Swedish residence permit for highly qualified individuals – up to 9 months

Migrationsrätt | Familjerätt | Affärsrätt | H I JURISTBYRÅ | HI Law

In this publication, we will present a Swedish residence permit that gives you, as a highly qualified individual, the chance to visit Sweden for up to 9 months in order to explore the possibilities of opening a business or to seek suitable work. This residence permit can be approved for a total of 9 months, but you allowed to apply for a permit for a shorter period if that suits you better. We will also explain what requirements that need to be met and what we can do for you regarding this residence permit.

This residence permit will give you a unique possibility of exploring the Swedish labor market to find work or to make an analysis of the Swedish product market before establishing a business. If you make an application for a work permit or a residence permit as a self-employed person before your residence permit for highly qualified individuals expires, you are allowed to stay in Sweden while you wait for the decision.

Since this residence permit entails two different bases, one is to seek work and the other to explore the possibilities of establishing a business, the following presentation will be divided under two headlines.

What are the requirements for this residence permit?

In order to obtain a residence permit to seek employment or explore the possibilities for starting a business in Sweden, you must fulfill the following requirements:

  • have completed studies corresponding to an advanced level degree
  • plan to seek employment or explore the possibilities for starting your own business
  • be able to support yourself during the period for which you are applying for a permit and have money to cover the cost of your journey home. (13.000Sek per month and funds for your eventual departure)
  • have comprehensive health insurance valid for care in Sweden
  • have a passport valid for the entire period you intend to be in Sweden (if your passport is about to expire, you should extend it because you cannot get a permit for longer than your passport is valid)
  • currently be located outside of Sweden.

What is considered an advanced level degree?

  • For a degree to count as advanced level, it must correspond to a 60-credit Master’s degree, a 120-credit Master’s degree, a professional degree worth 60-330 credits, or a postgraduate/PhD-level degree.
  • In your application, you must enclose a letter of consent that gives the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) the right to contact higher education institutions in your home country to verify your educational documents. The Swedish Migration Agency then sends your documents to UHR so that they can assess your level of education. The Swedish Migration Agency cannot answer questions about the level of your degree before you have made your application.

Exploring the possibility of establishing a business in Sweden

To be able to seek this residence permit in order to explore the possibilities of establishing a business in Sweden, you need to show that you have the relevant educational experience as well as experience in owning a business before. This experience needs to be proven by documents translated by an authorized translator.

While you are in Sweden exploring the relevant market and the possibilities of establishing a business, you can file for residence permit as a self-employed person without leaving Sweden. As soon as this application is registered, you are allowed to start with the establishment of the business while you wait for the decision.

The Swedish Migration Agency will make a formal review of you application, of you as a business leader and of your businesses chances of becoming a profitable actor in Sweden. As a business leader you need to show relevant competence within your intended business field and the capability of running a successful business. It is important that you are the majority owner of the business and that your role entails an independent managing position.

In order to show to the Swedish Migration Agency that you have a viable business idea that will allow your business to thrive in Sweden, it’s important that you present a strong and sound business plan. This is something the lawyers at H I Law can assist you with. Our lawyers have extensive experience in establishing business plans and knows how to make them in line with the Swedish Migration Agencies demands and requirements.

Depending on your business idea and how intense your contacts with customers and suppliers will be, the Swedish Migration Agency can put out a language requirement on you to know either English or Swedish. This needs to be proven by transcripts or grades. During your residence permit as a highly qualified person, H I Law can assist you in taking the relevant language courses, if need be, so that you have the relevant language skills before we submit the application, or during the time the application is processed, for a residence permit as a self-employed person.

What H I Law will do for you

Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of immigration law and extensive experience in business law. We can therefore offer you high quality legal advice and tailormade practical assistance based on your, and your businesses, specific needs.

We will assist you in making the initial application for the residence permit for highly qualified individuals. This application is initiated while you are in your home country, or within a country that you have a valid residence permit in. Our lawyers will review your specifics and make sure that you fulfill the legal immigration requirements before submitting the application and maintain contact with the authorities while the application is pending.

When you are in Sweden and ready to initiate an application for a residence permit as a self-employed individual, we will be ready to assist you in all legal and practical ways that your application and your business demands. Since we offer all immigration- and business-related services in-house, we feel comfortable stating that H I Law can provide total support. Our assistance can, if need be, extend to every and all business matters that you and your business needs. This extends from making the application, to establishing a business plan and making the practical preparations for your business, such as registering the business with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, to the Swedish Tax Agency and to apply for the F-tax approval.

Searching for employment in Sweden

To be able to apply for this residence permit in order to seek work in Sweden, you need to prove that you are a highly qualified individual. This experience needs to be proven by a degree certificate translated by an authorized translator.

While you are in Sweden under this residence permit, and have a work offer ready, you can apply for a work permit without leaving Sweden. As soon as this application is registered, you are allowed to start working while you wait for the decision.

It’s important that this work offer fulfils the requirements set out by the Swedish Migration Agency. The position needs to have been advertised on the Swedish Employment Agency’s website for at least 10 days before you apply for the work permit. The wages, working conditions and insurances need to be on pair with what the relevant trade unions deems acceptable.

What H I Law will do for you

The lawyers at H I Law have extensive experience in assisting clients obtaining work permits in Sweden and are experienced in identifying flaws that could pose problems in an application. Before we submit your application, our lawyers will review all relevant information and if need be, suggest alterations that will make your application more attractive.

We will assist you in making the initial application for the residence permit for highly qualified individuals. This application is initiated while you are in your home country, or within a country that you have a valid residence permit in. Our lawyers will review your specifics and make sure that you fulfill the legal immigration requirements before submitting the application and maintain contact with the authorities while the application is pending.

When you are in Sweden and have a relevant work offer ready, we will be ready to assist you in obtaining a work permit. Before the application is submitted, our lawyers will make a formal review of your work offer, a financial examination of your intended employer’s business and make sure that all aspects of your work permit application are in good order.

If you have further questions or if you want to start your application for the residence permit for highly qualified persons, do not hesitate to contact us at H I Law firm – we are looking forward to hearing from you!

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