As a newcomer to Sweden, Swedish law are probably the last thing on your mind. You may have been forced to flee war, political opinion, persecution, and constant worry. You try to find a place where you can feel safe and calm. The law is also written in a foreign language and can be perceived as complicated. Not only this, the right to asylum and migration is updated and changed all the time.

Let us help you increase the chance of reaching the decision you desire.

Rights that a foreign citizen should be allowed to stay in Sweden are dealt with in the Migration Court. There, among other things, asylum, residence permit, work permit and citizenship are dealt with. Questions about asylum and migration and which laws apply can be difficult to understand. Applying for asylum means that you are seeking protection in a country other than your home country. If you seek protection in Sweden, you must submit an application for asylum with the border police when you enter Sweden, or at one of the Migration Agency's application units.

Sweden has signed the UN Refugee Convention. This means that Sweden must examine each person's application for asylum individually. According to the refugee convention, Swedish law and EU rules, you are considered a refugee if you have well-founded reasons to fear persecution due to:
• Race
• Nationality
• Religious or political views
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Membership of a particular social group,

A person in need of alternative protection is someone who is judged to be in need of international protection, such as asylum or equivalent protection.
As alternatively in need of protection, it is assessed as:
• Is at risk of being sentenced to death
• Or is at risk of being subjected to corporal punishment, torture, other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
• As a civilian, there is a serious risk of injury due to armed conflict
The person seeking asylum can in some cases receive a residence permit even though the person in question does not need protection against persecution. But special circumstances are required which mean that a decision to deny a residence permit would be contrary to Sweden's international obligations. Such cases could, for example, involve people with a very serious health condition, or who have been subjected to human trafficking.

Asylum-seeking children Few legal issues are as sensitive and important as when it comes to children on the run. According to the law, the Migration Agency must take special account of the child's best interests and the reason for asylum must be examined separately because children can have different reasons for asylum than the parents have. When examining a child's grounds for asylum, the case manager must also adapt the investigation to the child's age, maturity and health. The child has the right to have an adult with him during the investigation. It can be a parent, another guardian, trustee or a lawyer.

In the case of unaccompanied refugee children, they must be assigned a trustee within two days of their arrival in Sweden. Due to a lack of resources at the municipalities, cases arise where this does not happen. It is then up to the public counsel, i.e. the lawyer, to demand that the municipality arranges a trustee. Until the municipality meets its responsibility, the lawyer is responsible.

Residence permit - Connection to relative If you are a citizen of another country, you need to apply for a residence permit before you travel to Sweden in order to move in with your family or other relatives who live in Sweden. The permit must be granted before entering Sweden. In many cases, there are also requirements that the person you are moving to should be able to support you, but also that the home is large enough for both of you to live in.

According to the main rule, the person applying for a residence permit must be able to prove their identity - something that is usually done by showing a valid home country passport.

Work permit - You need a work permit to be able to work in Sweden. According to the main rule, you must apply for a work permit and have the permit granted before you enter Sweden. For certain countries and occupations, however, special rules apply to the application for a work permit. If you have had a work permit granted, it is also possible to apply for an extended one. If you feel unsure about how this is done, you can contact us and we will help you.

Citizenship - After you have lived in Sweden for a certain period of time, you have the opportunity to apply for Swedish citizenship. To meet the requirements you need:
• Be able to show a valid passport.
• Be over 18 years old
• Have a permanent residence permit, right of residence or residence card, if you are an EU citizen or a relative of an EU citizen
• Have lived in Sweden for a certain period of time, met the requirements for housing and lived a decent life in Sweden
You can read more about the conditions for obtaining Swedish citizenship on the Swedish Migration Agency's website.
Regardless of whether it concerns asylum, residence permit, work permit or application for citizenship, we can help you. Migration law is complicated, but with our help, the chances of a better life without running increase.