Sweden issues visas for everyone who wants to join their spouses, children, or parents in Sweden. The Sweden family visa allows you to stay and live with your family in the country. To be granted a Sweden family visa, you need to meet a set of requirements.
What Is a Sweden Sambo Visa?
A Sweden Sambo visa is issued to individuals who are married or plan to marry a Swedish citizen. The sambo visa allows you to come to Sweden and move in with your partner (fiancee, husband, etc.).
Requirements for a Sweden Sambo (Spouse) Visa
These are the documents you need to enclose when applying for a Sweden Sambo (Spouse) visa:
- Copies of your passport pages. The pages must show your personal data, signature, the validity of your passport, country of issue, and the permission you have to live in another country.
- If you are married (or registered) to a person in Sweden, you must submit:
- A marriage certificate or equivalent document.
- A document proving that your marriage has been registered in your home country.
- If you lived with your Swedish partner in your home country, you must submit:
- A population registration certificate.
- Rental agreement/contract or proof of purchase for accommodation.
- If you are expecting a child, you must submit:
- Pregnancy certificate
- If you have children under the age of 18 who will be living with you in Sweden, you must submit:
- Copies of the child’s passport showing their personal details, photo, signature (if applicable), passport number, country of origin, etc.
- The child’s birth certificate or a birth certificate that shows the parents’ names.
- Consent from the other parent if that person is not accompanying the child to Sweden.
- Court decision if you have custody or death certificate (if applicable).
- Adoption papers (if applicable)
How to Apply for a Sambo and Family Visa for Sweden?
Here are the steps you must follow to apply for a Sweden Family visa.
- Fill in the application. Fill in the application with information about yourself and the person you will be moving to in Sweden. You also need to state in which Swedish embassy or consulate-general you will attend your interview. Before starting the application, check to see if the person you are going to move to in Sweden is covered by the maintenance requirement.
- Attach documents. Submit documents that are translated into Swedish or English by an authorized translator. The translated documents should be attached to the original documents.
Before submitting the documents, make sure that the information you provided is clear and understandable. Check the list below to know what documents you need to submit with your application. - Pay the fee. You can pay the fee with a credit card or a debit card. Depending on the information you provide about yourself and your family member, you will be notified if you need to pay the fee or if you are exempt from payment.
- Questionnaire for the family member in Sweden. After the Swedish Migration Agency receives your application, your family member in Sweden will receive an email. The email will provide information on how to log in to a questionnaire that contains questions about their income, accommodation, and relationship. The person residing in Sweden should answer the questions within two weeks.
- Book an appointment at the embassy. The Swedish Migration Agency will send you an email to ask you to book a time for an interview at the embassy or consulate-general once the application is reviewed.
- Attend the interview. You must take your passport and the original documents you submitted with your application when attending the interview. If there are children applying for a visa, they also need to attend the interview.
- The Migration Agency processes the application. The Swedish Migration Agency will make a decision on your application only after they have received all the required information about you. The processing time is shorter if you provided everything they required from the start. Remember that the Swedish Migration Agency may ask you to provide more information or additional documents.
- Wait for a decision. The embassy will notify you via email after the decision for your visa has been made. You need to contact the embassy or consulate-general to receive the decision.
You will also need to have your passport when visiting the embassy on your visa application decision. If you have given someone power of attorney, they can inform you about the embassy’s decision.
»Guide on How to Apply for Sweden Visa?
Can I Apply Online?
To be eligible to apply online, you and your spouse must meet the conditions below:
- Both of you must be over the age of 18 or older
- Both need a valid email address
- Both need to pay the fee by Visa or Mastercard
- Both need to be able to scan or photocopy the required documents
Online application is recommended because it is easier, and you can find clear instructions on how to fill in the application form and what documents you need to submit. You can apply online at the website of the Swedish Migration Agency.
Consent For Minors
Consent is required if the child wants to move in with a custodial parent in Sweden and is traveling without the company of the other parent outside of Sweden. The other parent can consent in a letter signed by the other parent outside of Sweden, who states that they agree to let the child move to Sweden with the other parent.
Your consent letter should contain:
- The name, date of birth, and address of the parent giving their consent.
- The name and date of birth of the child.
- The parent’s agreement for the child to be granted a residence permit to reside in Sweden.
- Signature and name in a clear script of the parent giving their consent.
How Much Does the Sambo Visa for Sweden Cost?
The fees for a Sambo visa for Sweden are:
| Category/strong> | Fee |
| Adult | 190€ |
| Children under the age of 18 | 93€ |
How Can I pay the Sambo Visa Fee?
The sambo visa fee can be paid:
- Online (with a credit card in connection with the application).
- At an embassy or consulate-general (when you hand in your application).
- To bankgiro (to bankgiro number 5223-7005).
Who Is Exempt From Paying the Fee?
Not everyone is required to pay the fee when applying for a Sambo Sweden visa— those listed below are exempt from paying the visa fee:
- Family members of EU/EEA citizens (not including Swedish nationals).
- EU/EEA citizens applying for residence permits.
- Swiss citizens and their family members.
- Citizens of Japan.
- Spouses, cohabiting partners, registered partners, and unmarried children under 18 applying for a residence permit to live with their family member who has a Swedish residence permit as a refugee.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Sambo Visa to Come to Sweden?
Different factors determine the processing time for your Sambo visa. For example, the processing time for applications to move in with a spouse can take 16 months. Applications for children under 18 to move in with their parents can take 13 months, whereas, for children over the age of 18, the processing time can take 12 months (one year).
If you have submitted your application at an embassy or consulate-general abroad, the processing time will be longer.
Sweden Spouse Visa Interview Questions
During the interview, you will be asked to answer questions about your relationship with the person in Sweden. There is no rule about questions you might get asked in the Spouse visa interview. However, all the questions will be related to you and your partner and your relationship.
You can be asked different questions about:
- Your first date
- Your partner’s family
- Your pets
- Your partner’s favorite food
- Their favorite color, etc.
The Swedish Migration Agency will receive the documentation of your interview for processing.
Can I Bring My Children Along With My Partner/Spouse to Sweden?
Yes, your children can accompany you to Sweden. If you have children under the age of 18, you have to apply for a residence permit for them at the same time you are applying for your partner. Before starting the application, you need to compile all the required documents and submit them together with your husband’s application. Your children will also be required to attend the interview.
Other Ways to Obtain a Family Visa in Sweden
Besides joining a spouse or registered domestic partner in Sweden you can apply for a family visa if:
- You have a parent or a child in Sweden you want to join them.
- Your have a partner who is not a Swedish citizen but has a work permit in Sweden.
In most cases to join a family member in Sweden, they must have a permanent residence permit or citizenship. Temporary residence permit is valid in exceptional cases— for this you need to contact the embassy or consulate in your home country.