How I Got My Swedish PR

I've been asked, several times, about the process of applying for Swedish Permanent Residency Permit (locally known as Permanent Uppenhålltillstånd, or PUT). The Swedish Embassy in Singapore is in town, it used to be in the PUB building, currently it's at Triple 1 Somerset.

When I applied for Swedish PR back in 2006 - and the rules haven't changed very much since then - from start to finish, it took around 3 months. I applied in early March, and received confirmation mid May. By this time, my relationship with the DH was quite well established, since we were planning to have the wedding in June 2006. The Swedish Consulate was most emphatic about the fact that I had to wait for the local consul to give me my probationary PR. They told me if I went to Sweden before I was granted PR I could run into trouble. And actually, I was a little concerned, since their website mentioned 3-6 month processing time. However, since I am a good SG citizen with no previous criminal past etc, the whole thing went like clockwork. And now they've made it all so much simpler by allowing people to submit their applications online!

I've now learnt that Swedish PR is quite relaxed compared to many asian countries. For one thing, you don't have to be married before you apply; if you have a BF/GF and can prove your relationship (a shared address; shared custody of children, even outside of marriage, etc), then you may apply for SPR. Assuming you have the requisite Swede to back your claim, of course! ;) And unlike Australia, there was no need for rigorous health checks. (Although my own GP tried to push me to take Hepatitis shots. Which I refused to do mainly because I thought she was being unreasonably pushy about.)

They have a list of things you have to bring with you along with the application, which I won't go into detail here. But for sure, you need your local passport and birth certificate. You AND your sambo/mate each have to write a letter detailing your intimate relationship eg how you met, when you've met, how long the relationship has been, etc. Basically, they want to be sure that your alibis tally.

One good tip I received from the receptionist: renew your SG passport before you apply. Because the PR will last only as long as your passport. And unless you're blessed enough to be able to afford coming back every now and then, you will save yourself some hassle of renewing your passport via Denmark (the nearest Singapore consulate, since the office in Stockholm was deactivated) so quickly.

So, first stage
You gather all your documents and hand it in at the counter. They will want to see your passport and/or IC, but they won't hold it for now. Expect to pay the fee upfront. (they will charge the SG equivalent. Apparently they now demand cash payment if you go the paper route.).

Second stage
Part 1: Wait for them to set up an appointment.
I don't remember if I was given a date straightaway or was sent a letter/email. But the interview, for me, was set around 2-3 weeks after I first sent in my application. Meanwhile, I renewed my passport - which, as you know, is a grueling time-waster if you go to I.C.A.

Part 2: The interview.
You will be shown into a small room with 2 or 3 chairs. The interviewers (1 Swede, 1 local) will be seated opposite, and you will be separated by a very large perspex/glass wall. There are "talky holes", just like the old POSB counters. And, just like a bank, there is a slot on the table-top where you can pass over slim items over. So you can see/hear them very clearly, but you can't physically touch them, and vice versa. And then you will chit-chat for an hour or until they're happy and you're dry in the mouth. I brought some pictures to my show-and-tell; I assumed I wouldn't get them back, and I didn't.

Part 3: Wait for their decision. This is the hardest part of the process. Be patient.
The most annoying thing about this process is that all-important decision of whether you were given SwePR or not is given NOT TO YOU in Singapore but to your Swedish sambo/mate. Whom they fully expect to be IN SWEDEN, with a Swedish address. And it will be gobbledygook to you because it is all in Swedish anyway (unless you've been learning Swedish before getting there).

But of course the local consulate will give you a call or send you an email once your application is approved (or not).

Part 4: Go forth with your passport. I remember that they kept my passport for some time, for processing. Once you have the probationary PR, you can legally live and work there. You don't even have to go straightaway, we left for Sweden a month after I received my PR.

Next: Now that you've got your SwePR, what's next? And why do I keep saying probationary PR?!