Work Permit

Global Goes Local assists employers and their future highly qualified employees being non-EU citizens from beginning to end with work permit applications to get all formalities correct.

Employing non-EU citizens

Non-EU citizens will in most cases need a work permit to be able to start working in Sweden and the employer must take certain steps to make sure that a non-EU citizen can be employed. For example, an employer has the obligation to check a person’s right to be and work in Sweden before employing them. In case of recruitement for a new position, the job must also be advertised. Under certain circumstances an application for a work permit can be submitted after the person has entered Sweden. An employee receiving a work permit for a period longer than three months also receives a residence permit. For employment that lasts less than three months, citizens of certain countries must have both a work permit and a visa.

Work permit

A work permit is normally received for a period of two years and is for a specific occupation and employer. The work permit can be extended after two years for another period of two years. After having had a work permit for four years a permanent residence permit can be applied for when applying for the next extension and all conditions for permanent residence are fulfilled. A work permit application always needs to be sent in before an existing work permit expires and the employee can continue working as long as this is being done. 

Process work permit application

All positions for new recruitments must be advertised for at least 10 days with Swedish employment authority (Arbetsförmedlingen) . After advertisement the first step of the application process is to fill in information online about the employer and the employment. To be able to apply for a work permit the employer needs to fulfill certain conditions, such as for example providing a certain salary level and providing health-, life-, occupational injury and occupational pension insurances. The information about the employment is submitted to obtain an opinion from a Swedish union that the work conditions are in line with the relevant collective agreement. The opinion needs to be requested for irrespective of whether the company has a collective agreement or not. Once the reply from the union has been received, the second part of the application with information about the employee can be completed. The application is then submitted to the Migration Agency.

Process highly qualified labour

Companies that employ highly qualified labour will receive a response time of 30 days calculated from the day of submission under the condition that the application is complete. The Migration Agency defines highly qualified labour based on occupational areas (SSYK codes starting with 1-3)

1.      Managerial occupations
2.      Occupations that require advanced higher education qualifications
3.      Occupations with a requirement for higher education qualifications or equivalent.

Employing EU citizens

EU citizens do not need a work permit and may start working immediately in Sweden. They do not need a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd), nor do they need to register their right of residence (uppehållsrätt) with the Migration Agency when they start working in Sweden. EU citizens automatically have the right of residence in Sweden if they work, study or have sufficient means to support themselves.

Employing Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland) citizens

Nordic citizens do not need a work nor a residence permit and can start working immediately in Sweden. Nordic citizens have right to live in whichever Nordic country they choose.

Employing Swiss citizens

Swiss citizens must apply for a residence permit if intending to stay longer than three months.