Sweden
Sweden is an EU and Schengen member. The main sponsored work routes for non-EU professionals are the Work permit and the EU Blue Card.
For information only. Visa rules, processing times, and eligibility criteria change frequently. All information on this page is sourced from official government websites and verified as of the date shown. Always confirm your specific situation with the relevant embassy or a licensed immigration lawyer before applying. Full disclaimer ↗
Visa & Immigration Guide for Sweden
This guide covers all main visa routes for non-EU professionals moving to Sweden, including eligibility requirements, processing times, fees, and step-by-step application instructions.
Applying from your home country:
Not a degree holder? You're still welcome.
Sweden has dedicated visa routes for trade workers, care workers, seasonal workers, and apprentices — no university degree required. The visa types table below includes the EU Blue Card, Work permit, ICT permit, Self-employed, Look for work or start a business, and Live with a partner — expand each row for steps and official links.
Visa Types at a Glance
| Visa type | Who it's for | Typical processing | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card | Highly qualified employees with higher education (180 credits) or at least five years of relevant professional experience | Most complete applications are decided within 1 month (incomplete: 2 months) | 2,000 SEK |
| Work permit | Your salary/wages and other working conditions must be at least on par with Swedish collective agreements or common practice in your profession or industry | Complete applications: within 1 month for highly qualified jobs, 4 months for other jobs (incomplete: up to 10 months) | 2,200 SEK |
| ICT permit | You must have an employment contract from your employer outside the EU/EEA for your job in your country of origin | Most complete applications are decided within 1 month | 2,000 SEK |
| Self-employed | You must have good experience in the industry and in running your own business | No published figure for complete applications (too few cases); incomplete applications: within 11 months | 2,000 SEK |
| Look for work or start a business | For a degree to count as a second-cycle qualification, it must correspond to either a 60-credit Master's degree, a 120-credit Master's degree, a professional degree worth 60-330 credits, or a postgraduate/PhD-level degree | Most complete applications are decided within 5 months | 2,200 SEK |
| Live with a partner | You must be married, registered partners, or cohabiting partners, or plan to enter one of these relationships | Most applications are decided within 14 months | 2,000 SEK |
Detailed visa guides
Min. salary
53,625 SEK
Typical processing
Most complete applications are decided within 1 month (incomplete: 2 months)
Typical fee
2,000 SEK
Step-by-step process
- 1 Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement signed by you and your employer
- 2 It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service
- 3 The trade union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions of employment
- 4 You may need to present your passport or be interviewed at an embassy or a consulate-general before you can receive a decision
Min. salary
34,470 SEK
Typical processing
Complete applications: within 1 month for highly qualified jobs, 4 months for other jobs (incomplete: up to 10 months)
Typical fee
2,200 SEK
Step-by-step process
- 1 Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement signed by you and your employer
- 2 It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service
- 3 The trade union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions of employment
- 4 Once the employer has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to the e-service, where you must fill in your part of the application
Typical processing
Most complete applications are decided within 1 month
Typical fee
2,000 SEK
Step-by-step process
- 1 Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement signed by you and your employer
- 2 It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service
- 3 Once the employer has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to the e-service, where you must fill in your part of the application
Min. salary
200,000 SEK
Typical processing
No published figure for complete applications (too few cases); incomplete applications: within 11 months
Typical fee
2,000 SEK
Step-by-step process
- 1 You fill in the application and attach the necessary documents
- 2 If you are abroad, please indicate which Swedish embassy or consulate-general you want to visit to present your passport
- 3 The Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information about your application and determine whether you can be granted a residence permit
Min. salary
13,000 SEK
Typical processing
Most complete applications are decided within 5 months
Typical fee
2,200 SEK
Step-by-step process
- 1 You must apply for and receive a decision about your application for a residence permit before you enter Sweden
- 2 You fill in the application and attach the necessary documents
- 3 Once you have presented your passport, the Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information related to your application and determine whether you can be granted a work permit
Min. salary
8,116 SEK
Typical processing
Most applications are decided within 14 months
Typical fee
2,000 SEK
Step-by-step process
- 1 If you want to move to Sweden, fill in the application and attach the necessary documents
- 2 Before we can make a decision about your application for a residence permit, you must be interviewed and present your passport
- 3 After you have been interviewed and presented your passport, the Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information related to your application and determine whether you can be granted a residence permit
General document requirements
- ✓ Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement signed by you and your employer
- ✓ It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service
- ✓ The trade union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions of employment
- ✓ You may need to present your passport or be interviewed at an embassy or a consulate-general before you can receive a decision
- ✓ Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement signed by you and your employer
- ✓ It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service
- ✓ The trade union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions of employment
- ✓ Once the employer has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to the e-service, where you must fill in your part of the application
- ✓ Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement signed by you and your employer
- ✓ It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service
- ✓ Once the employer has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to the e-service, where you must fill in your part of the application
- ✓ You fill in the application and attach the necessary documents
- ✓ If you are abroad, please indicate which Swedish embassy or consulate-general you want to visit to present your passport
- ✓ The Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information about your application and determine whether you can be granted a residence permit
- ✓ You must apply for and receive a decision about your application for a residence permit before you enter Sweden
- ✓ You fill in the application and attach the necessary documents
- ✓ Once you have presented your passport, the Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information related to your application and determine whether you can be granted a work permit
- ✓ If you want to move to Sweden, fill in the application and attach the necessary documents
- ✓ Before we can make a decision about your application for a residence permit, you must be interviewed and present your passport
- ✓ After you have been interviewed and presented your passport, the Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information related to your application and determine whether you can be granted a residence permit
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