Sweden has a long history of immigration and has created several policies and initiatives to support immigrants’ social integration. Sweden work permit 2023The government is in charge of ensuring that immigrants have access to the same opportunities and privileges as citizens born locally. This pertains to having access to a job, housing, healthcare, and education. The government also offers language lessons and other support services to assist immigrants in assimilating into their new nation’s language and culture. Local governments also contribute significantly to the integration of migrants by providing amenities like housing and education. Generally speaking, Sweden’s approach to managing the integration of immigrants is predicated on building a society in which everyone has equal access to opportunities and may fully engage in the nation’s social, economic, and political life.
The first thing to understand about Swedish visas is that non-EU/EEA nationals cannot be present in Sweden at the time of application. Citizens of the EU/EEA have the right to reside in Sweden and can do so with or without employment. However, they must begin the Swedish visa application process if they intend to stay in Sweden for an extended period. Other Nordic nationals are not required to take any action. This section of the guide covers the critical prerequisite for applying for a Swedish visa—having a work offer from a Swedish company. Additionally, we go over the processes you must complete, such as providing a copy of your passport and paying the visa fee. You will also discover when you might expect to receive your visa. It’s crucial to remember that most candidates will only have to wait up to one to two months for their application to be granted because you cannot enter Sweden before obtaining your visa or work permit. However, the regulations vary depending on the type of visa. For instance, self-employed individuals may have to wait up to a year.
Work Permits and Visas Based on Employment
You may require an employment visa or a work permit to work in Sweden, depending on your country of origin. You have the right to stay in Sweden if you are a citizen of the EU or EEA. This indicates that you can start working there without obtaining a work permit. You only need to provide your passport while entering Sweden or applying for jobs.
- You may visit Sweden to look for work if you are a citizen of the EU or EEA. After landing a job and establishing yourself in Sweden, you must register with the Swedish Tax Agency. Read more about this in the section below on residence permits.
- You need a job offer as a non-resident of the EU or EEA to qualify for a work permit, which you need to enter Sweden. After receiving a work permit, it is possible to enter Sweden or start working there.
- Sweden’s Work Permit Requirements
- You must fulfill the following prerequisites to be granted a Swedish work permit:
- Own a current passport.
- Be provided employment that corresponds with Swedish collective agreements or is typical for the profession.
- Be given a remuneration of at least 13,000 SEK (1,480 USD) each month before taxes or a compensation comparable to the position
- receive a job offer with benefits including social security, life insurance, and health insurance.
- You must provide evidence of your accommodations in Sweden when you apply for a work permit and your intention to depart the country after your employment agreement expires.
- You must fulfill some conditions before applying for a Swedish work visa, and your Swedish company must meet specific requirements before they can engage you.
- The position must have been posted for at least ten days in the EU/EEA.
- Employment conditions for the work must be comparable to those of similar Swedish occupations in the same sector.
How to Apply for a Work Visa in Sweden
- A Swedish embassy is where you can apply in person for a work visa, or you can do it online. The Swedish work permit application form can be submitted online, which is the simplest method.
- Initial Step: Employment Offer
- Your Swedish company will need to make a written employment offer and get the union’s approval for the position and pay. The duration of the job should be included in the job offer because it will directly affect how long the visa will be valid.
- Step 2: The application Is Started by the Employer
- Your Employer will begin the online application process with the Swedish Migration Agency once you receive and accept a job offer (Migrationsverket). They will require your birthdate, details about your citizenship, information about your schooling, and your email address to achieve this.
- Step 3: Send an email
- You will get an email to start your side of the process once your company starts the application. You must indicate if you are moving with your family or alone.
- Step 4: Send in your documents
- The only documents you will need to submit for a work permit are your passport (particularly the identification page as well as any stamps or visas currently in your ticket), an employment offer, and a declaration from a union because you will also require resident access in addition to a work permit.
- Step 5: Price A work visa should only cost 2,000 SEK (230 USD). Certain professions may have lower fees for licenses.
- Step Six: Hold on
- Whether you applied online or in person, whether you are self-employed or employed by a corporation, and the industry in which you will be working, among other things, can all significantly impact how long it takes to get your work visa. The waiting period often lasts between one and three months for foreign workers who work for Swedish businesses.
- Types of Specialty Work Permits
- The EU Blue Card
- An EU Blue Card is a work and residence visa for highly trained professionals. It would help if you were employed in a profession, hold a college degree, or have five years of professional job experience to be eligible.
- The employee and the business must provide documentation when applying for the EU Blue Card.
- A valid passport, 180 university credits, five years of relevant professional experience, a comprehensive health insurance policy that covers health and medical care in Sweden, an employment contract or an offer of highly qualified employment lasting at least one year, and a salary that is at least 1.5 the average gross salary, are all requirements for work.
