Sweden

Sweden has been known as a host of immigrants and refugees from World War II. At the moment, the population of Sweden stands at about 9.5 million people with around two million of this population living in the urban areas. In the recent times, people migrate to Sweden for many reasons including studying, investing, and family reunifications.

Just like any other country, entry into Sweden requires that you hold a visa, for some nations, and just an identification card for citizens from a specific area. The last thing you would want to happen to you is to be flagged down when you touch down at the airport in Sweden, the reason being that you do not have the required documents. Do you want to migrate to Sweden but do not know how to go about it? Well, this article will serve as a guide to enter the nation for the different reasons immigrants have, as well as to settle permanently.

Immigration to Sweden – a quick overview :

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Sweden

Sweden has been known as a host of immigrants and refugees from World War II. At the moment, the population of Sweden stands at about 9.5 million people with around two million of this population living in the urban areas. In the recent times, people migrate to Sweden for many reasons including studying, investing, and family reunifications.

Just like any other country, entry into Sweden requires that you hold a visa, for some nations, and just an identification card for citizens from a specific area. The last thing you would want to happen to you is to be flagged down when you touch down at the airport in Sweden, the reason being that you do not have the required documents. Do you want to migrate to Sweden but do not know how to go about it? Well, this article will serve as a guide to enter the nation for the different reasons immigrants have, as well as to settle permanently.

Immigration to Sweden – a quick overview :

Immigration had been rampant in Sweden in the 20^th century. For instance, in the 1950s and 1960s, there was a great demand for labor in Sweden and so the country had to outsource. Many people from Italy, Turkey, and Greece, immigrated to Sweden to fill the places. In the 19802, most people fled from their countries because of war and sought asylum in Sweden.

As a result of the massive immigration in most European countries, the European Union implemented what is called Schengen agreement for immigration that facilitates free movement within the member states without necessarily having a visa, and Sweden is one of such countries. Another category of immigrants who do not need a residence permit are those form a Nordic country which includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. All other nationals required a visa to enter Sweden.

Residence permits :

For immigrants wishing to stay for more than three months in Sweden, it is required of them to apply for a residence permit. This application can be done at the Swedish embassy or consulate in the immigrant’s original country or at the Swedish migration board for the applicants already staying in Sweden. During the application, various documents will be required including a valid passport and identification card including the EU/EC identification card, as well as documents supporting the reason for your elongated stay in Sweden which may be studying or employment among other reasons.

If you wish to move to Sweden independently and not for employment, you will be required to prove that you have the means to support your stay in the country as well as accommodation. Your eligibility for a residence permit will depend on your criminal record clearance and having a valid health insurance cover. For foreign nationals planning to spend their retired years in Sweden, they will need to have a pension income of no less than 6,850 SEK a month.

If your application is based on employment, you will have to include the details of the employment offer in the application for your residence. Also, your employer will fill some documents agreeing to employ you and stating the period the employment will last and the number of hours per week you will be working. Self-employed immigrants will need to prove their statuses by for example using the certificate of company registration.

The residence permits are usually issued for a period of five years after which the holders will be required to register at the local tax and social security offices.

Long-term Residence in Sweden :

To be eligible for long-term residence in Sweden, you should have stayed in any EU country for a minimum of five years. Upon successful application, you will be given a special residence permit for the EU/EC region. This permit will grant you entrance to any EU country for study, stay, or work, just like the other UE citizens.

However, if you already hold the permanent residence status from another EU nation, and you meet the requirements for a long-term resident in Sweden, you can simply transfer the status from the other country to the Sweden. In most cases, you will be required to prove that you have the sufficient finances to support your stay in Sweden including catering for accommodation and the cost of living.

Work Permits :

As is the case with other EU/EEA countries, citizens from other nations apart from the EEA/EU nations will require a work permit to be employed in Sweden. However, such immigrants working in specialized fields that will take less than a year will not require a work permit, unless they find another job on the side. To get the work permit, you will need to show proof of the job offer and that the employer is willing to pay no less than SEK 13,000 per month.

There are provisions for family reunifications with their Swedish long-term residents or citizens, including those from the EU/EEA communities. The assessment is done individually, and they should pass all the security and health checks to be approved.