Work in Sweden

Obtaining a Swedish work permit is no easy matter. Swedes, foreign citizens already living in Sweden and EU/EEA citizens have preference over others in obtaining work in Sweden.

If the offer of work is for more than three months you will also require a Swedish residence permit.

If you will be in Sweden for less than three months, you will not require a residence permit. You may, however, require an entry visa. Information about which citizens are required to have entry visas and more information on visas is found on the page 'Visa for visiting Sweden'.

If you apply online, directly on the website of the Swedish Migration Board, your application will be handled more quickly than if you hand it in at the Consulate General. See more under "Where do I apply?" below.

Requirements when applying for a work permit

• Two fully completed and signed application forms.
  
  
• Three passport size photos. The photos must be: Full face (facing the camera directly with your eyes looking straight at the camera); In colour with a light background; No more than six months old and resemble you; You must be bareheaded, unless you have special religious reasons.
  
  
• A valid passport and two photocopies of all pages which have some kind of stamped or written information. Please note that even if you are not yet a holder of a valid passport it is possible to apply for residence permit. You can forward your passport to the Consulate later.
  
  
• Your employer should first fill in a form electronically regarding offer of employment before you hand in your application. The County Labour Board will then be consulted. In those cases the County Labour Board doesn't have to be consulted, you must have a written offer of work in Sweden (one original and one copy), made out on a special form (AMS PF 101704, AMS PF 101707 for artists) which your employer can obtain from the employment office and fill out. It is also available here to the right. Please, tell your employer to check out all information regarding this on the following website:
  > AMS
  
  
• If applicant has a job, a letter from the employer has to be presented. The position of the applicant should be mentioned in the letter and the letter should be signed and stamped and the address, tel number and fax number to your employer should be clear.
  
  
• Your employer shall guarantee you pay, insurance coverage and other terms of employment equal to at least the collective agreement or Swedish practise in the profession or the branch of trade.
  
  
• Accommodation must have been arranged for you in Sweden.
  
  
• You must be fully prepared to leave Sweden when your term of employment is over.

• A letter in English stating your education background or working experience. The letter in original and one photocopy should be presented. If you apply for working as cook in Sweden, a Certificate of Cooking Skills should also be enclosed. The Certificate should be legalised by both Notarius Publicus and the Foreign Affairs Office - FAO. The legalisation paper in original and one photocopy should be presented.
  
  
  
• Non-Chinese applicants must provide a valid Chinese residence permit.
  
  
• Power of Attorney (see pdf-files to the right).

You are required to pay an application fee, CNY 1150 for adults and CNY 580 for accompanying children (subject to change), when you hand in your application. If your application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded. (Fees may be adjusted according to the updated rate between SEK and CNY each month.)

Guest researchers, and self-employed should use special application forms (see links to the right). For athletes, artists, and au-pairs, please refer to the website of > the Migration Board in Sweden.

Note!

If your family is going with you, please note that there is a special application form for co-applicants (see links to the right).


Where do I apply?

It is now possible to apply directly through the website of the Swedish Migration Board  (permits for self-employed persons excluded), but then you must be able to pay the application fee by VISA, Mastercard or American Express. If you do not have any of these, please apply directly to the Consulate General instead. The time for handling your application will be much shorter if you apply online!
> The Swedish Migration Board