- Employers must show evidence that the position was advertised for at least ten days in Sweden, the EU/EES, and Switzerland; and a complete offer of employment with terms comparable to Swedish collective agreements or representations typical of the position being filled.
- EU Blue Card holders must earn at least a certain amount each year to meet Sweden’s definition of a highly skilled worker. Although the sum is variable yearly, it was SEK 51,900 as of 2019. (5,900 USD).
- ICT License
- An ICT Permit is required for ex-pats moving to the Swedish branch of a company they now work for outside the EU. Only non-EU citizens must apply. Only staff members in managerial or specialized roles are eligible for this authorization.
- Like the EU Blue Card, proof of your eligibility for the ICT Permit must come from both you and your company.
- It would be best if you had a passport that is still valid to be eligible for the ICT Permit.
- Have an employment contract from your home country
- Your Employer must make you an employment offer, pay you at least at the level of Swedish collective bargaining agreements or what is typical in your profession or industry, and provide employment terms at least as favorable as those for employees posted to Sweden. Your Employer must also offer you a job that allows you to support yourself.
- Make a job offer that includes the Employer’s name and address, the date the employment outside the EEU started, the location of the work or training, a description of the employee’s responsibilities, compensation, additional payroll benefits, and the employee’s title or professional designation (not applicable to trainees).
- An EU Blue Card or ICT permit will cost 2,000 SEK, just like the standard work visa (230 USD). Specialty professionals must pay an extra 1,000 SEK (115 USD).
A Remark on Family Visas
Your partner/spouse and kids may accompany you if you are given a work permit and are a non-citizen of the EU/EEA. However, they will have to submit their applications for residency permits. You can complete this alone or in conjunction with your application. Sweden business visas You will require a business visa if you intend to travel to Sweden for a brief period for the business. Even though there are few conditions unique to Sweden, this Schengen visa will only allow one entry. You will need the following items to apply for a Swedish business visa:
- A passport that is currently valid for at least six months.
- An application form.
- Two passport photos.
- A resident visa.
- A bank statement.
- Proof of travel insurance.
- Business references, including an invitation from a Swedish company or organization.
- Documentation showing that you have made hotel and flight reservations in Sweden.
Visas for Self-Employment
You don’t need a permit to work as a self-employed individual in Sweden for up to three months. You will need to apply for a self-employed visa after three months. The same applies to citizens of the EU and EEA In Sweden, there are a few terminologies that self-employed people should be familiar with. The first is Swedish for “single proprietor.” It would help if you established your firm with personal liability to be a solo trader (the second phrase to be familiar with Although you won’t need an accountant if you have fewer than ten employees, you’ll still need to keep close tabs on your finances. Be aware that once you register in Sweden, you must pay taxes on your income earned abroad. Visit our page on Banks and Taxes in Sweden to learn more about Swedish taxes.
Check Out : How to Immigrate to the United States
Sweden’s requirements for a self-employment visa
- Sweden has the following requirements for self-employment visas:
- current passport
- Evidence that you are running the business and have ultimate responsibility for it and own at least half of it. Proof that the business’s services or goods are sold and produced in Sweden. Enough money to support you and, if applicable, your family during the first two years. Reliable sources. Significant experience in your field and prior experience running your own business.
- evidence that you can support yourself and your family, if relevant, and that your company will have its finances in order after a two-year probationary term (income support is calculated according to the Swedish national standard for income support plus housing costs)
- The application form is available here. You must also submit the following paperwork in addition to meeting the requirements above:
- A copy of your passport that includes the identity page and all of the visa and stamping pages
- financial records proving you have enough money to last you and your family for at least two years.
- 200 000 SEK for one individual (22,800 USD)
- For a spouse, 100,000 SEK (11,400 USD)
- Amount: 50,000 SEK per child (5,700 USD)
bank records proving there is sufficient money to support the sale of the business. You may have purchased office space if you have agreements with clients and suppliers. If the company has been in operation for a while, the annual accounting statements for the previous two years. Balance statement and revenue report for the most recent fiscal year, a course certificate or other proof that you can communicate in Swedish and English credentials from prior employers attesting to your educational background registration certificate for businesses you currently hold or have held outside of Sweden You must start the process by submitting everything to the Swedish embassy or consulate in your place of origin if this is your first time applying for a visa. The visa cost is the same as that of a standard work permit: 2,000 SEK (200 USD) (200 USD). However, there will be a wait of 10 to 15 months.
Following the Issue of Your Self-Employment Visa
Unless you have requested a shorter period, the validity of your self-employment visa should be for two years. The migration agency will need to confirm the following after two years:
- That the applicant is still able to support themselves and their dependents.
