules.

Explained simply

Imagine you live in Sweden and want your family to join you, or you're a young adult who moved here as a child and now wants to stay. From 1 October 2026, it's tougher for your family to join you because the person already here needs more money to support them. But for young adults like you, there are new chances to stay, even if you’re older now or were told you had to leave, but you need to act quickly because some of these chances are temporary.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Oct 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    Sweden Introduces New Immigration Rules for Family Ties and Young Adults

    The Swedish Migration Agency has implemented new rules for family immigration and young adults, effective from 1 October 2026. These changes include stricter requirements for reference persons in Sweden, notably an increase in the maintenance requirement amount and its application to residence permit extension applications. The new maintenance amounts for 2026, after tax and rent, are SEK 8,116 for a single adult, SEK 13,408 for cohabiting partners, and varying amounts for children. Additionally, reference persons with temporary residence permits must now have resided in Sweden for two years for their family to be granted permits. Simultaneously, young adults aged 18-21, or those over 21 with specific dependence, can now extend family-tie residence permits to their parents. Temporary provisions, valid until 31 December 2027, allow certain young adults to apply for work or study permits from within Sweden, even after receiving an expulsion decision, without having to leave the country first.

Other routes in this country

1 / 6