News · Migration · Published 11 July 2026
Sweden proposes two-year wait in tighter family-reunification rules
A government bill would tighten maintenance requirements and make many temporary-permit holders wait two years before relatives can join them.
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Updated 17:03 · 3 min read
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Sweden's government has submitted a bill to parliament that would tighten the rules for family reunification and introduce a two-year waiting rule for many people with temporary residence permits. Proposition 2025/26:301 was published on 30 June, and the government proposes that the amendments take effect on 1 October 2026.
Under the main rule, a relative could receive a residence permit based on a connection to a temporary-permit holder only after that person has lived in Sweden with a residence permit for at least two years. The bill provides exceptions, including for unaccompanied children and refugees in specified situations. The government's accompanying announcement also identifies labour migrants, researchers and doctoral students among groups that would not be covered by the waiting period in the same way.
Maintenance requirements would apply in more situations and would also cover applications to extend an existing residence permit. In practice, that makes the proposal relevant not only when a family member first applies, but also at later renewal stages. The detailed assessment will still depend on the applicant's category and the exceptions written into the legislation.
A government bill would tighten maintenance requirements and make many temporary-permit holders wait two years before relatives can join them.
The bill also contains provisions intended to avoid a different kind of separation. Rules for close relatives outside the nuclear family would be adjusted for extensions, including a route for a person under 21 who previously received a permit through a family connection as a child but has since turned 18. In addition, some family migrants would temporarily receive wider possibilities to apply from inside Sweden.
Migration essentials
These elements mean the package is not simply a single restriction. It combines a longer main waiting period and broader maintenance tests with targeted exceptions and continuation rules. The government says the overall objective is to align Swedish family-reunification law with the minimum levels required under EU law, while using separate rules for different kinds of sponsor status.
The proposal has not yet become law. Parliament must consider and vote on the bill before the planned October commencement date can apply. People with a pending or planned application should therefore distinguish between today's rules and the proposed system, and check the final parliamentary decision and any transitional provisions before acting on the 1 October date.
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