Author
Family members are given a residence permit for reasons of family reunification. When in Sweden, they can apply for status as a refugee or person eligible for subsidiary protection, following the same procedure as an asylum seeker. For family members of refugees, there is the possibility to obtain a subsidy to cover travel costs to Sweden.[1] However, government funding for these costs is not sufficient so currently there is little funding available. The budget for travel grants for relatives had a low expenditure in 2020 where 30% of the budget was spent. This was due to a terminated agreement with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in 2019 with no new agreement yet reached and travel obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] For family members of persons with subsidiary protection the Swedish Red Cross has partial funding available but even these resources are strained at present.[3]
[1] Förordning (1984:936) om bidrag till flyktingar för kostnader för anhörigas resor till Sverige.
[2] Swedish Migration Agency, Annual Report 2020, , Dnr: 1.3.2-2021-1600, 19.
[3] Swedish Red Cross, Återföreningsresor, available in Swedish at: https://bit.ly/3aCfX9V.