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Table 3 Requirements for family migration to Sweden (2016 amendments in italics)

From: A ‘civic turn’ in Scandinavian family migration policies? Comparing Denmark, Norway and Sweden

Requirement type

On foreign-citizen resident reference person

On entering spouse

On entering child

Language, knowledge

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Economic resources, stability, self-support

Have adequate housing

Self-support (via employment; entrepreneurship or work-related benefits)

But many exemptions

Temp. law (2016–2018): Most exemptions removed; requirement extended to cover also ability to support entering spouse

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Age limit

Temp. law (2016–2018): Over 21 years applies for family reunification when reference person is a refugee allowed temp. res. under the temp. law

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Domestic violence record

Migration board checks previous marriage or partnership and, and any criminal records

  

Length of residence/Residence status

Perm.res.-status required

Temp. law (2016–2018): All asylum seekers achieve only temp. res-status. Only Geneva refugees right to family reun. (if applied within 3 months)

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Attachment to country

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