- That the applicant is operating the business under the business plan they reported.
- The company is registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office
- That any required business permits are current.
- That the applicant is residing in Sweden.
- That there is evidence the business is being run from Sweden.
You can bring your family to Sweden if given a self-employed visa. The length of their stay will be the same as their self-employed permit, and they must apply for their tickets. Citizenship Permits: The process for becoming a temporary or permanent resident in Sweden varies depending on your country of origin. If you are an EU citizen, you are entitled to live there without a permit. However, EU citizens must still declare their move to Sweden to the Swedish Tax Agency. This will allow you to obtain a person which you require if you plan to reside in Sweden for an extended period. Like the Vikings, fellow Scandinavian citizens—citizens of Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland—need no permit of any kind and are free to come and go whenever they want. To live in Sweden, ex-pats from non-EU/EEA nations must have jobs. This necessitates obtaining a job and a work permit before traveling to Sweden, as was previously mentioned.
Fees and Requirements for a Temporary Resident Permit
You must provide the following paperwork to submit your application for a temporary residence permit if you are a non-citizen of the EU: Passport; work offer from Sweden; wage offer; evidence of health and life insurance; and employer-provided social security. You can temporarily reside and work in Sweden if you have a temporary residence. Depending on the terms of your permission, you can renew it annually. However, this is not a given. While in Sweden, if your employment status changes, you must update your residence permit.
How to Apply for Swedish Permanent Residence
You must have lived continuously in Sweden for five years before applying for permanent residency. At the end of the five years, EU citizens will receive this residency, even if some of that time was lost to unemployment. Non-EU citizens must demonstrate their ability to support themselves and their families, as well as the fact that they were employed for the entire five years (even if it was self-employment).
- The Advantages of Swedish Permanent Residency
- Having a permanent residence in Sweden has some apparent advantages. To begin with, you won’t need to renew your visa to continue living and working in Sweden. Additionally, you can change occupations without having to modify your residency permit.
- Other advantages include bringing family members with you to Sweden thanks to Swedish family reunification legislation. Family members may travel with you on a temporary Swedish visa, but they must apply for their tickets.
- Remember that citizenship is not synonymous with permanent residence. Your right to permanent residency will be withdrawn if you spend a lot of time outside Sweden. Depending on your particular permit, this period could last between two and six years. In the same way, you run the possibility of being deported and having your visa withdrawn if you commit a significant crime.
- Sweden’s Visa Requirements for Permanent Residence
- As previously indicated, after five years of continuous residence in Sweden, citizens of the EU will automatically receive permanent residency. Non-EU citizens must fulfill the following requirements:
- They had to have remained in Sweden for the entire five years.
- They needed to have a five-year residency permit that was still valid.
- They must have been able to provide for their family and themselves.
- Additionally, you must have been given a residence visa to stay and work in Sweden for an extended period. You could not obtain permanent residency if you came to Sweden as a student or a temporary worker, such as an au pair.
Application for Permanent Residence in Sweden
in order to request permanent residency. There is only a Swedish version of this. You must deliver this in person or online to the Swedish Migration Agency.
- Included in the required paperwork is a copy of a valid travel document and proof of your ability to support yourself and your family for the preceding five years (for example, certificates of employment, statements of your declared income, certificates showing your pension, or evidence of the assets you have in the bank)
- Swedish permanent residency costs 1,000 SEK (115 USD). Family members of Nordic citizens, residents of the EU and their dependents, and Swiss nationals are not required to pay.
- Family and Spouse Visas in Sweden
- You are eligible to apply for a residence visa if you are married, in a partnership, or have a child who is a Swedish citizen. The process for obtaining a spouse or fiancé visa in Sweden is as follows for those who are already married or have been living together in a relationship that “looks like marriage” for a long time but are not legally wed.
- You must complete the form online, but make sure you comply with the following conditions first:
- You and the Swedish resident you are moving to must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be able to use a Visa or MasterCard to pay the application cost.
- The documents that must be attached must be scanned or copied. Thus you must be able to accomplish that.
