If you want to work in Sweden, you must have applied for a work visa before entering the country. You can apply online, or at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in the country, you are currently living in.
For seasonal work, less than 90 days, you will need both a work permit and a Sweden visa.
Do You Need a Visa to Work in Sweden?
Foreigners from countries with a visa requirement need to obtain a work permit if they want to be employed in Sweden.
Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland do not need a work visa to work in Sweden.
A work permit is not required if:
- You have a permanent residence permit.
- You have a residence permit for study purposes.
- You have a special residence permit to work as a researcher.
- You are an asylum seeker and have an AT-UND (exemption from being obligated to hold a work permit).
- You are a citizen of an EU country.
Requirements for a Sweden Work Visa
These are the requirements for obtaining a Sweden work permit:
- You must have a valid passport.
- You must have a job offer/contract.
- You must have been offered a salary according to the Swedish collective agreements.
- You must have been offered a position that will be enough to support yourself with at least 1220€ (SEK 13,000) per month.
- Your employer must provide insurance that covers health, life, employment, and pension.
Important: To get a work permit, you need to meet all the requirements listed above. You cannot meet the requirements by having two or more jobs at once.
How to Apply for a Work Visa in Sweden?
There are two ways you can apply for a Sweden work visa:
- Online.
- At the embassy or consulate-general.
Online Application
Online applications are easier and will increase the chances of a quick decision on your application. The online application process for a work visa in Sweden includes these steps:
- Get a job offer. Before obtaining a work permit, you will need to have a job offer from an employer in Sweden. The employer must have advertised the job in Sweden, EU/EEA, and Switzerland ten days before offering you the job position.
- The employer initiates the application. Your employer should initiate the application for a work permit by completing a job offer. You will need to provide personal information to your employer, such as name, date of birth, citizenship, education, and email.
- Receive an email. After your employer has completed the job offer, you will receive an email with information on how to apply for a work permit. If your family wants to come with you to Sweden, you should apply for permits for them at the same time you make your application.
- Attach documents. Together with your application, you will need to submit copies of your passport pages and a power of attorney. These documents should be scanned or photographed.
- Pay and submit your application. You can pay the application fee using Visa or Mastercard. The application should be submitted after you pay the fee.
Both you and your employer will receive an email that your application has been submitted. - Application processing time. The Swedish Migration Agency will decide on your application after you have provided all the requested information and documents. If you have included all the necessary information in your application, the processing time will be shorter.
- Information needed for residence permit card. You will receive a residence permit card if you are granted a permit for more than 90 days. The residence card proves that you are permitted to stay in Sweden and contains information such as fingerprints and photographs.
- Receiving an answer. You and your employer will be notified of the application decision via email. You will also need to take your passport with you.
Embassy Application
For applications at the embassy or consulate-general, follow these steps.
- Book an appointment. Before going to the embassy or consulate-general, contact the embassy and book an appointment.
- Fill in the application form. Fill in the application form for a work permit and sign it at the end. You will find instructions about what you need in the application form.
- Attach the required documents. Together with your application, you should also submit the documents from the checklist below:
- Job offer (not required for professional athletes/coaches).
- Opinion from the relevant union (not required for professional athletes/coaches).
- Copies of your passport pages.
- Submit the application form to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general. Submit the application form to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in the country you are living in. If you cannot apply in your country, you should locate the nearest embassy or consulate-general in your neighboring country.
- Wait for an answer. You will receive an email notifying you of the decision the embassy made about your application.
»Read more on how to apply for Sweden visa.
Sweden Work Visa Processing Time
The processing time for a Sweden work visa depends on the industry you are going to work in. This can take from 2 months to 12 for different industries such as cleaning, agriculture and forestry, automobile repair, etc.
The time is calculated from the day you submit your application to the Swedish Migration Agency or a Swedish consulate-general.
How Much Does the Sweden Work Visa Cost?
The application for a work permit requires a fee of 190€. You need to print the payment of receipt after paying the fee and submit it together with your application. The table below shows the fees you have to pay based on your occupation.
| Occupation | Fee |
| Self-employed | €190 |
| Performer | €145 |
| Au pair | €145 |
| Athlete or coach | €145 |
| Working holiday visa for young people | €145 |
| Researcher | €145 |
| Trainee (through an international exchange program or agreement) | €145 |
| Volunteer | €145 |
Sweden work visa fee can be paid:
- Online
- At an embassy or consulate-general
- To bankgiro
Who Is Exempt From Paying the Fee?
Citizens from Japan who apply for work permits are not required to pay an application fee.
How to Get a Residence Permit for Work in Sweden?
Employees who are working in Sweden after obtaining a work permit can apply for a residence permit for work if they meet the following conditions:
- You have been working in Sweden for a total of four years over the past seven years.
- You can support yourself financially as an employee or a self-employed person.
- You must work for the same employer and in the same profession you had.
The application for a residence permit can be submitted online or at the Swedish embassy.
Can I Bring My Family With Me?
Yes, a work permit allows you to bring your family to Sweden. Your family can get a residence permit for the same period as you. If the residence permit is granted for longer than six months, they can also get a work permit too. The requirement for your family is that you or your partner should financially support them.
The applicant employed in Sweden should apply for his/her family in their online application. The following are considered as family members:
- Spouse (wife/husband)
- Cohabiting partner,
- Registered partner
- Unmarried children under the age of 21.
The fees for family members of persons applying for or holding a work permit are listed below:
| Adult | €145 |
| Children younger than 18 (minors) | €75 |
How Long Can I Work in Sweden With a Visa?
A work permit is valid for two years. Usually, it is valid for the duration of your employment but not longer than the validity of your passport.
What If I Do Not Have a Job Offer?
To qualify for a work permit in Sweden, you must have a job offer from your employer.
In case you do not have a job offer for employment in Sweden, you can start looking for a job by yourself.
Individuals who have a residence permit for studies in higher education in Sweden can get a residence permit to look for a job or explore the possibilities of starting their own business in Sweden after finishing their studies.
How to Apply for a Sweden Job Seeker Visa?
The application for a job seeker visa can be submitted:
- Online
- In person.
For online applications, you have to use the e-service at the Swedish Migration Agency website.
If you do not apply online, you have to fill in the form Application for a residence permit to seek work on completing studies or research, 188011. The application form indicates what documents you must submit together with the application.
Duration of the Sweden Job Seeker Visa
If you get a residence permit for job seeking, it will be valid for only 12 months (one year), not more and not less.
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