Work Permit - Sweden

Sweden is a great place for people looking for work abroad, with its excellent welfare system, strong worker rights, and focus on innovation. It is a fantastic place that attracts people from across the globe be it for their education, work, tourism, or living, it has a charm of its own that cannot be missed out on. To be eligible to work in Sweden, an individual must apply for and receive approval for a Work Permit.

Eligibility for Work Permit

Candidates must fulfill a few requirements to apply for a Swedish work permit. They are listed below:

• Completed employment contract signed by both employee and employer.
• The applicant must be employed and have a salary that, in terms of employment, is at least on par with the wages set by Swedish collective agreements or that is typical for the industry or occupation.
• The applicant's monthly pay must equal 80% of the median income as reported by Statistics Sweden in effect at the time of the application.
• Insurance for health, life, work, and pension must be provided by the applicant's employer.
• The job must be advertised in Sweden and Europe for a period of ten days.

Types of Work Permits

Employed Worker Permit

Those who wish to work in Sweden as employed workers for longer than three months must apply for this permit. This permit is valid for a maximum of two years and can be extended for two additional years. The eligibility criteria for this permit are as follows:

• Candidate must have a written job offer from an employer
• Proof of financial resources
• The job must be advertised in Sweden and Europe for 10 days
• The conditions of the agreement must be on par with or superior to those found in a Swedish collective agreement.

Highly Qualified Workers

Highly qualified non-EU workers who wish to work in Sweden can apply for a residence or work permit in accordance with the general employee regulations. The permit is initially issued for two years but can be extended for an additional two years. The eligibility criteria are the same as the Employed Worker Permit.

Intra-corporate Transferee (ICT)

This permit is intended for non-EU managers, specialists, or trainee employees who wish to work in Sweden. To be eligible for this permit, the candidate must have been employed at the branch company located outside the EU for three months. The duration of this permit is one year, with extensions available for three years for managers and specialists and one year for trainees. The applicant must meet the requirements listed below to be granted an ICT permit:

• The applicant must have the necessary professional qualifications and experience for the position of manager, specialist, and trainee.
• The applicant must have an employment contract from an employer outside of the EEA area.
• The applicant must obtain health insurance to cover health and medical expenses in Sweden.

International Service Provider

A non-EU national may apply for this permit if they want to travel to Sweden for brief business trips or to perform services for a partner company under the terms of an EU trade agreement. Business visitors for establishment purposes, Short-term business visitors, Contractual service suppliers, Independent professionals, and Investors are covered under this permit. A visitor's visa can be extended and has a maximum 90-day validity period. If the applicant has previously stayed in a Schengen country within the last 180 days, they must apply for a visitor's residence permit rather than an extension.

Seasonal Worker

Those who wish to work seasonally in Sweden may apply for a seasonal worker permit. This permit is only valid for six months out of a twelve-month period.

Self-employed Worker

This permit is intended for individuals who want to open a business in Sweden or take over an already-existing company. A work permit is not required for this purpose. The residence permit is granted for one year at a time for a two-year probationary period. The applicant must meet the following conditions:

• They must possess a great deal of experience in their industry.
• They have to demonstrate that they either own at least half of the company or are in charge of it.
• They have to demonstrate that the products or services are made or sold in Sweden.
• They need to demonstrate that they own at least SEK 2,00,000 of funds.
• They have to demonstrate that they have a network of established customers throughout the nation.

Researchers

The purpose of this permit is to provide postgraduate study access to visiting researchers who hold college or university degrees. They can only work for the research organization that hired them and do not require a work permit.

Students

Students who intend to stay in Sweden for more than three months must have a residence permit, which allows them to work during their studies.

Traineeship

This program is for non-EU individuals who have received an offer for a traineeship in Sweden through an international exchange program run by organizations like AIESEC, IAESTE, JUF, and SACCUSA, or through agreements between Sweden and other nations like the USA and Canada on trainee exchange. Nonetheless, the applicant may apply for a regular Swedish work permit if their traineeship is not covered by such agreements or programs.