- Additionally, you must submit the following paperwork:
a married person with a current passport population registration certificate, tenancy agreement, purchase receipt for your place of residence, or other evidence proving you live in a shared space a record of your shared home, such as a leasing agreement with both of your names on it or, if you are expecting a child, past invoices with your name and address on them: If you are bringing kids who are under 18 years old, please present a pregnancy certificate Copies of the kid’s passport include the child’s name, address, photo, signature, passport number, country of issue, validity period, and whether the child is authorized to reside outside their country of origin. The child’s birth certificate or, if this individual isn’t traveling with you to Sweden, a birth certificate from one of the parents with permission Court order if you are the only parent with custody or a death certificate if the other parent has passed away. Documents proving adoption if the child is Sweden’s law governing immigrant integration of foreigners The Aliens Act and the Aliens Ordinance serve as the primary legal framework for foreigners and immigrant assimilation in Sweden. These rules specify the legal rights and obligations of non-Swedish citizens in Sweden and the procedure for applying for citizenship and a residence permit. The primary law governing foreigners’ entry, stay, and residency in Sweden is the Aliens Act. It lays forth the standards that must be satisfied before a foreign national is given a residence permit, including those that have to do with employment, relationships with the family, and other things. More specific laws, such as those governing the processing of residency permit applications, are contained in the Aliens Ordinance. The Aliens Act and the Aliens Ordinance must be implemented and upheld by the Swedish Migration Agency. This includes processing requests for resident permits, making decisions regarding requests, and keeping track of legal compliance. A number of measures and initiatives have been put in place by the Swedish government to aid in the integration of recent immigrants. These include classes in the Swedish language, job training, and other services meant to assist immigrants in assimilating into Swedish society and locating jobs. The nation’s approach to integrating immigrants and the legislation governing their rights have seen some adjustments in recent years. While some of these reforms attempted to make it harder for specific migrant groups to get permanent residency cards, others aimed to offer more assistance for integrating recently arrived migrants.
EU funds for integration available in Sweden
In Sweden, the European Union (EU) provides funding for integration programs through the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). These funds are intended to support the development of policies and programs that promote the integration of migrants and other disadvantaged groups into the labor market and society. The European Social Fund (ESF) is a crucial EU funding mechanism for integration in Sweden. It provides funding for programs that promote employment, education, and social inclusion for disadvantaged groups, including migrants. The ESF also supports the development of policies and strategies for integration at the national, regional, and local levels. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is another EU funding mechanism relevant to integration in Sweden. It provides funding for projects that promote economic and social development in disadvantaged regions, including those with high concentrations of migrants. The ERDF can be used to support the development of housing, infrastructure, and other services that are needed to support the integration of migrants. In addition to these funds, the EU also provides funding for specific initiatives and programs related to integration, such as the European Integration Fund (EIF) and the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF). These funds are intended to support the development of policies and programs that promote the integration of migrants and other disadvantaged groups into the labor market and society. It’s worth noting that the fund’s availability and the programs that are eligible for these funds can change from year to year depending on the EU budget and the priorities of the EU member states. Therefore, it’s best to check with the specific Swedish government agency responsible for managing these funds for the most up-to-date information on the availability and use of EU funds for integration in Sweden.
Sweden has a work visa system that allows foreign citizens to come to the country to work temporarily. In order to work in Sweden, a person must have a valid work permit, which is issued by the Swedish Migration Agency.
There are several types of work permits that can be applied for depending on the type of work and the individual’s qualifications:
- An employment permit for highly skilled workers, for individuals with a job offer from a Swedish employer and a salary that is considered high in relation to the relevant occupation.
- An ICT permit for intra-corporate transferees, for employees of a company outside of the EU who are transferred to a branch of the same company within the EU.
- A work permit for certain professions, for individuals working in specific professions, such as athletes and artists.
- A work permit for students, for students who are studying at a Swedish educational institution and want to work while studying.
- A work permit for a startup, for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business in Sweden.
To apply for a work permit, the applicant must have a job offer from a Swedish employer, and the employer must have applied for a work permit certificate with the Swedish Migration Agency. The applicant must also meet certain requirements related to education, work experience, and language proficiency. The processing time can vary depending on the type of permit, the complexity of the application and the workload of the agency. It’s important to note that a work permit is tied to a specific employer and job, and if the individual wants to change employer or job, the permit must be renewed. Also, it’s mandatory for the applicant to have a valid passport and health insurance that is valid in Sweden. It’s best to check the Swedish Migration Agency website for the most up-to-date information on the requirements and the process for obtaining a work permit in Sweden.
Final verdict
A work permit for students is generally issued for the duration of their studies, up to a maximum of one year.
- A work permit for a startup can be issued for up to two years.
It’s important to note that the duration of a work permit may be shorter than the duration of the employment contract, depending on the terms of the contract. Once the permit is about to expire the employer or the worker can apply for an extension. It’s also important to note that holding a valid work permit does not automatically grant the holder the right to permanent residence or citizenship in Sweden. The individual will have to go through a separate process if they want to apply for those statuses. In summary, the duration of a work permit in Sweden depends on the type of permit and the individual’s qualifications and it’s usually linked to the duration of the employment contract. However, it’s best to check with the Swedish Migration Agency for the most up-to-date information on the specific requirements and duration of a work permit in Sweden.