Sweden’s New Family Immigration Rules: Income Requirements, Residence Permits and Young Adults

Sweden introduced stricter family immigration rules on 1 October 2026, changing the financial requirements, residence conditions and extension procedures for people seeking to live with relatives in the country. At the same time, new provisions give certain young adults more opportunities to remain with their parents in Sweden, including a temporary route for some people who have received expulsion decisions.

The changes were adopted by the Swedish Parliament and affect both people applying to join family members and residents in Sweden who want to bring relatives into the country. The precise requirements depend on the sponsor’s residence status, the family relationship and whether the application concerns a first residence permit or an extension.

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What changed under Sweden’s new family immigration rules?

The reforms, which entered into force on 1 October 2026, introduce several significant changes to family reunification.

The main changes include:

Higher income requirements: The person living in Sweden may need to have more money left after paying housing costs to support the household.
A two-year residence requirement: As a general rule, certain sponsors holding temporary residence permits must have lived in Sweden with a residence permit for at least two years before their family members apply.
Stricter extension requirements: The financial maintenance requirement now applies to more applications to extend family residence permits.
New opportunities for young adults: Certain people who received residence permits as children can apply to extend their stay with a parent after turning 18.
Temporary application options: Eligible young adults and some other applicants may apply for a different type of residence permit from within Sweden without first leaving the country.

These provisions do not apply identically to every immigration category. Family members of workers, students and certain other residents may be subject to separate rules or exemptions. Applicants should therefore check the Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance for their specific circumstances.

Swedish Migration Agency

Sweden family immigration income requirements in 2026

The financial maintenance requirement is one of the most important parts of a family immigration application. In general, the person already living in Sweden must demonstrate that they can support themselves, their household and the relatives applying to join them.

The requirement covers both income and suitable housing. The Swedish Migration Agency assesses how much money remains after tax and housing costs, taking the size of the family into account.

Swedish Migration Agency

How much money must remain after rent?

For 2026, the standard maintenance amounts for first-time family immigration applications are as follows:

Household member	Amount required per month
Single adult	SEK 8,116
Cohabiting spouses or partners	SEK 13,408
Child aged 0–6	SEK 4,337
Child aged 7–10	SEK 5,205
Child aged 11–14	SEK 6,074
Child aged 15 or older	SEK 6,941

Source: Swedish Migration Agency. Amounts represent the money that must remain after tax and rent, not the required gross salary. Applicable child benefits and large-family supplements reduce the relevant amounts for children.

Swedish Migration Agency

These figures provide a practical starting point for planning, but they should not be interpreted as a universal minimum salary. The sponsor must also account for actual housing costs and the needs of everyone in the household.

For example, a household with two adults and two children must generally have enough net income to pay its rent and still retain the applicable amount for the family. The required gross earnings will depend on taxes and the household’s housing costs.

What income counts towards the requirement?

The Migration Agency can consider qualifying regular income, including:

Salary or wages from employment.
Income from a self-employed business.
Sickness benefits, where the applicable rules allow them.
Sufficient financial assets to support the household for at least two years.

Unemployment insurance, activity grants and certain other unemployment-related benefits are generally excluded from the standard income assessment. Special transitional provisions may apply to certain residence permit extensions.

Swedish Migration Agency

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that every benefit or source of money will count. The type, stability and documentation of income matter.

The new two-year residence requirement

Another significant change concerns the person sponsoring a family member.

From 1 October 2026, a person holding a temporary residence permit will generally need to have lived in Sweden with a residence permit for at least two years when the family member submits their application.

The rule has exceptions. The Migration Agency identifies circumstances involving refugees and certain other groups in which the two-year requirement does not apply. Different provisions may also govern people with work permits, EU Blue Cards, research permits and other specific immigration statuses.

Swedish Migration Agency

This requirement can affect the timing of family reunification. Someone who has recently arrived in Sweden should not assume that having a job, an address and sufficient income automatically means that relatives can immediately join them under the family immigration route.

Before submitting an application, the sponsor should confirm which rules apply to their own residence status and whether an exemption is available.

Housing requirements for family reunification

Meeting the financial threshold is not enough if the housing requirement is not satisfied.

As a general rule, the sponsor must demonstrate that suitable accommodation will be available for at least one year from the application date.

The Migration Agency’s published guidance explains that:

Two adults without children generally need a home with a kitchen or kitchenette and at least one room.
Families with children need additional living space; two children may share a bedroom.
Rooms must be intended for residential use.
Subletting can qualify if the arrangement has the required approval.
Simply lodging with someone else or living with one’s parents does not meet the standard housing requirement described in the guidance.

There is no general minimum square-metre requirement specified in this guidance. The suitability of the accommodation depends on the household’s composition and the applicable rules.

Swedish Migration Agency

Anyone planning to bring a spouse, partner or children to Sweden should check the housing arrangements before applying. A rental agreement, proof of accommodation and relevant approvals may be needed to demonstrate that the requirements are met.

Young adults: new opportunities to stay with their parents

The reforms also address the situation of young people who received residence permits in Sweden as children but turned 18 before their family circumstances were resolved.

Under the rules effective from 1 October 2026, certain young adults can apply to extend their residence permits on the grounds of family ties to a parent.

The main eligibility categories are:

Aged 18 to under 21: Young adults who previously received a residence permit as children may apply for an extension to remain with their parent.
Aged 21 or older: An application may be possible where the person lives with the parent and has a special relationship of dependence that goes beyond the normal relationship between a parent and an adult child.

Eligibility is not automatic. Applicants must satisfy the relevant legal conditions, and the Migration Agency must assess their individual circumstances.

