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How can refugees or subsidiary protection holders in Sweden reunite with their relatives?

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This article was last updated on July 10, 2026

Overview

In August 2026, Sweden adopted stricter rules on family reunification. In most cases, people with a temporary residence permit must live in Sweden with a residence permit for at least two years before a family member can apply to join them. 

The two-year waiting period does not apply to people with refugee status if the family relationship existed before the sponsor came to Sweden. People with subsidiary protection status usually have to follow the two-year waiting period, but sometimes there are exceptions in rare cases.

The financial support requirements are now stricter and apply in more situations. This means that, in more cases, the person living in Sweden must show that they have enough income to support themselves and their family and that they have suitable housing. These requirements may also apply when a family member applies to extend a residence permit based on family ties.

The new rules also affect some close relatives who were granted residence permits as children. Family reunification rules usually cover the “core family,” which means spouses or partners and unmarried children under the age of 18.

Under the new rules, some young people who received a residence permit as children may still be treated as part of the core family after turning 18. In some cases, this can continue until they turn 21, as long as they meet the other requirements.

The changes are in effect starting 1 October 2026.

Asking for help

You or your relative may want to ask an immigration attorney for help with this process. Here are a few resources:

Useful links

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people.

IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social, political, or religious criteria.

This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications.

Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.

If you are in a refugee emergency, we recommend that you contact the UNHCR office in the country where you live.