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Sweden & North Macedonia

How to apply

The quickest and easiest way to apply for a residence permit is to apply online. An online application is submitted directly to the Swedish Migration Agency. If you cannot or do not want to apply over online, you can apply at the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje.

The description below applies to you if you are the citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA and wish to move to live with a family member who is also a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA or is a Swedish citizen.

Applying online

How to proceed (for applications on paper forms, see further down):

1. Prepare your documentation

Check which documents and personal data you require. An application that is complete when handed in will normally get a decision sooner than an application where additional documentation is required. 

Read more about the required documentation at the Swedish Migration Agency's website. 

2. Applying

Follow the Swedish Migration Agency's instructions for applying online over the internet. You attach documents electronically and pay the application fee using a VISA card or a MasterCard.

When filling out the application it is important to submit valid contact information to yourself in your home country. The Swedish Migration Agency will communicate with you primairly over email, therefore, make sure to note a valid email address that you check regularly.

Swedish Migration Agency's web application

3. Your family member must answer questions

Your family member living in Sweden has to fill out a questionnaire. Once you have sent in your application, he/she will automatically receive an email with instructions. The family member must reply to the questions within two weeks. If you family member does not receive an email, please make sure to check the spam inbox before contacting the Swedish Migration Agency.

4. Visit the embassy/consulate

In most cases you will be required to visit the embassy for an interview. You cannot book a time for an interview at the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje until you have received an email from the Swedish Migration Agency where they request you to contact the embassy to make an interview.

When you have received a request from the Swedish Migration Agency to book an appointment for an interview, you need to fill out this web form to send a request to the embassy. After the embassy has received your request, we will send you an e-mail with information on when you can come for the interview. Please note that the waiting time for an interview is normally between 2-3 months. 

At the embassy, you have to prove your identity by showing your passport, and you will be interviewed. Children applying for a residence permit are also interviewed. If the child is too young or too immature, the person looking after the child is interviewed instead.

Bring along the originals of the documents you attached to your online application. The Swedish Migration Agency may also have asked you to bring additional documents with you in the email they have sent to you. You may need to be photographed and fingerprinted for the residence permit card you will receive if you are granted a residence permit. This also applies to children.

After the interview, your case is transferred back to the Swedish Migration Agency for further processing of the case. If you have neither attended the interview nor made contact with the embassy, your case will be transfered back to the Swedish Migration Agency, and your application may be rejected.

5. Wait for the decision

When the Swedish Migration Agency has reached its decision, you will be informed of this by email. The actual decision will be sent to your family member in Sweden, if you have authorised him or her to represent you. Otherwise you will be informed of the decision by the Embassy. You have to contact the Embassy yourself by email, ambassaden.skopje-visum@gov.se or via phone during the Migration Section's phone hour, Monday-Thursday 14.00 to 15.00, tel. +389 23 297 898.

6. Wait for the residence permit card

If you are granted a residence permit and have already left your fingerprints and taken your picture at the embassy your residence permit card will be ordered automatically. If you have not already left your fingerprints or taken your picture, you are welcome to the embassy to do so anytime during our normal opening hours Monday-Thursday 09.00-11.00. The card is produced in Sweden and will normally reach the embassy within 2-6 weeks. For more information about residence permit cards please click here. 

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Applying on a paper form

How to proceed:

1. Prepare your documentation

Check which documents and personal data you require. An application that is complete when handed it will normally get a decision sooner than an application where additional documentation is required. 

Read more about the required documentation at the Swedish Migration Agency's website. 

2. Present your application at the embassy

To submit your application you need to book an appointment at the embassy. To book the appointment, please fill out this web form. After the embassy has received your request for an appointment, we will send you and e-mail with information on when you can come to apply. 

When handing in you application, the embassy will also book an appointment for an interview. The interview will not be held the same day as the application is submitted.

Make sure you bring along the completed application form together with all required documents.

In most cases, you will be requested to pay an application fee when you submit your application.

The embassy is located at 8-ma Udarna Brigada 2, 1000 Skopje.

3. Interview at the embassy 

Remember to bring you passport when you come to the embassy for the interview. Children applying for a residence permit are also interviewed. If the child is too young or too immature, the person looking after the child is interviewed instead.

You may need to be photographed and fingerprinted for the residence permit card you will receive if you are granted a residence permit. This also applies to children.

After the interview, your case is transferred to the Swedish Migration Agency for further processing of the case. If you have neither attended the interview nor made contact with the embassy, your case will be transfered to the Swedish Migration Agency, and your application may be rejected.

5. Wait for the decision

When the Swedish Migration Agency has reached its decision, you will be informed of this by email. The actual decision will be sent to your family member in Sweden, if you have authorised him or her to represent you. Otherwise you will be informed of the decision by the Embassy. You have to contact the Embassy yourself by email, ambassaden.skopje-visum@gov.se or via phone during the Migration Section's phone hour, Monday-Thursday 14.00 to 15.00, tel. +389 23 297 898.

6. Wait for the residence permit card

If you are granted a residence permit and have already left your fingerprints and taken your picture at the embassy your residence permit card will be ordered automatically. If you have not already left your fingerprints or taken your picture, you are welcome to the embassy to do so anytime during our normal opening hours Monday-Thursday 09.00-11.00. The card is produced in Sweden and will normally reach the embassy within 2-6 weeks. For more information about residence permit cards please click here. 

Last updated 27 Sep 2023, 9.02 AM