The short answer
From 1 October 2026, a sponsor with a temporary Swedish residence permit must normally have lived in Sweden for two years before family members can receive permits, and must have well-founded prospects of obtaining permanent residence rights. The maintenance requirement rises and reaches some extensions. A transition protects extensions of permits granted before 1 October 2026 when the extension is filed by 1 October 2027.
The bill is now an operating rule
Parliament has decided and Migrationsverket published its operational summary on 10 September. 1 October 2026 is the dividing date for new applications and some extensions.
A sponsor holding a temporary permit must normally have spent two years in Sweden when the family applies. Exceptions include some refugees whose family relationship existed before they came to Sweden.
The sponsor must also have välgrundade utsikter, or well-founded prospects, of obtaining permanent residence rights. Migrationsverket assesses that prospect in the case.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| anknytningsperson | the sponsor in Sweden | The person whose status anchors the family application. |
| välgrundade utsikter | well-founded prospects | The wording used for future permanent residence rights. |
Maintenance now reaches more extensions
The försörjningskrav covers income and suitable housing. Its level rises for affected applications from 1 October, and it may now be tested when a family member extends a permit.
A family member's income may be counted for an extension. That does not make every payment eligible: the amount and evidence still depend on the household and the application.
Use the figure on Migrationsverket for the date and case type. A number copied from an older discussion can be accurate for someone else and wrong for you.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| försörjningskrav | maintenance requirement | Income and housing required from the sponsor. |
| förlänga ett tillstånd | extend a permit | The verb used on renewal pages. |
The transition date that matters
An extension of a permit granted before 1 October 2026 may keep the earlier maintenance level if filed by 1 October 2027. From 2 October 2027, the higher amount applies to all affected applications.
This is not blanket protection for any form started before October. Check the date of the current decision, whether the application is a first permit or an extension, and the actual filing date.
Separate temporary routes also exist for certain young adults between 1 October 2026 and 31 December 2027. Age, earlier permits and living in the same household all matter.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| övergångsbestämmelser | transitional provisions | Rules connecting the old and new systems. |
Build the timeline before asking
Write down the sponsor's permit type, arrival date, current decision date and planned filing date. Add the income and housing evidence you can document. That timeline produces a useful question.
Migrationsverket decides individual cases. Svenska App cannot decide eligibility, but it can help you read the decision. The earlier bill explainer shows what was still unsettled before the vote.
When contacting the agency, provide the ärendenummer and ask which rules govern this application type. An answer about another family is not an answer about yours.
Two nearby checks can change the file: the rules for students bringing family and September's establishment programme benefits.
Sources
Rules and processing times change. Check the official page for your own case before acting on anything here.
Questions people ask
- When do Sweden's new family reunification rules start?
- On 1 October 2026. They affect first applications and some extensions based on family ties.
- Does every sponsor have to wait two years?
- No. The rule normally concerns sponsors with temporary permits, and exceptions exist, including in some refugee family situations.
- Can the old maintenance level still apply?
- Yes, for some extensions of permits granted before 1 October 2026 when the extension is filed by 1 October 2027.
- Can the family member's income count?
- It may count in an extension under the new rules. Migrationsverket still assesses the evidence and household.
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