In order to move to Sweden in the first place, you’ll need either right of residence or a residence permit. There are slightly different routes for Nordic, EU and non-EU citizens.

But after living in Sweden long term, you may become eligible for permanent residency and/or Swedish citizenship. So what benefits do you gain from these statuses, and what are the differences between the two?

LIFE IN SWEDEN GUIDES:

• Sweden Q&A: Ten key questions to help you plan your pension
• Nine things to know about your Swedish tax return
• The best tips for a move to Sweden (from people who’ve been there, done that)

Permanent residency

Having permanent residency, whether that’s permanent uppehållstillstånd or PUT (for non-EU citizens), permanent uppehållsrätt (for EU citizens) or permanent uppehållsstatus (for Brits under the Withdrawal Agreement), makes your status in Sweden more secure. 

Permanent residency comes with a few benefits, the most noteworthy being that – for non-EU citizens at least – you don’t need to apply to renew your permit in order to continue living, studying, and/or working in Sweden. This means, for example, that it’s easier to change jobs if you have a PUT, since holders of a temporary residence permit need to reapply for a work permit in order to change profession.

Students with a PUT are also exempt from the international student fees that usually apply to non-EU/EEA citizens. Even students with a temporary residence permit for reasons other than studies are exempt from these fees.

For EU citizens, you no longer need to meet the requirements of uppehållsrätt once you’ve gained permanent uppehållsrätt. 

READ ALSO:

• 10 telltale signs you’ve gone native in Sweden
• How to get your personal data removed from all those Swedish sites
• The ten weirdest taboos you must never break in Sweden

Another benefit of permanent residency is that family members can apply to move to Sweden to join you under so-called family reunification laws, which is not the case if you are in Sweden with only a temporary residence permit. 

However, the name might be misleading, since you can still lose all kinds of permanent residency.

The most likely reason for this to happen is if you leave Sweden. With a PUT, you may move abroad for up to two years, but if you want to live abroad for longer than this – or if you fail to inform the Migration Agency of your move, even if it’s two years or less – your right of residence may be withdrawn.

Permanent residence permit holders can also face deportation from Sweden if they commit certain crimes; however, this punishment is only issued in the case of extremely serious crimes.

Citizenship

Citizenship, on the other hand, is the only way to gain certain rights in Sweden, like voting or standing for election to parliament, and there are a few crucial extra benefits you get from citizenship compared to permanent residency, which make it well worth considering for those who plan to be in Sweden long-term.

The key thing is that Swedish citizens have the ‘absolute right’ to live and work in the country. 

You can vote in all elections in Sweden as a citizen, and you can join the Swedish police force and army or work as a judge if you wish.

You will also be entitled to a Swedish passport, and as a Swedish citizen you have increased rights of travel compared to many other countries. This includes the rights you gain as an EU citizen, such as the ability to move to other EU countries to work under EU freedom of movement, which might make it especially attractive for non-EU citizens even if you’re not committed to living in Sweden long term. 

Unlike many countries, Sweden does not currently have a test for citizenship, so there are no requirements of language, social, historical or any other kind of knowledge in order to become a naturalized Swede (although it is planning on introducing both language and civics tests in the near future).

READ ALSO:

• A beginner’s guide to buying an apartment in Sweden
• The difference between sambo and marriage in Sweden
• How to change your driving licence to a Swedish one
• What you need to know about military service and dual citizenship

The existing requirements include having “conducted yourself well” during your time in Sweden, which usually means you must not have neglected to pay taxes and fines, or committed a crime in Sweden. If you have committed crimes, there is a waiting period before you can apply for citizenship, which varies based on the severity of the crime.

Another possible complication is the fact that if you want to retain your existing citizenship, you’ll need to look into whether you’re able to hold dual citizenship, which will depend on your original nationality. From the Swedish side, dual citizenship is permitted with no restrictions, but not all countries allow this, so gaining Swedish citizenship could cause complications in your home country. Alternatively, you might consider renouncing your original citizenship to become Swedish.

NOW READ: How to get Swedish citizenship or stay permanently in Sweden

Article originally written in 2019 by Catherine Edwards. Updated by The Local’s editorial team in 2024.