Working in Sweden

This may be the case if you've been offered employment:

• at a Swedish company
• as a performing artist
• as a professional athlete or a coach
• as a doctoral candidate, scientist
• as an au-pair

If you stay in Sweden for more than three months in order to start a company or enter into a company partnership you must have a residence permit. As a self-employed person, however, you do not require a work permit. For additional information - see page Self-employment. 

If you are planning to work for a period of time exceeding three months, you are required to apply for a residence permit and a work permit.

If you are planning to work for a period of time less than three months, you are required to apply for a visa and a work permit.

If it is a practical training within the process of the company in Sweden or to perform a work e.g. installation of software programs, you might also need a work permit.

The Migration Board decides your case after consultation with the county employment board.

The Embassy is entitled to take decisions regarding cases on practical training courses within the process of the company in Sweden.

All documents should be submitted in two copies.

The following documents are required:

• Application, completed, dated and signed
  > Application forms
  
  
• A written offer of employment in Sweden, made out on a special form which your employer can obtain via the National Labour Market Board’s www.ams.se. After approval from the County Labour Board your employer must send the form to you so that you can enclose it with your application. Your employer shall guarantee you pay, insurance coverage and other terms of employment qual 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.
  
  
• Passport or other travel document, signed and valid for at least three months after scheduled return and a copy of its identification page.
  
  
• Copies of all marked pages of citizen/internal passport.
  
  
• Three [3] recently taken (not older than 6-months) colour photographs (35 x 45 mm) for all applicants, including minors.
  The photograph must be:
  – of natural colouring, taken against a plane, white background
  – showing full face and facing square into the camera, eyes open and clearly visible not covered by heavy frames
  – no tinted lenses and no flash reflections on the glasses, avoid red eye effect
  – without hat or other head covering (unless for cultural or religious reasons)
  – high resolution and quality printout.
  Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing the application.
  
  
• Application fee

Co-applicants

The  spouse or domestic partner and children under 18 of a person who has been granted a work permit may be granted temporary residence permits valid for the same period as the permit granted to the main person. A spouse or domestic partner may also be granted a work permit without having to show an offer of employment if the main person has been granted a work permit valid for at least six months.

All documents should be submitted in two copies.

The following documents are required:

• Application for co-applicants, completed, dated and signed - see Application forms
  
  
• A copy of the main invitation letter with the names of  co-applicants.
  
  
• Passport or other travel document, signed and valid for at least three months after scheduled return and a copy of its identification page.
  
  
• Copies of all marked pages of citizen/internal passport.
  
  
• A marriage certificate (for spouses).
  
  
• For children under 18 years who are travelling with parents:
  – the original and a copy of a birth certificate of the child
  – if the child is entered in the passport of his parent, a copy of his passport (identification page and page with child’s personal particulars) is required
  – school or student’s certificate.
  
  
• For children under 18 years who are travelling without parents (or with one of the parents or legal guardian):
  – the original and a copy of a birth certificate of the child
  – the original and a copy of a written consent stamped by a notary public from both parents (one of the parents) or the legal guardian of the child
  – a copy of internal passport (the identification page) from both parents (one of the parents) or the legal guardian of the child
  – if the child is entered in the passport of his parent or legal guardian, a copy of their passport (identification page and page with child’s personal particulars) is required
  – school or student’s certificate.
  
  
• Three [3] recently taken (not older than 6-months) colour photographs (35 x 45 mm) for all applicants, including minors.
  The photograph must be:
  – of natural colouring, taken against a plane, white background
  – showing full face and facing square into the camera, eyes open and clearly visible not covered by heavy frames
  – no tinted lenses and no flash reflections on the glasses, avoid red eye effect
  – without hat or other head covering (unless for cultural or religious reasons)
  – high resolution and quality printout.
  Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing the application.
  
  
• Application fee

Work permits for performing artists

The performing artist category includes singers, musicians, dancers and circus artists etc. Those accompanying the artist as technicians, road managers, etc, also come into this category and are therefore required to have a work permit as well.

• You must have a contract with whoever is organizing the engagement in Sweden. The contract must be signed by both parties.
  
  
• You must have a written offer of employment in Sweden. This should be made out on a special form (AMS PF 101707) which your employer in Sweden can obtain from the employment office. Your employer must complete the form and send it to you so that you can enclose it with your application together with your contract.
  
  
• The time and the place of your engagement must be stated in the contract and in the offer of employment.
  Your employer shall guarantee you pay, insurance coverage and other terms of employment equal to at least the collective agreement or Swedish practice in the profession or the branch of trade.
  
  
• You must fully understand that you will have to leave Sweden at the end of your engagement.
  
  Performing artists who have been contracted for a temporary radio or TV engagement by the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, the Swedish Television Company, the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company or the Nordic Television Company are exempt from the work permit requirement.
  
  Performing artists, their technical staff and other tour staff contracted to work temporarily in Sweden for no more than 14 days during a 12-month period do not require work permits. They must, however, have a written invitation from an established organiser.
  
  A list of established organisers is available on the web page of the Swedish Migration Board under Work permits for Performing artists.
  > List of Established Organizers

Work permit for doctoral candidates/guest scientists:

• The university/college department or scientific institution concerned has to provide a written offer of employment made out on a special form which your employer can obtain via the National Labour Market Board’s www.ams.se. Your employer must send it to you so that you can enclose it with your application.
  
  
• The work invitation should make clear:
  – that the work is part of an international exchange programme or that the special competence involved is in short supply in Sweden
  – that your employer guarantees you pay, insurance coverage and other terms of employment equal to at least the collective agreement or Swedish practice in the profession or the branch of trade
  – that housing has been arranged.
  
  Scientists invited to a scientific establishment in Sweden for a maximum of three months for teaching or lecturing purposes are not required to have work permits.

Work permit for au-pair

If you want to work as an au-pair in Sweden, you are required to have a residence and work permit. The purpose of working in Sweden as an au pair should be to gain the national experience and learn more about the language and culture of this country

You must be 18-30 years of age and be explicitly interested in Swedish language studies or have good use for them.

You must have a written offer from the host family in Sweden setting out your conditions of employment as an au pair. Your host family has to offer you the following:

• a maximum of 25 hours of household work a week
• Swedish studies for a considerable part
  of your remaining time
• a certificate of admission to the course of study concerned must be enclosed with your application
• board and lodging
• a salary of at least SEK 3,500 a month
  before tax
• personbevis (civic registration certificate) from the inviting party.

Work permit for sportsmen/-women, and coaches

Sports coaches and sportsmen/women wishing to work in Sweden must have work permits.

To qualify, they must first obtain the official approval of the Swedish Sports Federation. The Sports Federation must certify that employment of the applicant as a professional sportsman/-woman/coach is of particular importance for the development of that particular branch of sport. Only professional coaches, players and athletes can be considered for work permits.

The following documents are required:

• You must have a written contract signed both by yourself and by your club in Sweden.
• some form of accommodation must have been arranged for you in Sweden
• your employer must guarantee you a monthly salary of at least SEK 13,900 per month before tax
• you must be prepared to leave Sweden once your contract expires.

A professional sportsman/woman or official may visit Sweden without a work permit in order to take part in international competitions for a maximum of three months during a 12-month period.

For further information please contact the Embassy or Consulate. You may also contact:
The Migration Board
601 70 Norrköping
Sweden
Phone: +46-11-15 60 00
Fax: +46-11-10 81 55

(Last update 8 August 2008)