Family members of EU citizens

As a family member of an EU/EEA citizen exercising their right of free movement in accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC you have the right to travel to the EU/EEA-area together with your family members or join to them in the area to settle there.

A Swedish citizen living in Sweden is not exercising his or her right of free movement and do not hold a right of residence based on Directive 2004/38/EC in their home country, unless the Swedish citizen recently moved back to Sweden from another EU/EEA country. 

The following persons are defined in Article 2(2) of the Directive as ‘core’ family members:

• Spouse
• Registered partner
• Cohabiting partner
• A child (or other direct descendant) under 21 or who is economically dependant
• Parents (or other direct ascendants) who are economically dependant
• Another family member who is dependent on an EEA citizen for his/her support, or is part of the EEA citizen’s household, or whom an EEA citizen is required to take care of personally, for serious health reasons.

Please note that EU citizens residing in the Member State of their own nationality do not normally benefit from the rights granted by the Directive (as there is no element of free movement), for example a Swedish citizen living in Sweden do not hold a right of residence based on Directive 2004/38/EC in his/her home country, unless he or she returned to Sweden after having utilised the right of free movement in another Member State for a certain period.    

How to apply

You can apply for a short-stay Schengen visa (type C) which will allow you to enter and stay in Sweden and the Schengen area for up to 90 days.

In the event that you wish to remain in the Member State for more than 90 days as a family member of a EU citizen exercising his/her free movement rights, you must apply (when in the Member State) for a Residence Card of a family member of an EU citizen.

Family members of an EU or EEA national applying for a Schengen visa to move to the family member in Sweden or travelling on a short journey with the family member in Sweden, should submit the following obligatory supporting documents:

1. Schengen Visa Application
2. Passport or travel document
3. Proof of relationship. E.g. Marriage certificate or birth certificate.
4. Copy of the EU/EEA national's passport or national identity card
5. If you are a dependent family member, you must provide documents demonstrating your dependence.

Fees
Family members of an EU or EEA citizen do not pay an application fee.

Book an appointment

As a family member of an EU citizen, you also have the possibility to submit your visa application directly at the Swedish Embassy in Kenya.

Send an email to ambassaden.nairobi-visum@gov.se in order to receive an appointment. You will usually be given an appointment within a few working days.

More information

Directive 2004/38/EC

The Swedish Migration Agency on EES family members

EU-EEA family members- all countries 20240724