Afghanistan, a country in South Asia, has been involved in wars since the beginning of the 21st century, and almost two decades of the 20th. The minor period of tranquility was when the homegrown militia took over most of the country, however, their harsh and brutal imposition of religious laws forced the international community to put an end to it.
During all its war years, a large number of Afghans have migrated to neighboring as well as faraway countries; one such country is Sweden which received thousands of refugees during the 90s. A census in 2010 recorded more than 15000 Swedes of Afghan descent.
Till today, Sweden allows 5000 quota refugees each year from war-torn countries – the majority of which belong to Afghanistan. Although Sweden’s embassy is located in Afghanistan it does not process visa applications or residence permits; for that Afghans need to contact Sweden’s embassies in Pakistan, Iran, or India.
Immigration through family
As stated earlier, hundreds of Afghan-origin families, who are now officially Swedes, live in Sweden. The Swedish government allows immigrant families to host their close family members to stay with them provided a residence permit is acquired.
Under the current situation, probably the most viable method for an Afghan to live in Sweden for more than 90 days, is if a close family member invites him/her to live with them.
To benefit from this opportunity the applicant must be:
- Closely related to the Swedish family (spouse, child, parents, etc.)
- Has a residence permit
- A resident permit must be obtained before arriving in Sweden
A work permit enables the applicant to live with the Swedish family and engage in beneficial employment. The validity of a work permit is two years and can be extended, depending on the conduct of the applicant and fulfillment of certain conditions.
Converting Schengen visa to resident permit
Though a very rare occurrence, there is a provision in the law to convert a Schengen visa into a residence permit. Certain conditions must be fulfilled for an applicant to qualify.
- The applicant has the legal right to residence under the German Residence Act
- The right comes to force when the applicant enters Sweden
- Enters a federal territory
The above there can only be true if the applicant underwent one of the below three scenarios during his/her stay under the Schengen visa
- Had a child with a German citizen
- Married a German citizen
Skill based immigration
Very less likely given the state of affairs in Afghanistan, however, there is a provision in Swedish immigration to allow immigration or resident permits to skilled workers. Blue-collar skilled workers such as hair-dressers (barbers), plumbers, electricians, and heavy machinery operators (excavators, cranes, etc.) are a few that are mostly in demand.
To apply for skilled base immigration, an Afghan aspirant must approach the nearest embassy (India, Iran, Pakistan). Application accompanied by documents proving skillset and experience shall be submitted to the embassy, from where it is sent to the immigration department in Sweden.
An application can also be made through the official online portal, however, personally visiting the embassy will still be required in case the application is approved.
Requirements and fees involved in the immigration process
Application for the resident permit is submitted to the Migration Agency of Sweden along with complete documents and particulars. The fee for adults (above 18 years of age) is €1500 and for children, the fee payable is €750, it is advised that the updated fee structure be consulted with the official website at the following link: https://www.government.se/government-policy/migration-and-asylum/information-on-visas/
Depending upon the method opted for immigration, and the applicant’s status, some basic requirements for the application are listed below:
- Valid passport (at least 6 months validity at the time of application)
- Duly filled forms 161011 and 239011
- Wedding certificate (if applicable)
- Proof of residence in the home country
- Notarized copy of the invitation letter from the Swede family (if applicable)