Volunteer

Those who wish to perform voluntary work in Sweden without receiving payment can apply for a visitor's permit.

Who Needs to Apply for the Work Permit?

EU nationals are not required to have a work permit in order to work in Sweden. Nonetheless, citizens of certain non-EU nations between the ages of 18 and 30 may apply for a working holiday visa. These nations are South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Switzerland's citizens do not require a work permit for periods shorter than three months. Furthermore, certain fields don't require permits for applicants. These are:

• Specialists from an international company willing to spend less than a year working in Sweden. Specialists subject to ICT regulations are not covered by this exception.
• Workers who wish to spend a maximum of three months over the course of a year at a company in an international group engaging in internal training, practical experience, or other skill development.
• Employees can participate in training, testing, delivery preparation, and related activities within a business transaction for up to 3 months over a 12-month period.
• Diplomats and consular officials, together with their staff and families.
• Fitters or technical instructors in relation to urgent machinery installation and repair for a maximum of two months.
• Individuals who are employed temporarily for a television or radio broadcast for one month or less by Nordisk Television AB (TV4-gruppen/TV4 AB), Sveriges Radio AB, Sveriges Television AB, or Sveriges Utbildningsradio AB.
• Invited artists, technicians, or other tour personnel for a maximum of 14 days spread over a 12-month period by a reputable Swedish arranger.
• Athletes or functionaries who wish to compete in an international competition for three months over the course of a year.
• Employees of railway companies or truck drivers involved in international trade outside of Sweden.
• Drivers and employees of tour buses for a maximum of three months.
• Temporary employees of a company without a branch or office in Sweden, such as journalists or salespeople.
• Caregivers hired by someone visiting Sweden for up to three months.
• Higher education researchers and instructors who engage in research, instruction, etc. for three months out of a year.
• Researchers wishing to conduct 180 days of research with an approved research funding body over a 360-day period and possessing a residence permit for another EU nation.
• Non-citizen individual temporarily employed by a company in any EU/EEA country or Switzerland and seeking to work in Sweden as a contractor or equivalent.
• Witnesses or complainants with a valid residence permit who are the subject of a criminal investigation.
• Duration of deployment for a person helping with a national disaster or accident relief effort.
• Students holding residence permits for higher education in Sweden.
• Holders of a residence permit for mobility studies in higher education in Sweden or a portion of studies in Sweden for 360 days.

Cost of Swedish Work Permit

The table below lists the expenses associated with obtaining various Swedish work permits as well as additional fees that people in particular fields must pay and other costs.

Type	Fee
Work permit	SEK 2,200
EU Blue Card, ICT permit, seasonal work	SEK 2,000
Extension of work permit	SEK 2,200
Residence permit for highly qualified persons to look for work or start a business	SEK 2,200
Self-employed	SEK 2,000
Performer	SEK 1,500
Domestic Worker	SEK 1,500
Professional athletes and coaches	SEK 1,500
Working holiday visa for young people	SEK 1,500
Researcher	SEK 1,500
Trainee (through international exchange programme or agreement)	SEK 1,500
Volunteer	SEK 1,500
Seek employment after completed research	SEK 1,500

Steps to Apply for a Swedish Work Permit

Employer Beginning the Application Process

The applicant must first obtain a contract of employment from a Swedish employer. After that, the employer will begin the application process by giving the Swedish Migration Agency information about the employee's employment. An email with instructions on how to apply for a work permit will be sent to the applicant by the Swedish Migration Agency.

Gathering the Required Documents and Beginning the Application Process

The documentation needed for a Swedish work permit can change depending on the kind of permit, the applicant's nationality, and other factors. Nonetheless, the list of frequently needed documents is below:

• A valid passport
• Completed and signed application form
• Job offer letter
• Employment contract
• Proof of academic qualifications
• Salary slips
• Proof of previous employment
• Power of attorney (if representing the applicant)

The application for a permit must be submitted online or by mail the Application Form to the Swedish Migration Agency, along with these documents and the required payment. The applicant will receive an email from the Swedish Migration Agency if more information is required.

