Why is Work Permit Needed?
A work permit acts as an official document permitting one to take up employment in a foreign country. European countries are very particular about granting work permits to non-EU nationals. Thus, it is mandatory to have a Sweden work visa to reside and work in the country.
About the Swedish Job Market
Sweden boasts of a healthy job market owing to its strong workers’ rights and hefty annual salaries. The Swedish job market is competitive and, over the years, has steadily built up a reputation for aiding startup businesses. The service industry also has the most potential for skilled workers. Here’s a look at the Swedish job market:
Types of Sweden Work Visa Available
Swedish work visas are divided into several categories depending on the purpose and duration of the visit. To hire non-EU nationals, an employer needs to know about different Sweden work visa types that Sweden Immigration provides. Sweden work visas are categorized as under:
Sweden Work Permit (Employer-sponsored)
Employees who have secured a job from a Swedish employer need to get this Sweden work permit. This is the most common work permit you will need to hire foreign workers from non-EU countries. As an employer, you must sponsor this work visa.
Intra-company Transfer
The ICT permit applies to those working for a company outside the EU and transfers them to the Swedish branch. The employer must apply to the Swedish Migration Board or the closest embassy/consulate.
Business visa
Non-EU nationals who wish to enter Sweden temporarily for a business trip or conference need to apply for a business visa. This visa is generally valid for 90 days.
Self-employment visa
This Sweden work permit covers freelancers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed workers who wish to stay in the country for over three months. This visa acts as a residence permit and has to be granted before the applicant travels to Sweden.
Working Holiday visa
This is a residence permit available to residents of certain countries, allowing people between 18-30 years of age to stay in Sweden and work temporarily. It is valid for a year.
EU Blue Card
The EU blue card is a combined work and residence permit given to highly skilled workers with relevant professional experience.
Sweden Work Permit Requirements – Employers
The Swedish Immigration laws require employers to secure work permits for their foreign employees. But there are certain conditions to fulfill before recruiting non-EU nationals. Sweden work permit visa requirements by an employer are as follows:
- Advertise the vacant position for at least ten days in the Swedish Public Employment Service job bank.
- Prepare an employment offer on the Swedish Migration Agency. You will need to give details of the company and position.
- Fill in details of the employee’s date of birth, citizenship, education, and email ID.
- Send the offer to the trade union relevant to the job of the employee. You must offer a minimum monthly pre-tax salary of SEK 13000.
- On receiving the trade union statement, upload it and complete the offer of employment on the Swedish Migration Agency’s website.
The application must enclose copies of all the passport pages containing personal information, photograph, signature, passport number, issuing country, and the validity period of the employees’ passport.
Once the Migration Agency approves the application, your employee will receive an email on how to complete their part of the Sweden work permit process.
Sweden Work Permit Requirements – Employees
The Sweden work visa requirements for an employee differ according to different Sweden work visa types. The general documents required for an applicant include:
- A valid passport
- Proof of accommodation
- A job offer from the employee with terms equal to Swedish collective agreements or the occupation’s standard
- Employment offer with details of health insurance, life insurance, and social security
Sweden Work Permit Application Process
Since an employer sponsors the work permits, getting a work visa in Sweden begins with an employer first. Also, the Sweden work permit visa process continues in stages for both employer and employee.
For Employer:
- Advertising the job vacancy
- Preparing the employment offer
- Seek approval from the trade union
- Notify the Swedish Tax Agency with details of the foreign employee
On receiving an email from the Swedish Migration Agency, the employee will begin their Sweden work permit process.
For Employee:
- Fill the application form
- Enclose the necessary documents
- Pay the Sweden work visa fees
- Wait for the processing
Timeframe for Work Permit Application
Once all the documents are submitted, the Sweden work visa processing time is about one to three months. The waiting time can vary depending on whether the application was made online or in-person and the type of work permit.
Sweden Work Visa Fees
The below table lists down the Sweden work permit cost:
How Does Multiplier Help with Work Permits?
As a global employer of record services, Multiplier has local entities in over 150+ countries. We can, thus, smoothen the process of onboarding and managing employees from around the world. In addition, our HR suite, led by qualified experts guarantees end-to-end solutions to all users.
You can partner with Multiplier and request a Sweden work permit through our SaaS-based solution. Our in-house experts will take care of the application process, handling all the documentation and costs. Thus, you will be kept in the loop with the progress at every step.