Sweden Work permit

Work permit for a job with an employment contract; salary must be at least 90 percent of the median salary (since 1 June 2026) and in line with collective agreements; apply from outside Sweden for a first permit; employer-specific. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

• Income of at least SEK 34,470 a month (≈ $3,440) · Monthly salary at least 90% of the Statistics Sweden median at application; also at least collective-agreement or customary level. Two or more jobs cannot be combined. ^{1 2}
• Income of at least SEK 28,725 a month (≈ $2,860) · Exempt occupations on the Government list (for example IT support and systems technicians, welders, assistant nurses, farm and forestry workers), people who hold a student or researcher permit in Sweden at their first work permit application and people with a permit under or after temporary protection (exempt for two years, or until the permit expires if longer), foreign-trained doctors, dentists and nurses completing certification, and start-up phase tech or life-science employees (company under 5 years, under 100 staff): at least 75% of the median salary (SEK 38,300 (≈ $3,820) x 0.75). ^{1 2}
• A fee of SEK 2,200 (≈ $220) · Employee application fee; adult family members SEK 1,500, (≈ $150) children SEK 750 (≈ $75); Japanese citizens pay no fee. ¹

Requirements

• Applicants have an employment contract signed by both parties, with conditions on par with Swedish collective agreements or practice. ¹
• A permit is not possible as a forest berry picker or personal assistant since 1 June 2026. ¹
• Two or more jobs cannot be combined to meet the requirements. ¹
• Monthly salary is at least SEK 34,470 (≈ $3,440) (90% of the Statistics Sweden median), and at least the collective-agreement or customary level. ^{1 2}
• Exempt occupations and groups need at least 75% of the median salary: occupations on the Government list, people holding a student or researcher permit in Sweden at their first work permit application, people with a permit under or after temporary protection, foreign-trained doctors, dentists and nurses completing Swedish certification, and employees of start-up tech or life-science companies under five years old with fewer than 100 staff. ^{1 2}
• An extension applied for between 1 June and 1 December 2026 on a permit granted before 1 June 2026 follows the previous maintenance requirement, a salary of at least 80% of the median; from 2 December 2026 the new salary requirement applies. ^{4 2}
• An employment contract signed by both parties is submitted. ¹
• The employer has taken out health, life, occupational injury and occupational pension insurance. ¹
• Comprehensive health insurance is submitted if the employment lasts one year or less. ¹
• The first permit is applied for from outside Sweden, with an embassy visit for the passport or interview. ¹

Stay

• Maximum two years and not longer than the employment contract; extendable.
• First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
• Work permit up to 24 months: Never longer than passport validity.

Nationality

Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens have right of residence and do not need a 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

Work for the named employer in the named profession; a new application is needed when changing employer or profession (work may start after applying if the previous permit has not expired).

Family

Spouse, registered or cohabiting partner and children under 21 can apply at the same time for the same period; adult family members and children turning 16 this year may work. A maintenance requirement applies, and from 1 October 2026 also on extension.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Work permit for employees · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
2. Salary requirements for a work permit (from 1 June 2026) · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
3. Work permit or residence permit to work in Sweden · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
4. New rules for work permits now apply · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-06-01
5. Extend a work permit (permanent residence after four years of work) · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
6. Citizenship for adults · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11