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Moving with a partner who has a Swedish work permit? Here is what Migrationsverket says about the partner's own permit, work and the rules from 1 October 2026. For the full family picture, see moving to Sweden with your family.
Who counts as family
A spouse, a registered partner, a cohabiting partner (sambo) and unmarried children under 21 count as family of an employee. Cohabiting partners show documents that they have lived together, such as a registration certificate or a joint lease. Migrationsverket: family of an employee
Work
A family member of an employee gets the right to work for as long as they have the residence permit.
How long the permit lasts
It can match the employee's permit period, but never past the family member's passport.
Maintenance, from 1 October 2026
The person in Sweden must have an income that covers the family's living costs and the full actual housing cost. From 1 October 2026 the requirement is also checked when you extend; your family member's income may count, but not income from subsidised employment or unemployment benefits. Migrationsverket: new rules for family members
Moving for work? How Settio helps
Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run the whole move in one place, so the person moving can focus on settling in:
- Before the move: one plan for the permit and the move, with every step and deadline. A partner and children get their own steps in the same household.
- After arrival: the employee portal shows the newcomer their next steps on their phone, in their language, from registering after arrival to help for settling in.
- When the permit runs out: permit monitoring flags the extension in good time.
HR teams and agencies can start for free. Moving yourself? Try our free tools for life in Sweden.
More in our guide toSettling in SwedenRelocating to Sweden
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