Understanding letters from Migrationsverket
Who sends these letters
Migrationsverket, the Swedish Migration Agency, decides on residence permits (uppehållstillstånd), work permits, asylum, visas and Swedish citizenship. Its letters ask for missing documents (komplettering), give decisions, and explain how to appeal. You can follow your case and reply to requests on its logged-in service, Min sida.
Deadlines and your right to challenge a decision
If you are refused, you can appeal. As a general rule the appeal must reach Migrationsverket within three weeks of the day you received the decision; the decision itself states exactly how and by when. Migrationsverket first checks whether to change its decision, and if it doesn't, sends the appeal on to a migration court (migrationsdomstol). Appealing is free.
Checked on 2026-10-07 against: Appeal a decision (English), Uppehållstillståndskort, Förenklad delgivning, Du har ansökt om förlängning. Rules change: the official website and your letter always win.
These pages explain the Swedish words in official letters. They don't replace the letter itself or advice about your case. Always check the deadline printed on your letter, and contact the agency (their phone number and your case officer are usually at the bottom of the letter) if anything is unclear. Lingolib is not connected to any of the agencies named here. Facts were last checked on 2026-10-07.
Example letters, word by word
These letters were written by us to show the style and the typical phrases. The names, amounts and dates are made up; real letters look different from agency to agency and year to year. Tap a word to see what it means.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
Heading: a request for more information.
. .
You applied to extend your work permit. They need more documents before they can decide.
.
Send your payslips for the last three months and a letter from your employer about your current job.
28 2026.
Upload the documents on Min sida by 28 October 2026.
.
If they don't arrive in time, the decision may be made on what is already in your case.
. .
Only send what they asked for. Extra documents won't speed things up.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
: -
Heading: your residence and work permit has been granted.
- 1 2026 31 2028.
The permit is valid from 1 November 2026 up to and including 31 October 2028.
Logistik .
It covers work as a warehouse worker for this employer (a made-up company).
.
You will get a residence permit card as proof.
.
If you haven't given fingerprints and a photo yet, book an appointment.
. .
The card is not an ID or travel document. Take your passport when you travel.
.
If you change employer, you may need a new work permit.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
:
Heading: your application for a residence permit is refused.
.
Your application to live in Sweden based on family ties is refused.
: .
The reason: you have not shown that you and your partner have lived together.
.
You can appeal if you disagree.
.
Your appeal must reach Migrationsverket within three weeks of the day you received the decision.
, .
Say which decision you are appealing, what you want changed, and why.
. .
They will first reconsider. If they keep the decision, your appeal goes to the migration court.
31 key words in letters from Migrationsverket
The words specific to these letters first, then the general ones every agency uses.
- uppehållstillståndresidence permit
- Permission to live in Sweden. It can be time-limited (tidsbegränsat) or permanent.
- permanent uppehållstillståndpermanent residence permit
- Permission to live in Sweden with no end date, often shortened to PUT.
- tidsbegränsat uppehållstillståndtemporary residence permit
- A permit with an end date, shortened to TUT. Apply to extend it before it runs out.
- arbetstillståndwork permit
- Permission to work in Sweden. Usually tied to an employer and a type of job.
- uppehållstillståndskortresidence permit card (UT card)
- The card that proves you have a permit. It is not an ID or travel document: travel with your passport too.
- förlängningextension
- A new permit following on from the one you have. Apply before your current permit expires.
- beviljagrant
- To say yes. Du har beviljats uppehållstillstånd means you have been granted a residence permit.
- avslårefuse, reject
- To say no to an application. The decision explains why and how to appeal.
- avslagrefusal
- A no. Read the reasons (skäl) carefully and note the appeal deadline.
- skälen för beslutetreasons for the decision
- The part of the decision explaining why. Your appeal should answer these reasons.
- anknytningfamily ties
- A permit based on your relationship with someone living in Sweden, such as a spouse, partner or parent.
- migrationsdomstolenthe migration court
- The court that hears appeals against Migrationsverket's decisions. Your appeal goes there if Migrationsverket does not change its decision.
- överklagandeappeal
- Your written appeal. Say which decision, what you want changed and why, and add any new evidence.
- inom tre veckorwithin three weeks
- The usual appeal time at Migrationsverket, counted from the day you received the decision. The decision states the exact rule.
- handläggningstidprocessing time
- How long the case is likely to take. Migrationsverket's website shows current processing times.
- fingeravtryckfingerprints
- Taken, with a photo, for the UT card. You book a time at a Migrationsverket office.
- prövaexamine, try (a case)
- To assess an application. Pröva din ansökan means to decide on your application.
- anställningserbjudandeoffer of employment
- The employer's offer that a work permit is based on. It shows the job, salary and conditions.
- id-handlingidentity document
- A document that proves who you are, usually a passport. Migrationsverket needs to establish your identity.
- kontrollmeddelandecontrol letter
- A short letter sent the day after a decision to tell you that it was posted. Part of simplified service: the clock for your appeal starts two weeks after the decision was sent.
- medborgarskapcitizenship
- Swedish citizenship, which you apply for separately once you meet the requirements.
- utvisningexpulsion order
- A decision that you must leave Sweden. Get legal advice immediately and check the appeal deadline.
Words every agency uses
- beslutdecision
- The formal answer to your case. A beslut is legally binding until it is changed. Read the date on it: most time limits for challenging it start from the day you received it.
- överklagaappeal
- To ask a court or higher body to change a decision. The letter must tell you how and by when. Missing the deadline usually means you lose the right to appeal.
- kompletteringadditional information
- Something is missing from your application. The letter says what to send and by when. If you don't send it in time, the agency may decide on what it has, often a no.
- Mina sidorMy pages (your account)
- Your personal logged-in pages on an agency's website, where you see letters, decisions and messages. Migrationsverket calls it Min sida.
- delgivningformal service of a document
- The formal way an authority makes sure you have received a document. Time limits often start from the day you were delgiven.
- förenklad delgivningsimplified service
- The document is posted to you and a control letter follows the next working day. You then count as having received it two weeks after the document was sent, whether you opened it or not.
- handläggarecase officer
- The person handling your case. Their name and phone number are usually at the bottom of the letter. You can call and ask them to explain it.
- ärendenummercase number
- The reference number of your case, also called diarienummer or dnr. Quote it in every contact.
- tolkinterpreter
- Agencies and healthcare can book an interpreter for meetings and calls. Ask for one when you book; say which language you need.
What to do next
- Find the date and the deadline. Look for senast, inom and förfallodag. Write the deadline in your calendar.
- Find who to contact. The handläggare and a phone number are usually at the end. You can ask them to explain the letter in simpler Swedish or English, and to book an interpreter.
- Answer in writing when it matters. Our email templates include a polite Swedish message asking an agency to explain a letter.
- Look up other words in the all-agency glossary or the Swedish dictionary.
Letters from other agencies
Reading letters like these gets easier fast once the everyday words are automatic. Season 1 of our course is free in full, and the guide to the language you need when moving to Sweden covers the basics.