New rules for working in Sweden – Explained
Highlights about new rules
- The employer must be aligned with the Swedish collective agreement to obtain a work permit, and the occupation payments must be as per Swedish laws.
- The applicant must qualify for all the requirements for a work permit for one job but cannot be fulfilled by having two or more jobs.
Requirements for the work permit
A jobholder needs a work permit from the first day of work, whereas for a resident permit, at least three months of work assignment is required. Must apply for permits during the same time. To obtain the work permit, the applicant should have:
- An original document of a contract between the employer and the employee must be submitted either in English or Swedish.
- A valid passport
- The Employment must be aligned with the Swedish labor contract.
- The salary of the employee must adhere to Swedish laws.
- The employee’s earnings must be between €1,300 or SEK 13,000 prior to taxes, which must support themselves.
- The jobholder must be given life, health, Employment, and pension insurance from the employer.
The rules may vary depending on the occupation. For the occupations like researcher, performer, seasonal work, coach or athlete, berry picker, child care, trainee through international exchange, or have to tie up with h9igher education and volunteer.
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Employers in other industries and other countries
For a few countries, the applicant must require to get a special type of permit. Young people need a working holiday visa as a special permit. Few employers from some of the industries like restaurants and hotels, trade, construction, agriculture, service, staffing, forestry, cleaning, personal assistance, and automobile repair have strict rules. Then the applicant needs to apply for EU Blue Card or an ICT permit.
“Whether the employee is employed in Sweden or overseas, employed by an employment agency that assists with personnel to a company in Sweden or even has been transferred within an organization needs a work permit to work.”
If the Employment lasts less than three months, nationals from a few countries must get both a work permit and a visa. The countries are Algeria, Angola, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cambodia, Chad, Central African Republic, Comoros, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, Guyana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Jamaica, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Kosovo, Laos, among others.
Around 4,474 residence permits have been issued in 2022 till now. That sums up to 33.9 percent. Based on the recent Swedish Migration Agency’s monthly reports, most residence permits are for work.
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Work permit application
If the employer wants to hire an employee from outside the country, the position must have been first advertised in the EU or EEA and Switzerland 10 days before submitting the application for a work permit. The employer must also receive a confirmation from the union that the employment conditions (salary, working time, and benefits, insurance) are right before submitting the online application to the Migration Agency.
Once the Migration Agency gives its approval, applicants from outside Sweden will have to give their biometric data at the Swedish embassy or consulate nearest to them. They can enter Sweden only after getting their residence or work permit.
Applicants from the EU or EEA can start working as soon as they receive approval from the Migration Agency.
Validity of the work permit
Work permits can be granted for two years which can be extended for another two years. After four years of working under a work permit, individuals can apply for permanent residency if they intend to settle in Sweden.
In the two years that the work permit is valid, if the individual gets a job with a new employer in Sweden, he should apply for a new permit. After the validity of the work permit is over, he can change his job and apply for an extension.
Processing time
The Migration Agency may take 20 to 30 working days to process the application. If the company is certified by the migration agency, the processing time is faster.
Exemptions
Specialists or highly skilled individuals are exempted from a work permit if they are working for an international group and their duration of stay is less than one year. They should apply for a residence permit if their stay is longer than three months.
The work permit issued by Sweden is essential for those who want to work here. To know more, consult an immigration expert.
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