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      Sweden’s Ministry of Justice presented a new proposal on 12 December 2025 regarding increased maintenance requirements, that is, the financial conditions that must be met to qualify for family reunification permits beginning in 2027.1

      For previous coverage of Swedish proposed immigration requirements, see GMS Flash Alert 2025-244, Sweden – Proposed Stricter Conditions for Family Immigration (24 November 2025).

      WHY THIS MATTERS

      The proposal would increase the current maintenance requirements and change certain restrictions regarding which types of income may be counted for determining qualification for family reunification permits.

      Key Highlights

      • The maintenance requirement is based on the protected amount for wage garnishment (after preliminary tax) as well as the actual housing cost. In 2026, the so-called normal amount will be SEK 10,314 for cohabiting partners. The proposal means that the maintenance requirement would be increased by 30 percent from today’s level (i.e., 1.3x the normal amount), plus the actual housing cost.
      • For 2026, this corresponds to approximately SEK 13,400 plus housing cost for cohabiting partners, and approximately SEK 24,000 plus housing cost for a family with two adults and two children (exact amount depends on the ages of the children).
      • The proposal also includes restrictions on which types of income may be counted towards meeting the maintenance requirement. The main rule will be that only salary from employment, income from business activities, or savings that the sponsor can support themselves and the family member with for a sustained period, may be used as a basis for the maintenance requirement. 
      • Income from subsidized employment, unemployment benefits, and activity support will therefore no longer be counted. Work-related compensation provided for shorter periods during ongoing employment, such as sickness benefit or parental benefit, should, according to the proposal, be allowed to count when assessing whether the maintenance requirement is met.
      • The government has previously presented a proposal stating that, unlike today, the maintenance requirement should also be assessed when applying for an extension of a residence permit on the grounds of family ties. In such cases, the family’s joint income may also be considered, not only the sponsor’s income.
      • The proposal is suggested to enter into force on January 1, 2027.

      KPMG INSIGHTS

      In light of the potential changes, the organisations, entities, and individuals might consider the following:

      • Organizations may wish to review their policies and support mechanisms for employees seeking family reunification in Sweden, including providing guidance on qualifying income sources and preparing for higher financial thresholds.
      • Human resources professionals may wish to proactively communicate these changes to impacted staff and consider the implications for long-term assignments.

      If employers, organisations, or individuals have questions regarding the updated immigration regulations and require further advice and assistance regarding next steps, they should consult with their qualified immigration counsel, or they can contact a member of the Immigration team with KPMG in Sweden (see the Contacts section).

      FOOTNOTE:

      1  “Höjt försörjningskrav vid anhöriginvandring föreslås,” Regeringskanliet website, Government Offices of Sweden published on 12 December 2025 (in Swedish).

      RELATED RESOURCES

      "New proposal on increased maintenance requirement for family immigration," in TaxNews (16 December 2025), a publication of the KPMG International member firm in Sweden.

      “Förslag på förändrade villkor för arbetstillstånd och anhöriginvandring,” in TaxNews (16 December 2025), a publication of the KPMG International member firm in Sweden (in Swedish).

      Contacts

      nina-dahlsten
      Nina Dahlsten

      Tax Advisor

      KPMG in Sweden

      peter-lindstrom
      Peter Lindström

      Senior Manager

      KPMG in Sweden

      Elin Persson
      Elin Persson

      Associate

      KPMG in Sweden

      More Information

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      Disclaimer

      * Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

      The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Sweden.

      GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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