Basic facts

Close relatives are defined as:

• Anyone who is, or is to become, a husband/wife, registered partner or common-law spouse (cohabitee)
• Children under 18 and their parents.

Other relatives may only be granted a residence permit in exceptional cases.

It is the Swedish Migration Agency that processes your application for residence permit and makes a decision about your application. For a full description of what rules apply, please check the Swedish Migration Agency's website.

When a decision has been made in your case, an automatic email will be sent to you. If you have given power of attorney to you relative in Sweden, he/she will also get a copy of the decision sent to his/her home address. If you have not given power of attorney to your relative in Sweden, the Embassy is responsible for notifying you about the decision in your case. You can contact the Swedish Migration Agency or the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje if you have questions about your application. 

Residence permit card

If you are granted a residence permit, you will be issued a residence permit card. This card is proof that you have a residence permit. Read more under ‘How to apply’ to find out how you arrange for the card.

If you need a visa in order to travel to Sweden

If you need a visa you must show your residence permit card together with your passport in order to travel to Sweden.  The residence permit card is produced in Sweden and it can take up to four week after the card is ordered before it arrives at the Embassy.

If you do not need a visa to travel to Sweden

If you are granted a residence permit and do not need a visa can travel to Sweden and make arrangements for the card in Sweden. Bring a copy of the decision which you can show during your trip to Sweden. When arriving in Sweden you should visit the closest Migration Agency office to have your photographs and finger prints taken. When the residence permit card is ready, it can be sent to your address in Sweden.

For more information on how to book an appointment to order your card in Sweden, please visit the Migration Agency's website. 

EU/EEA citizens and their family members

Briefly, the following applies if you wish to move to Sweden to live with a relative, if you and/or your relative are citizens of the EU/EEA and if you intend to stay for longer than three months. It is important to note that Swedish citizens living in Sweden are in this regard not normally considered EU/EEA citizens .

• If you are an EU/EEA citizen, you register your right of residence with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) in Sweden. For more information about the procedure, please visit the Swedish Tax Agency's website.
• If you are an EU/EEA citizen, but you family who is living and supporting you in Sweden is not, you may have to apply for a residence permit at the Swedish Migration Agency. For more information about these rules please visit the Swedish Migration Agency's website.  
• If you are not an EU/EEA citizen but your relative is (although not a Swedish citizen), you have to apply for a residence card at the Swedish Migration Agency. If you fulfill the requirements you can apply for the residence card in Sweden and wait for the decision in Sweden. If you need a visa to travel to Sweden, you can apply for a visa att the Embassy of Sweden. If you prefer, you can also apply for a residence card, at the Embassy of Sweden. All the information about this can be found at the Swedish Migration Agency's website.