The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Work Visa in Sweden

There are many different reasons why you may want to move to Sweden. Maybe your partner is Swedish, maybe you’ve heard about the excellent work life balance that Sweden is famous for, or maybe you’ve just visited and fallen in love with its culture. But moving to Sweden requires an important step for many people: obtaining a visa or residence permit. Either of these is required before you can legally enter Sweden. This guide will focus on how to get a work visa in Sweden.

Steps to attaining a work visa

So, what are the steps to getting a work visa?

1. Job hunt:

This sounds simple, but looking for jobs in Sweden is only the first step of many to getting a work visa.

• There are different sites to apply for jobs, consulting firms are a bigger part of the work culture, as are maternity/paternity covers or short contracts. And unless you have a specific skillset that applies to a specific niche job, you can spend a lot of time on this step. Also, a word of caution: many job descriptions are in Swedish, and often job seekers are looking for a Swedish speaker. Be prepared to be simultaneously working on your Swedish competence while job hunting.
• For job search sites, look into arbetsförmedlingen, LinkedIn, Jobbland, Indeed, and others.

Network: do not forget the power of networking when looking for a job. If you know someone in Sweden, or several someones, reach out. You never know who might know of an opening. There are Facebook groups open to job seekers (even job seekers in Sweden for English speakers), that could be worth looking into. Go on social media, or search by company/organization when searching. If you see a job that looks promising, and there is a contact number or email, reach out! This step can help get your name out there and can also give you more information regarding the position.

2. Get offered a contract:

This also sounds simple, but being offered a contract will take time, and many interviews.

• The job market in Sweden is not always easy on internationals. And the process to a contract often has several steps, such as a personality test, a competency test, followed by an interview with Human Resources, another interview with your potential boss and colleagues, and many other steps before a contract arrives.
• Further, there are several types of contracts that exist in Sweden. These include short term contract/fixed project (like a maternity coverage position), or a permanent contract which you may only attain after being considered “temporary” for 6 months.
• If you’re still job hunting, and no contract has come through yet, do not be discouraged. This step may take several months (or sometimes years) to complete.

3. Check that your contract fits the requirements for a work visa:

Migrationsverket is the government agency that decides if you will be granted a work visa or residence permit, or citizenship down the line if you choose to apply. They have specific requirements for granting a work visa. They are copied directly from their site below, so that you might keep this information in mind when you are interviewing.

From Migrationsverket:

To obtain a work permit you must:

• have an employment contract, signed by both parties (if the employment contract is in a language other than English or Swedish, it must be translated. A copy of the original document must also be attached)
• have a valid passport
• have an employment with terms of employment that are at least on par with those set by Swedish collective agreements or which are customary within the occupation or industry
• have a salary that is at least on par with that set by Swedish collective agreements or which is customary within the occupation or industry
• have an employment that enables you to achieve a good income. This means that you must have a monthly salary that amounts to at least 80 percent of the median salary published by Statistics Sweden (SCB) and which was valid at the time of application. Read about current maintenance requirement here
• have an employer who provides insurance covering health, life, employment and pension when you begin to work.

4. Apply for a work visa through Migrationsverket:

 If your contract meets all of the requirements above, yay! Congratulations you are one HUGE step forward in your process of moving to Sweden.

• Next, you can apply for a work visa on the Migrationsverket site, but your employer must start the process for your visa. They set up an initial application with information surrounding the job you were hired for, as well as some basic information about you.
• You will receive an email that asks for more information, including documentation, payment, and instructions on how to submit the application.
• Migrationsverket will process your application. The amount of time this takes varies. If you want to read the most up to date information on waiting times for work visas, have a look here.
• Migrationsverket verifies your passport, often at an embassy or consulate.
• You will receive an email that a decision has been made on your case. You must collect the decision in person at an embassy or consulate.
• If your work visa is approved by Migrationsverket, you will also receive a residence permit card. This gives you legal approval to live in Sweden, not just work. You need both to stay in Sweden more than 3 months.

5. Start packing!

Hooray, you’ve made it through the big hurdles to getting a work visa, and you’re ready to move to Sweden! Get started on that packing.

If you’re curious about other aspects in your potential move, check out our other posts. We have some on what to expect, how to learn Swedish, and how to obtain a personal number, all key to having a smooth move.