The applicant must make an appointment and physically visit the Swedish embassy or consulate-general with their passport for their fingerprints and photo to be taken.

Waiting For the Decision

The applicant must wait for the outcome of their application after having their biometrics and photos taken at the Swedish embassy or consulate. They will receive an email informing them of the outcome of their application.

After their fingerprints and photos are taken at the Swedish embassy or consulate, applicants who are granted the work permit will receive a residence permit card in 4 weeks. The residence permit card is issued at the time of the decision, but not more than three months before the residence permit becomes valid.

Extending the Work Permit

In Sweden, an applicant seeking to extend a work permit must provide proof that they complied with the following conditions for the duration of their permit:

• The work permit must have been obtained for employment that the applicant held.
• The terms of their employment, including their salary, were commensurate with the wages stipulated in Swedish collective agreements or the industry standard.
• The applicant's monthly salary must match 80% of the median income as of the application period, as reported by Statistics Sweden.
• Applicants need to demonstrate that their employment meets the requirements for a work permit and must enclose the employment contract in the application.
• The applicant must have maintained coverage for life, health, occupational injury, and occupational pension insurance during the whole time they have had a work permit.

The applicant must provide a summary of their PAYE tax return from the Swedish Tax Agency for each year they have worked in Sweden in order to demonstrate that they meet all the requirements. The candidate may request an extension of up to four months before their permit expires if all these requirements are satisfied. Applying for an extension follows a similar procedure as applying for a new work permit. The applicant may apply online for an extension or by mail at the following address.
The Swedish Migration Agency
Box 3100
903 03 Umea

Workers' Rights in Sweden

People who want to work in Sweden should know what their rights are as foreign employees. The rights listed below apply to all foreign employees in Sweden:

• Residency-based welfare is available to those with a valid one-year residence permit who are registered in the Swedish population registry.
• If the worker changes jobs during the first two years of the permit, they must reapply for a new work permit.
• If a worker loses their job and doesn't find another for the next three months, their residence permit is automatically revoked. They must apply for a new work permit, though, if they take a position in a different industry.
• A permanent residency permit can be obtained by those with a four-year temporary work permit. After five years of lawful, continuous residence, workers are granted EC long-term residence status.
• Family members of workers are granted residence permits for the same duration as the worker's original work and residence permits.

Job Prospects in Sweden

The job market in Sweden is all about innovation, marketing, and more. The rights of the workers in this country are strong. The job prospects are also aligned with the high standards of living that prevail here. Not only are graduates and post-graduates warmly welcome in Sweden to grab jobs in multinationals, but also the nation offers major opportunities for entrepreneurs. Further, the prospects are supported by the availability of basic amenities, transportation, and other essentials for living in the country.

Be it in engineering, medicine, management, or business, jobs are no dearth in Sweden, for those who want to have an opportunity to work and earn here.

Entry of Dependents

Those who are citizens of non-EU nations and are related to someone with a work permit are eligible to apply for a residence permit for the same duration. They can also obtain a work permit if their permit is for a period longer than six months. The worker's spouse, cohabiting partner, registered partner, unmarried children under 21, and spouse are all considered family members. The worker's income must be sufficient to pay for their family's housing and other living expenses.

The individual with the job applies for the family through their own online application if they apply as a whole at the same time. Dependents of the worker who are already in Sweden may submit their own online application as family members from their home country or from any other country where they may reside outside of Sweden.

Some Things to Remember

• To work and reside in Sweden, citizens from Nordic countries must register with the Swedish Tax Agency, not the Migration Agency.
• Athletes or coaches, au pairs, berry pickers, seasonal workers, performers, trainees, researchers, holders of an EU blue card, holders of ICT permits, self-employed individuals, or long-term residents are all subject to special rules in Sweden.
• Check out the list of occupations with a shortage of labour.
• To apply for a new permit or to extend an existing one, the applicant must ensure that their employer has obtained life and health insurance for them.