Sweden eases family permit rules for young adults, with a harder test at 21
October’s changes let some young people apply from Sweden, including those with final expulsion decisions.
Young adults facing removal from Sweden after growing up here with a parent will gain another chance to stay under rules taking effect on 1 October. Some will be able to apply even after an expulsion decision has become final.
The Migration Agency says the changes cover some young people who held a residence permit through a parent after 1 October 2023. Those eligible can apply from inside Sweden until 31 December 2027. The provision can include people whose expulsion decisions became final from 1 January 2025.
The conditions become harder at 21. Some 18–20-year-olds can extend the family permit they held as children. Older applicants must meet requirements including a shared household and a special dependency on their parent. That dependency can have developed while they were living in Sweden.
When it announced the change in June, the government said it wanted more 18–20-year-olds to finish upper-secondary school and improve their chances of qualifying for a permit in their own right.
Being allowed to apply from Sweden does not guarantee a permit. Each applicant must still meet the conditions for the route they use. For those aged 21 or over, continuing to live with a parent will not be enough without the required dependency.
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