You always have the right to say no to getting married.

Marriage is between two consented and happy people. Wedding can be conducted in kommun or in a mosque or church etc and can be conducted by a a priest, imam or a registrar, for example. Civil marriages are performed by a person who has been appointed by the county administrative board.

A civil marriage is a ceremony that is unconnected to any religion. If the wedding is a religious ceremony performed by a celebrant who does not have the right to solemnise marriages, the marriage is not official in the eyes of the law. For it to become official, a civil marriage is also required.

However, sometimes it is best to go separately and get divorced. Unfortunately, this can create some challenges, especially when you are not in your home country. In those cases, things usually get easier if a third party takes care of all the legal stuff, so you can both use your energy to get on well.

Marriage, Cohabitation and Residence Permits in Sweden

Marrying or moving in with someone in Sweden does not by itself give a right to live here. The relationship is the basis for an application, not a substitute for one, and Migrationsverket examines the relationship itself rather than simply the certificate.

The three situations

You are married and applying to join a spouse in Sweden

The application is made on the basis of family ties (anknytning). Migrationsverket assesses whether the relationship is genuine and, in most cases, whether the person in Sweden meets the maintenance requirement, covering income and adequate housing for you both.

You are cohabiting rather than married

Sweden recognises cohabitation (samboskap). An established cohabiting relationship can support an application, but it requires evidence of shared life together, typically over a sustained period. Cohabitation that only began recently is assessed more sceptically.

You intend to marry or move in together

Where the relationship has not yet been established through living together, the application falls into the newly established relationship category. These are examined more closely, with interviews of both parties being common, and the burden of showing the relationship is genuine sits with you.

What Migrationsverket actually examines

• How and when you met, and the pattern of contact since
• Evidence of the relationship over time, including visits, correspondence and shared arrangements
• Whether both parties give consistent accounts, which is why interviews matter
• The maintenance requirement, where it applies: income and housing adequate for the household
• Identity and, where relevant, documentation of any previous marriages and their dissolution

Inconsistency between two accounts of the same relationship is the most frequent cause of refusal, and it is usually a matter of poor preparation rather than dishonesty. People remember dates differently under pressure.

If the marriage ends

A permit granted on the basis of a relationship is tied to that relationship. If the relationship ends before permanent residence, the position becomes complicated and requires prompt advice. There are circumstances in which a permit may be retained, including where the relationship ended because of violence or other serious mistreatment, but this must be raised properly and with evidence.

If you are in this situation, do not wait to see what happens. Take advice while your current permit is still valid.

Divorce and family matters with a cross-border element

Where a couple has connections to more than one country, questions arise about which country’s courts have jurisdiction, which law applies, and whether a divorce granted abroad will be recognised in Sweden. Marriages and divorces conducted outside Sweden are not automatically recognised, and this becomes acutely important when a later residence or citizenship application depends on marital status being clear.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a residence permit by marrying a Swedish citizen?

Marriage provides the basis for an application, not an automatic right. The relationship must be shown to be genuine, and the maintenance requirement usually applies.

Do we have to be married, or is living together enough?

Established cohabitation can support an application. What matters is evidence of a genuine shared life, not the certificate itself.

What is the maintenance requirement?

The person in Sweden must generally be able to support the household and provide adequate housing. Whether it applies, and at what level, depends on the circumstances and should be checked before applying.

What happens to my permit if we separate?

A permit based on a relationship is affected when that relationship ends. Get advice immediately, while your permit is still valid, as options narrow considerably once it expires.

Will my foreign marriage be recognised in Sweden?

Not automatically. Recognition depends on how and where the marriage was conducted, and it matters for later permit and citizenship applications.

Speak to us

Sweden Relocators AB handles relationship-based residence applications, including newly established relationships and cases where a relationship has broken down, across Sweden and Denmark. We also handle appeals where an application has been refused.

Call +46 72 327 62 76, message the same number on WhatsApp, or email info@swedenrelocators.se. Danish matters are handled by our partner company Nordic Relocators.

General information, not individual legal advice. Every relationship case turns on its own facts. Last reviewed 26 August 2026.