New income requirement for work permits
Starting from November 1, 2023, the income requirement for work permits has been increased. To be granted a work permit, you must have a salary equivalent to 80% of the average wage in Sweden, according to Statistics Sweden (SCB). The income requirement varies based on when the work permit application was submitted. The current income requirement is 28,480 SEK, applicable to applications submitted from June 18, 2024, and onwards. H I Law Firm can assist you with your plans to work and live in Sweden by providing full support and handling the entire application process for you.
Stricter Maintenance Requirements
The requirements for work permits have become more stringent since the new rules were implemented. The government has increased the financial requirement for individuals coming to Sweden for work. This means that the previous requirement of a salary of 13,000 SEK per month has been raised to the current requirement of at least 28,480 SEK per month. This amount will change annually as it is based on the median wage published annually by Statistics Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency views this as a step in the right direction to ensure that labor immigrants in Sweden have a sufficiently good income to provide for themself.
Reasons Behind This Decision
The proposal aims to manage the increasing labor immigration, especially for jobs that do not require specific qualifications. The purpose of this law is to give priority to Swedish jobs for those already residing in Sweden to prevent unemployment.
No Employment Rate Requirement
According to the government’s survey, the most common employment rate among work permit applicants is 75%. Therefore, the application is unaffected regardless of the employment rate.
Based on Application Date
The income requirement amount depends on when the application was made, and the decision is based on the median wage at the time of the application. This applies for the entire work permit period, even if the median wage changes during that time. For work permit extensions, the requirement must meet 80% of the median wage at the time of the application and also the standard according to the collective agreement.
Anyone applying after November 1 is subject to the new income requirement. For applications submitted before this date, the median wage for the previous year applies. The income requirement for the current period has so far been renewed every June, showing the different wage requirements for the application period. From June 20, 2023, until June 17, 2024, the income requirement was 27,360 SEK for those who applied within this time frame. The latest and most current requirement is 28,480 SEK for applications submitted from June 18, 2024, until today’s date, and until the next annual change.
Free Case Review
At H I Law Firm, we offer free Case Reviews. If you would like us to review your work permit case, you can submit your job offer or decision to us for a free evaluation.