Work permit
Work permit in Sweden, what is it?
By having a work permit you can work in Sweden for a limited period of time, when you are not a citizen of a country in the EU. A work permit cannot be submitted to you, if you are self-employed or a visiting researcher. In these cases you can apply for a residence permit if you reach the requirements needed for that particular field of work.
Requirements for a work permit in Sweden
1. You must have been offered a specific job in Sweden. The job must have been advertised in all EU-countries, ten days or more before the spot was filled.
2. The terms of employment have to correspond with the terms set by Swedish collective agreements, or the customs in the line of business.
3. Your income, for the job you have been offered, must be at least 13 000 SEK per month.
4. Insurance that covers health, life, employment and pension have to be provided for you by your employer in Sweden.
5. You need to apply for, and be granted, the work permit before entering Sweden.
For how long is the work permit valid?
Your work permit is valid for the same time period as for your employment, if the employment is set for a limited time. After two years you must apply for an extension of your work permit for a maximum of two years. Subsequently, after four years, it is possible to apply for a permanent residence permit.
It is important to know that the work permit is valid only for the employment position of your application. If you want to change to another job, be sure to apply for a new work permit before your work permit expires.
We advise you to renew your passport before applying for a work permit considering the work permit cannot be obtained for a longer period of time than the time your passport is valid.
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What happens if I lose my job in Sweden?
You can stay in Sweden and search for a new job for three months, given that you have a valid residence permit during that time. Otherwise, you may apply for another residence permit.
Can I travel abroad and keep my work permit in Sweden?
As long as you have your residence permit card with you as proof, you may travel outside of Sweden and still keep your work permit, if it is still valid when you come back.
If your work permit expires before you go back to Sweden, you need to apply for a new work permit in the country you are currently living in.
How do I apply for a work permit?
Your employer initiates the application when s/he has offered you the position. After this, you shall receive information about how to obtain a work permit. Make sure you notify, in your application, if your family are coming with you to Sweden. Each family member must submit an individual application for a residence permit.
Already in Sweden
In exceptional cases, you can be granted a work permit after having entered into Sweden. This mainly regards people who have some sort of residence permit already, or have had it terminated because of a change of circumstances.
What should I keep in mind?
Be aware of that special regulations could apply to people from certain countries, or for certain occupations. Please contact H I Law Firm and we would be glad to give you all the information you need.
The requirements needed for a work permit cannot be fulfilled by a combination of multiple jobs.
Work permits that are valid for less than a year do not entitle access to social benefits. Because of that reason we advise you to make sure you have an insurance that covers the costs of, for instance, illness.
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