Sweden · Business / Startup
Sweden Self-employed permit
Savings needed: SEK 200k+ ≈ $20k
Residence permit for self-employed people
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Self-employed permit is a business / startup route for Sweden. Applicants need savings of SEK 200k+ ≈ $20k. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- SEK 200k+ ≈ $20k
- Government fees
- SEK 2,000 ≈ $200
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee SEK 2,000 ≈ $200; savings to show SEK 200k+ ≈ $20k. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesSEK 2,000 ≈ $200
- SEK 2,000 (≈ $200)Application fee; adult family members SEK 1,500, (≈ $150) children SEK 750 (≈ $75). Citizens of Japan pay no application fee.
Shown, not spentSEK 200k+ ≈ $20k
- SEK 200,000 (≈ $19,900)Funds to support yourself for two years; plus SEK 100,000 (≈ $9,970) for an accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 (≈ $4,980) for each accompanying child.
RenewalRenewable
Granted for at most two years at a time and extendable.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years of residence
Permanent residence after at least 2 years of running your own business, if you support yourself from it.
CitizenshipAfter 8 years of residence
The main rule is 8 years of continuous residence in Sweden, plus knowledge of Swedish language and society for ages 16 to 66.
Where to applyFrom abroad
A first application must be made from outside Sweden, with listed exceptions for people already in Sweden on certain permits.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Sweden, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Applicants have good experience in the industry and in running a business.
- Applicants have relevant knowledge of Swedish or English; very good Swedish is needed with many Swedish contacts.
- Applicants run the business, have crucial responsibility and own at least 51 percent of it.
- Applicants have established customer contacts or networks.
What you must show3
- At least SEK 200,000 (≈ $19,900) is in a bank account in the applicant's name, enough for two years.
- SEK 100,000 (≈ $9,970) is added for an accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 (≈ $4,980) for each accompanying child.
- Own money must also cover business costs, investments and any purchase of the business; loans are not normally accepted.
Documents2
- Three months of bank statements and proof of funds for running or buying the business are submitted.
- Incorporation certificate, ownership documents and contracts with customers, suppliers and premises are submitted.
Steps1
- The business plans go through a financial assessment.
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 2 years at first, renewable
- 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
Full official text
For running own business in Sweden: good industry experience, Swedish or English skills, at least 51 percent ownership, credible budget, customer contacts and own funds. 1
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least SEK 200,000 (≈ $19,900) · Funds to support yourself for two years; plus SEK 100,000 (≈ $9,970) for an accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 (≈ $4,980) for each accompanying child. 1
- A fee of SEK 2,000 (≈ $200) · Application fee; adult family members SEK 1,500, (≈ $150) children SEK 750 (≈ $75). Citizens of Japan pay no application fee. 1
Requirements
- Applicants have good experience in the industry and in running a business. 1
- Applicants have relevant knowledge of Swedish or English; very good Swedish is needed with many Swedish contacts. 1
- Applicants run the business, have crucial responsibility and own at least 51 percent of it. 1
- Applicants have established customer contacts or networks. 1
- At least SEK 200,000 (≈ $19,900) is in a bank account in the applicant's name, enough for two years. 1
- SEK 100,000 (≈ $9,970) is added for an accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 (≈ $4,980) for each accompanying child. 1
- Own money must also cover business costs, investments and any purchase of the business; loans are not normally accepted. 1
- Three months of bank statements and proof of funds for running or buying the business are submitted. 1
- Incorporation certificate, ownership documents and contracts with customers, suppliers and premises are submitted. 1
- The business plans go through a financial assessment. 1
Stay
- Maximum two years; extendable.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
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.
Work
Run the business.
Family
Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time for the same period; funds for two years are required for them.
Official sources
- Residence permit for self-employed people · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
- Extend a residence permit as a self-employed person (permanent residence after two years) · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship for adults · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
Self-employed permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed permit | Needs savings of SEK 200k+ ≈ $20k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Business investor permit Greece | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Self-employed permit?
Savings of at least SEK 200,000 (≈ $19,900). Funds to support yourself for two years; plus SEK 100,000 (≈ $9,970) for an accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 (≈ $4,980) for each accompanying child. A fee of SEK 2,000 (≈ $200). Application fee; adult family members SEK 1,500, (≈ $150) children SEK 750 (≈ $75).
How long can I stay on the Self-employed permit?
Maximum two years; extendable.
Can I work on the Self-employed permit?
Run the business.
Can I bring my family on the Self-employed permit?
Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time for the same period; funds for two years are required for them.
Who can apply for the Self-employed permit?
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.
Does the Self-employed permit lead to permanent residence in Sweden?
Time on the Self-employed permit counts toward permanent residence in Sweden, which the rules allow after 2 years of residence. Time on the Self-employed permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 8 years of residence.
How are Self-employed permit holders taxed in Sweden?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Self-employed permit. The standard rules apply: Residents pay municipal income tax at an average 32.38% (2026, set by each municipality and region) on income after the basic allowance, plus 20% national income tax on taxable earned income above SEK 643,000, (≈ $64,100) so the marginal rate is about 52%; residents are taxed on income from all countries (unlimited tax liability). Non-residents working under six months can pay flat 22.5% SINK.
More in Sweden
Business / startup 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 2026-10-12 against 3 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.
- Residence permit for self-employed people · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
- Extend a residence permit as a self-employed person (permanent residence after two years) · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship for adults · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. 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.