Swedish Migration Agency

Temporary rules for young adults facing expulsion

A separate temporary provision is particularly important for certain young adults who have already received decisions requiring them to leave Sweden.

Until 31 December 2027, eligible applicants may apply from within Sweden for a residence permit based on family ties to a parent, even if they have received an expulsion decision.

According to the Migration Agency, the relevant conditions include having held a residence permit as a child after 1 October 2023 and having received an expulsion decision that became legally binding on or after 1 January 2025.

The temporary provision creates an opportunity to apply without first leaving Sweden. It does not guarantee a new residence permit, and applicants must still satisfy the applicable requirements.

Swedish Migration Agency

The Migration Agency also advises certain people whose expulsion decisions have temporarily been suspended to submit a new application as soon as possible, preferably by 1 December 2026. Anyone in this situation should consult the Agency’s current instructions promptly because the handling of their individual case may be affected.

Can young adults apply for a work or study permit from within Sweden?

In some circumstances, yes. Temporary rules running from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2027 allow certain eligible young adults to apply for another type of residence permit, such as a work permit or a permit for university or university-college studies, without first leaving Sweden.

The provisions concern specific applicants who previously held a residence permit as a child on family grounds and meet the relevant conditions, including conditions linked to expulsion decisions.

Applicants must still satisfy the requirements for the work or study permit they seek. The temporary procedure changes where they can apply; it does not remove the substantive eligibility requirements.

Swedish Migration Agency

Transitional rules for residence permit extensions

Not every family faces the higher maintenance amounts immediately. The rules include a transitional arrangement for certain people extending an existing residence permit.

If the family member’s current permit was granted before 1 October 2026 and the extension application is registered by 1 October 2027, the lower transitional maintenance amounts may apply.

Household member	Transitional monthly amount for 2026
Single adult	SEK 6,243
Cohabiting spouses or partners	SEK 10,314
Child aged 0–6	SEK 3,336
Child aged 7–10	SEK 4,004
Child aged 11–14	SEK 4,672
Child aged 15 or older	SEK 5,339

These amounts must remain after tax and rent. The transitional rules have specific conditions; the date on which an extension application is registered matters.

Swedish Migration Agency

From 2 October 2027, the increased amounts will apply to all applications, including extensions, according to the Migration Agency’s published guidance. Anyone approaching a renewal deadline should verify the applicable threshold and submit the application in good time.

What applicants should do before applying

The new rules make it especially important to establish which legal category applies before preparing an application.

A practical checklist can help families avoid preventable delays:

Check the sponsor’s status. Establish whether the person in Sweden holds a temporary or permanent residence permit, Swedish citizenship or another status that changes the applicable rules.
Confirm the income requirement. Calculate the household’s net income after housing costs and check the correct maintenance amount for every family member.
Review the accommodation. Ensure the housing arrangement meets the applicable size, standard and duration requirements.
Check the two-year rule. Determine whether the sponsor must have lived in Sweden with a residence permit for two years or qualifies for an exemption.
Identify transitional provisions. Existing permit holders and eligible young adults may have specific application routes or deadlines.
Use the official application guidance. Review the Swedish Migration Agency’s instructions for the relevant family relationship and residence category before submitting documents.

The most appropriate application route may differ for spouses, children, parents, family members of workers and family members of students. A general article cannot establish an individual’s eligibility without those details.

Our assessment: preparation matters more under the new rules

Sweden’s family immigration reforms combine stricter financial and residence conditions with targeted opportunities for young adults who previously held permits as children.

For many families, the practical challenge will be coordinating income, accommodation, residence history and application timing. The higher maintenance amounts may require some sponsors to reassess their finances, while the two-year rule could delay applications for certain families.

The provisions for young adults offer an important alternative for eligible people who might otherwise struggle to remain with their parents after turning 18. However, these routes are conditional, and the temporary arrangements should not be mistaken for a general amnesty or an automatic right to remain in Sweden.

Our assessment is that applicants should prioritize official guidance over informal advice, particularly when an expulsion decision or an approaching renewal deadline is involved. Confirming the relevant rules early can help families understand their options and avoid relying on a provision that does not apply to their case.

Frequently asked questions

When did Sweden’s new family immigration rules take effect?

The new rules entered into force on 1 October 2026, following their adoption by the Swedish Parliament. Some provisions include transitional arrangements or temporary application periods.

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What is the minimum income for family reunification in Sweden?

For 2026, the standard amount remaining after tax and rent is SEK 8,116 for a single adult or SEK 13,408 for cohabiting spouses or partners, with additional amounts for children. The actual income needed depends on housing costs, household size and the applicable rules.

Swedish Migration Agency

Must a sponsor live in Sweden for two years before bringing family members?

As a general rule, certain sponsors holding temporary residence permits must have lived in Sweden with a residence permit for at least two years when the family member applies. Exceptions and separate rules apply to some categories.

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Can an 18-year-old remain in Sweden with a parent?

Some young adults who previously held a residence permit as children can apply to extend their permits on family grounds after turning 18. The main age category is 18 to under 21, while certain older applicants may qualify if they have a special relationship of dependence on their parent. Approval is not automatic.

Swedish Migration Agency

Can someone with an expulsion decision apply again from within Sweden?

Certain eligible young adults can apply for a residence permit on family grounds from within Sweden under temporary rules running until 31 December 2027. Other eligible applicants may also have temporary routes to apply for work or study permits. The conditions must be met, and a new application does not itself guarantee permission to stay.

Swedish Migration Agency