Moving to Sweden in 2026: Step-by-Step Official Guide

By the SettleBuddy editorial teamUpdated 13 October 20267 min read

Sweden changed its immigration rules in the middle of 2026, so the first step in any move is to read the current ones. Work permits now carry a salary requirement tied to the median wage, students face a weekly limit on work, and family rules were revised on 1 October. Once the permit is granted, the rest is administration: register with the Swedish Tax Agency, get a personal identity number and find a home. This guide walks through each step from the Swedish Migration Agency, the Swedish Tax Agency and Study in Sweden, as read on 13 October 2026.

Quick answer

EU and EEA citizens with a right of residence do not need a permit. Others need a residence permit before travelling. For work, that means a signed contract and a salary of at least SEK 34,470 a month; for study, admission and at least SEK 10,656 a month. Fees are SEK 2,200 for a work permit and SEK 1,500 for a study permit. If you plan to stay one year or more, you register in the Swedish Population Register and receive a personal identity number. Permanent residence is possible after working four of the past seven years.

Vasabron bridge across the Norrström in Stockholm, with the city hall in the background — Vasabron and Stockholm City Hall. Photo: Julian Herzog / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).

Step 1: Work out whether you need a permit

You are	Rule
An EU or EEA citizen	You have the right to live in Sweden if you meet the requirements for right of residence through work, your own company, studies or sufficient funds. No residence permit is needed
A Swiss citizen	You can move to Sweden, but must apply for a residence permit for Swiss citizens to stay longer than three months
A long-term resident of another EU country	You can move to work, study or live on your own funds, and apply for a residence permit if staying longer than three months
A citizen of a country outside the EU and EEA	In most cases you need a permit to work or study, obtained before you travel

Step 2: Choose your route

Route	Main conditions in 2026	Fee	Recent waiting time
Work permit	A signed employment contract, terms on par with collective agreements, employer insurance, and a salary of at least SEK 34,470 a month, 90 percent of the median salary	SEK 2,200	75% of complete applications decided within 1 month for highly qualified workers and 4 months for other employment
Study permit	Final admission to full-time studies, tuition paid, and at least SEK 10,656 per month	SEK 1,500	75% decided within 3 months
Family of a worker or student	Apply at the same time; the main applicant must be able to support them	SEK 1,500 per adult, SEK 750 per child	—

Exempt occupations and some groups, including people who studied in Sweden, need a salary of 75 per cent of the median instead: SEK 28,725. A first work permit application must be made from outside Sweden, and your employer starts it.

Step 3: Prepare the application

Passport: a permit is never granted for longer than your passport is valid, so renew it first if it is close to expiring.
Language: documents must be in Swedish or English, with certified translations and a copy of the original.
Embassy visit: you may need to present your passport or be interviewed at an embassy or consulate-general before a decision, so say in the application which one you will use.
Insurance: if you will work or study for less than a year, you need comprehensive health insurance for the whole stay.
No refund: the fee is not returned if the application is rejected.

Step 4: Register with the Swedish Tax Agency

If you have moved to Sweden and plan to live there for one year or more, you should in most circumstances be listed in the Swedish Population Register. The Tax Agency sets out the steps:

Notify the agency of your move through its "Moving to Sweden" e-service, available in English. You can submit the notification 14 days before you move at the earliest.
Make a separate notification for each person, including each child under 18.
Upload your documents, such as your passport and your residence permit card from the Migration Agency.
Book an identity check and attend a Swedish state service centre in person once you have arrived, with every family member who is moving.

When you are first listed in the register you are assigned a Swedish personal identity number. If you plan to stay for less than one year, you should not be listed in the register.

What non-EU citizens must show

Proof of identity: passport or travel document
A valid residence permit card from the Migration Agency
The reason for moving to Sweden and your address
Proof of your family situation

Step 5: Find housing

Study in Sweden's advice applies to everyone. Start early. Rental flats are mostly allocated through housing queues by time waited, which can take a few years depending on the city, so a sublet is usually quicker. Expect rent of between SEK 3,000 and 7,000 a month as a student, and more in Stockholm or Gothenburg. Never send money before you have signed a contract and have access to the flat.

Step 6: Budget

Benchmark	SEK per month
Minimum average student budget	10,656
of which accommodation	4,900
of which food	2,716
What a single adult must have left after housing costs, for permit purposes	6,243
Median salary in Sweden	38,300

Step 7: Work rules to remember

Work permit holders are tied to the employer and profession on the permit. A new job means a new application.
Students at bachelor's or master's level whose permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026 may work a maximum of 15 hours per week, except in June, July and August and for work that is part of their education.
Family members of a worker who are adults, or children who turn at least 16 during the year, are permitted to work.

Step 8: Stay permanently

A work permit lasts a maximum of two years and can be extended. After you have held a permit for work and worked in Sweden for four of the past seven years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit, usually together with an extension. You must be able to support yourself and be expected to live a well-behaved life. A permanent permit has no expiry date and stays valid as long as you live in Sweden.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move to Sweden without a job?

EU and EEA citizens can, if they have a right of residence through studies or sufficient funds. Others generally need a permit for a specific purpose such as work or study; a student needs admission and at least SEK 10,656 per month.

What salary do I need to move to Sweden for work?

At least SEK 34,470 a month, which is 90 percent of the median salary, and at least on par with collective agreements. Exempt occupations need SEK 28,725.

How do I get a Swedish personal identity number?

You are assigned one when you are first listed in the Swedish Population Register, which applies if you plan to live in Sweden for one year or more.

When can I register my move to Sweden?

You can submit the notification to the Swedish Tax Agency 14 days before you move at the earliest, then attend an identity check in person after arrival.

How much does a Swedish residence permit cost?

SEK 2,200 for a work permit, SEK 1,500 for a study permit or an adult family member, and SEK 750 for a child.

How long does a Swedish work permit take?

For complete applications, 75% of recent cases were decided within 1 month for highly qualified workers and within 4 months for other employment.

How long until I can stay in Sweden permanently?

On the work route, after you have worked in Sweden on a permit for four of the past seven years and can support yourself.

Official sources

All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Sweden's rules changed during 2026, so confirm the current requirements with the Migration Agency before you apply. Information, not legal advice.