Sweden Work Permit 2026: Salary Rule, Fees and Steps
Sweden rewrote its work permit rules on 1 June 2026. The headline change is a new salary requirement tied to the national median wage, and it applies to every decision taken since that date. A job offer that would have qualified in the spring may no longer be enough. This guide sets out the rules as they stand, with the salary figure, the exemptions, the fees and the waiting times published by the Swedish Migration Agency, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To get a Swedish work permit you need a signed employment contract and a monthly salary of at least SEK 34,470, which is 90 percent of the median salary of SEK 38,300 published by Statistics Sweden. Exempt occupations need 75 per cent of the median. The application costs SEK 2,200. A permit is granted for a maximum of two years. A first application must be made from outside Sweden, and your employer starts it.
The requirements
Your employment must meet all of these. You cannot combine two or more jobs to reach them.
- A valid passport. A permit is never granted for longer than the passport is valid.
- An employment contract signed by both you and your employer.
- The right terms. Salary and working conditions at least on par with Swedish collective agreements or common practice in your profession or industry.
- Insurance from the employer. By the time you start, your employer must have taken out health insurance, life insurance, industrial injuries insurance and occupational pension insurance for you.
- Comprehensive health insurance of your own if the employment will last a maximum of one year. It must cover urgent and other medical care, hospitalisation, emergency dental care and medical repatriation for the whole stay.
- The salary requirement.
The salary requirement
| Situation | Share of the median salary | Monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Standard requirement | 90 percent | SEK 34,470 |
| Exempt occupations and groups | 75 per cent | SEK 28,725 |
| Extension applied for between 1 June and 1 December 2026, for a permit granted before 1 June | 80 per cent | SEK 30,640 |
The median salary is published by Statistics Sweden in June of each year. As of 16 June 2026 it is SEK 38,300, and the figure in force when you submit your application is the one that applies. Two warnings from the Migration Agency:
- The salary must also be in line with collective agreements or common practice, so it may need to be higher than 90 percent of the median.
- The new requirement applies to anyone who receives a decision on or after 1 June 2026, even if the application was submitted earlier.
From 2 December 2026, extension applications must meet the new 90 percent rule as well.
Who is exempt from the 90 percent rule
People covered by an exemption still need a salary of at least 75 per cent of the median. The exemptions fall into two kinds.
Occupations on the government's list
- IT operations, IT support, systems administrators and network technicians
- Assistant nurses, care assistants, childcare assistants and ambulance care assistants
- Engineers and technicians in chemistry, and laboratory engineers
- Welders, structural steel erectors, maintenance mechanics and electrical distribution technicians
- Animal breeders, crop growers, forestry workers and drivers of agricultural and forestry machinery
- Butchers and machine operators in the food industry
The exemption lasts for the duration of the permit. When you apply to extend, check that the profession is still on the list.
Groups of applicants
- People who hold a residence permit as a student or researcher in Sweden when applying for a work permit for the first time.
- People with a residence permit under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
- Doctors, dentists and nurses with foreign qualifications who are obtaining Swedish professional certification.
- Employees of certain tech or life science companies in a start-up phase, less than five years old and with fewer than one hundred employees.
Jobs that cannot get a permit
Since 1 June 2026 it has not been possible to obtain a work permit to work as a forest berry picker. A work permit as a personal assistant is also not possible.
Fees
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Employee | SEK 2,200 |
| Adult family member | SEK 1,500 |
| Child | SEK 750 |
Citizens of Japan do not pay an application fee. The fee is not refunded if the application is rejected.
How long it takes
The Migration Agency does not promise a time. It publishes how long recent cases took, based on the last 12 months:
| Type of case | Complete applications | Incomplete applications |
|---|---|---|
| Highly qualified workers | 75% decided within 1 month | 75% decided within 2 months |
| Other employments | 75% decided within 4 months | 75% decided within 10 months |
The lesson is in the right-hand column: incomplete applications took at least twice as long.
How to apply, step by step
- Get the job and the contract. The employment agreement must be signed before you apply.
- The employer starts the application in the e-service, using your name, date of birth, citizenship and email address.
- The trade union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions of employment.
- You complete your part. You receive an email with a link to the e-service. Documents must be in Swedish or English, with certified translations.
- You may have to visit an embassy to present your passport or be interviewed before a decision.
A first application must be made from outside Sweden, or it may be rejected. There are exceptions, among them students who have completed at least two semesters of a higher education programme in Sweden and people who hold a permit to look for work after their studies.
How long the permit lasts
A work permit is granted for a maximum of two years, never for longer than the employment contract or the passport. It can be extended. It is tied to the job: if you change employer or profession, or your working conditions change, you must apply for a new permit. You may start with the new employer once you have applied, provided you did so before the old permit expired.
Bringing your family
Spouses, registered partners, cohabiting partners and children under 21 can apply at the same time as you, and receive permits for the same period. Adult family members, and children who turn at least 16 during the year, are permitted to work. You must be able to support them. After paying rent, your income after tax must leave, on the amounts the agency lists for 2025:
| Household member | Amount left after rent, per month |
|---|---|
| A single adult | SEK 6,243 |
| Cohabiting spouses or partners | SEK 10,314 |
| Child aged 0–6 | SEK 3,336 |
| Child aged 7–10 | SEK 4,004 |
| Child aged 11–14 | SEK 4,672 |
| Child aged 15 or older | SEK 5,339 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for a Swedish work permit in 2026?
SEK 34,470 a month, which is 90 percent of the median salary of SEK 38,300 published by Statistics Sweden. The rule has applied to all decisions since 1 June 2026.
How much does a Swedish work permit cost?
SEK 2,200 for the employee, SEK 1,500 for an adult family member and SEK 750 for a child. The fee is not refunded if the application is rejected.
How long does a Swedish work permit take?
For complete applications, 75% of recent cases for highly qualified workers were decided within 1 month and 75% of other employment cases within 4 months.
Can I apply for a Swedish work permit from inside Sweden?
A first application must be made from outside Sweden, with exceptions such as students who have completed at least two semesters of higher education there.
How long is a Swedish work permit valid?
For a maximum of two years, and never longer than the employment contract or your passport. It can be extended.
Can I change jobs on a Swedish work permit?
You must apply for a new permit if you change employer or profession. You can start the new job after applying, as long as you applied before your current permit expired.
Can my family work in Sweden?
Yes. Adult family members and children who turn at least 16 during the year are permitted to work if they are granted residence permits.
Official sources
- Swedish Migration Agency — Apply for a work permit in Sweden
- Swedish Migration Agency — Apply for an extension of a work permit
- Swedish Migration Agency — Salary requirements for a work permit
- Swedish Migration Agency — New rules for work permits now apply, 1 June 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency — New median salary affects the salary requirement, 16 June 2026
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The median salary is updated each June, so confirm the current threshold with the Swedish Migration Agency before you apply. Information, not legal advice.