Sweden · Work
Sweden Job search after studies
First stay: 1 yr 6 mo
Residence permit to look for work or start a business after studies in Sweden
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Job search after studies is a work route for Sweden. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- SEK 1,500 ≈ $150
- First stay
- 1 yr 6 mo
Cost, time and long term
Government feesSEK 1,500 ≈ $150
- SEK 1,500 (≈ $150)Adults; children under 18 SEK (≈ $2) 750.
Shown, not spentSEK 11k+/mo ≈ $1,060
- SEK 10,656 a month (≈ $1,060)Maintenance for the whole permit if applied in 2026 (SEK 10,584 (≈ $1,060) in 2025); reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing; SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child.
RenewalRenewal rules
Granted for up to one year after a bachelor's or master's, and one year to 18 months after doctoral studies.
Where to applyInside the country
Apply before your study permit expires.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Sweden
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- Applicants hold a residence permit for higher education in Sweden and completed a programme of at least two semesters.
- Higher vocational education does not count; a mobility-study permit from another EU country needs two semesters in Sweden.
- Applicants plan to look for work or investigate starting a business.
What you must show2
- Maintenance is at least SEK 10,656 (≈ $1,060) per month for the permit period, if applied in 2026.
- SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child.
Documents2
- A degree certificate or Ladok extract, and bank statements, are submitted; doctoral students add a supervisor's certificate.
- Comprehensive health insurance is submitted if the total time in Sweden is under one year.
Steps1
- The application is submitted before the current study permit expires.
When you become tax resident
How Sweden decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 18 months at first
- Tax residence
A person is liable to tax on worldwide income if domiciled in Sweden (population register), staying regularly in Sweden (six consecutive months or more; short departures do not interrupt) or having significant connections to Sweden after moving away.
- Foreign-source income
Earned income (employment, business, pension), including foreign-source income of residents, after the basic allowance (grundavdrag); municipal tax at the municipality's rate (national average 32.38% for 2026, range 28.93% to 35.65%) on all taxable earned income, and national tax of 20% on the part of taxable earned income above SEK 643,000 (≈ $64,100).
All tax rules for Sweden Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Comprehensive health insurance is submitted if the total time in Sweden is under one year
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of SEK 11k+ a month ≈ $1,060.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
For graduates of first-, second- or third-cycle studies at a Swedish university or university college who want to look for work or explore starting a business; apply before the study permit expires. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least SEK 10,656 a month (≈ $1,060) · Maintenance for the whole permit if applied in 2026 (SEK 10,584 (≈ $1,060) in 2025); reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing; SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child. 1
- A fee of SEK 1,500 (≈ $150) · Adults; children under 18 SEK (≈ $2) 750. 1
Requirements
- Applicants hold a residence permit for higher education in Sweden and completed a programme of at least two semesters. 1
- Higher vocational education does not count; a mobility-study permit from another EU country needs two semesters in Sweden. 1
- Applicants plan to look for work or investigate starting a business. 1
- Maintenance is at least SEK 10,656 (≈ $1,060) per month for the permit period, if applied in 2026. 1
- SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child. 1
- A degree certificate or Ladok extract, and bank statements, are submitted; doctoral students add a supervisor's certificate. 1
- Comprehensive health insurance is submitted if the total time in Sweden is under one year. 1
- The application is submitted before the current study permit expires. 1
Stay
- Up to one year after bachelor's or master's studies; one year to 18 months after doctoral studies.
- First stay: up to 18 months, decided case by case.
Nationality
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Family
Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time for the same period; adult family members and children turning 16 this year may work.
Official sources
- Look for work after completing your studies in Sweden · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
- New rules for researchers and doctoral students · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-05-25
Job search after studies and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job search after studies | – | 1.5 yr | – |
| Blue Card | Needs income of SEK 54k+ a month ≈ $5,350 | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| Intra-company transfer | – | 3 yr | – |
| Highly qualified job search | – | 9 mo | – |
| Researcher permit | – | 4 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Job search after studies?
Savings of at least SEK 10,656 a month (≈ $1,060). Maintenance for the whole permit if applied in 2026 (SEK 10,584 (≈ $1,060) in 2025); reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing; SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child. A fee of SEK 1,500 (≈ $150). Adults; children under 18 SEK (≈ $2) 750.
How long can I stay on the Job search after studies?
Up to one year after bachelor's or master's studies; one year to 18 months after doctoral studies.
Can I bring my family on the Job search after studies?
Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time for the same period; adult family members and children turning 16 this year may work.
Who can apply for the Job search after studies?
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
More in Sweden
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Look for work after completing your studies in Sweden · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
- New rules for researchers and doctoral students · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.