Sweden's Pandemic Passport Extensions Set to Expire, Urging Action from Residents

As of October 1, 2025, Sweden will invalidate pandemic-related passport extensions, prompting Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency) to revert to pre-COVID regulations. This change affects individuals holding extended passports, who will be barred from entering Sweden if their documents are outdated. According to Migrationsverket's legal chief, Carl Bexelius, it is critical for affected individuals to act promptly to renew their passports and ensure compliance with residency permit requirements.

Those currently in Sweden seeking residency permits—for reasons such as study or family reunification—will need valid passports, as extensions will not suffice. Migrationsverket plans to proactively contact applicants using extended passports, advising them to secure a new, valid passport, either in their home country or through their country's embassy. While permanent residents and refugees in Sweden do not need a passport, possessing one is vital for obtaining temporary residency.

Bexelius emphasized the importance of addressing the issue in a timely manner, noting concerns around the security of the previously issued temporary extensions due to the potential for forgery, which does not match the standards of original passports. The agency's decision reflects a move towards stricter immigration controls following the pandemic's disruptions in passport issuances.