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 member 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. 

Family members are:

• Spouse/partner/common law spouse
• The direct descendants (children) who are under the age of 21 or over the age of 21 if they are dependents, and those of the spouse or partner.
• The dependent direct relatives in the ascending line (e.g. parents) and those of the spouse or partner.

Basic facts

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

If you wish to remain in the State for more than 90 days as a family member of an EU/EEA citizen exercising their free movement rights, you must apply (when in the Member State) for a Residence Card of a family member of a EU/EEA citizen. Information about how to apply is available on the Swedish Migration Agency's website.

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

1. Schengen Visa Application
2. Your passport or travel document. Make sure that your passport has at least two blank pages.
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 submit documents showing your dependence.
6. Document(s) to show the right of residence of the EU/EEA national (e.g. work contract).

Fees

Family members of an EU or EEA citizen do not pay an application fee for a Schengen visa if they are to move to the family member in Sweden or travelling on a short journey to prepare for a move together with the family member in Sweden.

Additional documents

In addition to the documents listed above there might be, depending on the  circumstances, some additional documents required showing your family member's situation.

More information

Directive 2004/38/EC

The Swedish Migration Agency on EES family members