Sweden dependent visa
Sweden does not run a standalone "dependent visa." The route is a residence permit to move to a family member in Sweden (uppehållstillstånd på grund av anknytning), granted by the Swedish Migration Agency to the spouse, registered or cohabiting partner, and children of someone already living there, and in some cases to a parent joining a minor child. As an Indian national you must hold this permit before you travel; there is no shortcut around it, because the entire application is built on your relationship to the "reference person" in Sweden and on their status. If their permit ends or the relationship changes, yours is directly affected.
The mechanics are straightforward but strict. Every family member needs their own application and their own permit, so a spouse and each child are assessed separately, though minors are usually filed alongside a parent. The sponsor's status sets the category: they may be an employee or self-employed person on a work permit, a higher-education or doctoral student, or a settled resident or Swedish citizen. For most routes the person in Sweden must also meet a maintenance requirement, meaning enough income to support the household and a home of adequate size and standard. You apply online to the Migration Agency (your relative in Sweden can file it for you), and once the case is registered you attend the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi to prove your identity and give fingerprints and a photo for the permit card. The decision is the Migration Agency's alone.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner of someone living in Sweden, or a person you intend to marry or live with. Partners must generally both be over 21, with exceptions only on special grounds such as having a child together.
- ✓Unmarried children under 18 (family of a settled resident, self-employed person or student) or under 21 (family of an employee on a work permit) joining a parent in Sweden; older children only where genuine financial dependence can be shown.
- ✓A parent moving to live with their minor child who already lives in Sweden; other close relatives only in limited circumstances.
- ✓The sponsor must hold a qualifying status: a Swedish or permanent residence permit or citizenship, or a valid work or study (higher-education or doctoral) permit. The applicant must prove identity with a valid passport.
- ✓For most partner and employee-family routes, the person in Sweden must meet the maintenance requirement: sufficient income to support everyone and housing of adequate size and standard. Limited exemptions apply — for example, families of researchers and EU Blue Card holders, or people with protection status who apply soon after being granted their permit.
- ✓The relationship must be genuine. Couples who have not previously lived together may first be granted a shorter, reviewable permit rather than the full period.
Visa options for Sweden
Family of a Work Permit Holder or Self-Employed Person
Spouse, cohabiting or registered partner and unmarried children — under 21 where the person in Sweden is an employee on a work permit, and under 18 for the family of a self-employed person, researcher or EU Blue Card holder. The permit is matched to the sponsor's, and the family member is granted the right to work in Sweden.
Family of a Student or Doctoral Researcher
Spouse or partner and unmarried children under 18 of someone with a permit for higher-education or doctoral (third-cycle) studies, or staying on to look for work after graduating. The person in Sweden must have more than three months left on their permit when the family applies.
Partner of a Settled Resident or Swedish Citizen
For the spouse, registered or cohabiting partner, or an intended partner, of someone with permanent residence, Swedish or Nordic citizenship, or protection status. Granted for up to two years at a time and renewable, and subject to the maintenance requirement.
Child or Parent Reunification
A minor child moving to a parent already living in Sweden, or a parent moving to their minor child who is resident there. Custody records and consent from the other parent are central to these cases.
Documents typically required
- ✓Valid passport with adequate remaining validity, plus copies of the pages showing your personal details and validity period.
- ✓Completed application, ideally through the Migration Agency's online e-service, or the paper form for your specific family category.
- ✓Marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership; for cohabiting partners, evidence of a shared life and previous cohabitation such as a joint address and correspondence.
- ✓Birth certificates for children, documentation of custody, and written consent from the other parent or custodian where a child moves with only one parent.
- ✓Documentation from the person in Sweden to show they meet the maintenance requirement (for the maintenance-tested routes), such as an employment contract, recent payslips and a tenancy or housing agreement proving income and adequate housing.
- ✓Proof of the sponsor's status in Sweden: their work, study or residence permit, or evidence of permanent residence or Swedish citizenship.
- ✓Passport-style photographs meeting the required specifications.
- ✓For a dependent adult child or other relative, evidence of genuine financial and household dependence on the sponsor.
- ✓Proof of the paid, non-refundable application fee.
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Indian applicants apply online through the Swedish Migration Agency's e-service for a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd), which goes straight to the Agency in Sweden; your relative there can also file it for you as the "reference person." There is no separate national visa to obtain first. Once the case is registered, the fingerprints, photo and passport check for the permit card are done at the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi — biometrics on weekday mornings during the Embassy's stated hours, without a prior appointment. This step is at the Embassy itself, not at VFS Global, which for Sweden handles only short-stay Schengen visas. After approval, the residence permit card is produced and sent to the Embassy for you to collect.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No. The decision rests solely with the relevant immigration authority, and no one can honestly guarantee a visa. What we can promise is a frank reading of your case and the strongest, best-documented application we can build around it. Over the last 2-3 years, the applications we have handled have carried a 97% success rate.
Can my spouse or partner work in Sweden on this permit?
Generally yes. A residence permit granted on family ties normally allows you to work, and the family members of a work permit holder are specifically granted the right to work in Sweden. You do not need a separate work permit to take a job while your family permit is valid.
Can our children study in Sweden?
Yes. Minor children who are granted a residence permit as family members can attend school in Sweden. They are usually included on the family application alongside a parent, each with their own permit, and custody and consent documents must be in order.
Does my sponsor really have to prove income and housing?
For most routes, yes. For a partner of a settled resident and for the family of an employee, the person in Sweden must show they can financially support the whole household and have a home of adequate size and standard, known as the maintenance requirement. There are limited exemptions, for example for families of researchers and Blue Card holders and for certain people with protection status who apply soon after being granted their permit. It is one of the most common reasons family applications run into trouble, so it is worth getting right before you file.
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