How to hire foreign nationals
There is a difference between employing a citizen of a country within the EU and a citizen outside the EU.
Hiring from an EU country
An EU citizen does not need a work permit to work in Sweden, and can start working immediately.
Employing someone from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland at the Swedish Migration Agency
Hiring from a country outside the EU
As an employer, you initiate the application for a work permit for the person you want to hire. You do this by submitting information about the employment to the Swedish Migration Agency via their e-service. When you are finished, the employee receives a link to the e-service to fill in their details, submit and thus complete the application. Only then is the application registered with the Swedish Migration Agency.
The basic requirements that you as an employer have are as follows:
- You must advertise the position for at least 10 days in the Job Bank ("Platsbanken" in Swedish).
- You must agree with the employee on terms of employment and salary.
Employment contract and content of the contract - The salary needs to reach a certain level to guarantee that the employee achieves a good livelihood.
Employment contracts and salary conditions at the Swedish Migration Agency - Take out insurance for the employee, such as occupational pension insurance, health insurance, life insurance and social security insurance.
Insurance costs for employers - Give the trade union the opportunity to express its opinion on the terms of employment.
You can read more about what is expected of you as an employer and the requirements of the Swedish Migration Agency.
Employment at the Swedish Migration Agency
Exceptions for certain professions
Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA who want to work in Sweden will in most cases need a work permit, but there are some exceptions.
Read more about the exceptions and a list of professions that are exempt from work permits at the Swedish Migration Agency.
Certain people are exempt from the work permit requirement at the Swedish Migration Agency
EU Blue Card
An EU Blue Card issued in Sweden gives the employee the right to live and work in Sweden, with the employer and in the profession stated in the application. To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, the employee must have a higher education degree equivalent to 180 ECTS credits or five years of professional experience and a salary equivalent to at least 1.25 times the average gross salary in Sweden.
EU Blue Cards at the Swedish Migration Agency
Hiring a former student who is now starting work
If you want to hire someone who is a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA who has a residence permit for studies at a university or college and who is now starting work, a work permit is required. The person must have a residence permit for studies at a university or college or a residence permit to seek employment after completing their studies in Sweden, and have completed at least 30 higher education credits or completed one semester of postgraduate education in Sweden.
Former student at a university or a university college at the Swedish Migration Agency
Hiring a person with a foreign education
The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) is the authority responsible for assessing foreign education. UHR can provide you with information on what you can do yourself and also assist you with verifying educational documents, etc. In UHR's digital assessment service you can quickly see what a foreign education corresponds to in the Swedish education system.
For those who want to employ a person with a foreign education at UHR (in Swedish)
Support for employers
You can contact the Swedish Public Employment Service for help with recruiting people from the EU/EEA or Switzerland. The Swedish Public Employment Service EURES team provides advice and support during the recruitment process, co-organizes recruitment meetings and advertises job vacancies.
Recruit in Europe at the Swedish Public Employment Service (in Swedish)
Several authorities and organizations have jointly produced a brochure aimed at Swedish entrepreneurs who need to recruit foreign talent.
The Insider's Guide to Recruiting International Talent at Switch to Sweden
The Swedish Institute works to attract international talent to Sweden, by communicating Sweden's competitive advantages as a career destination, creating international events and offering strategic communication support to Swedish actors.
Attracting talent at the Swedish Institute (in Swedish)
There are also several companies - so-called relocation companies - that help both companies recruit internationally and individuals who want to settle in Sweden to work. These companies offer services within, among other things, relocation, accommodation, integration and government contacts.
Some regions offer special support for companies that want to recruit international workers. Contact your region to find out what support you can get.