• AddressDrottninggatan 104, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Phone+46 8248340

Any questions?

workpermit@ab.se
Workpermit%20in%20Sweden
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  • From start to finish

Checklist for the various steps

  • We go through whether the company meets the requirements to hire the desired workforce.
  • For the employer, we check, among other things, that the employer has the necessary insurance for health, life, employment, and pension when you start working.
  • We also go through whether the person applying for the specific position meets the requirements to obtain a work permit.
  • If we believe the conditions are in place to obtain a work permit, we can proceed. We will also send our invoice.
  • The employer and the future employee fill out their respective powers of attorney so that we can represent both the employer and the employee.
  • The salary is determined to meet the requirements for obtaining a work permit.
  • Together, we create an advertisement that is necessary for the work permit application to be made.
  • We ensure that the advertisement is published correctly.
  • After that, we formally submit digitally that the current employee should be granted a work permit for the specific position with the current employer.

The application process is complicated

Applying for a work permit in Sweden is complicated due to several factors:

  1. Complex documentation requirements: The application requires a variety of documents, such as an employment contract, proof of the employer’s financial stability, and information about the terms of employment, which can be difficult to compile correctly.
  2. Strict salary requirements: To obtain a work permit, the employee must meet several different salary requirements, including formal state minimum wage standards and specific wage requirements for different professions. These can be high, depending on the Swedish median salary and the current wage development in the relevant industry, all of which may vary annually.
  3. Employer’s responsibility: The employer must demonstrate that the company can afford to pay the salary, employer contributions, and other costs over a certain period, which requires various forms of financial documentation.
  4. Insurance requirements: The employer must also arrange specific insurance for the employee, which can be administratively burdensome.
  5. Long processing time: The application process can take time, and if the application is incomplete or incorrect, it may lead to additional delays or, in the worst case, rejection.
    In summary, the process can be administratively heavy and requires careful preparation from both the employer and the employee. Through our experience in both establishing companies in Sweden and handling work permits, we ensure that all the above-mentioned difficulties are taken care of.

Steps for Applying for a Work Permit for Sweden

  1. Employment Contract
    A formal employment contract is required between the Swedish employer and the non-EU (European Union) employee who will be coming to work in Sweden. The contract must include the employer’s name, corporate registration number, signatory, and contact details, along with the following employee information: name, date of birth, nationality, educational background, email address, and salary terms.
  2. Employment Contract Draft
    Send us a draft of the employment contract. We will then adapt it to Swedish legal conditions and send it back for your approval.
  3. Contract Signing
    Once the contract has been finalized and agreed upon, both the employer and the prospective employee must sign it. Ensure that the date field is left blank, as the signing date cannot be earlier than 10 days after the position has been advertised.
  4. Salary Requirements
    To obtain a work permit, the employee must earn at least 80% of the Swedish median salary. Currently, the median salary is 35,600 SEK, meaning the employee must earn at least 28,480 SEK per month before tax. This threshold may increase when Statistics Sweden (SCB) publishes the new median salary for 2024, typically in June. The application date will be based on this updated salary. Stricter regulations apply to EU Blue Cards.
    The salary must also meet the collective agreements or industry standards, ensuring compliance with Swedish labor practices.
  5. Employer Contributions and Other Labor-Related Costs
    The employer must pay a mandatory state employer contribution of 31.42% on top of the salary. This contribution covers various forms of social insurance, such as unemployment benefits, pension, and sickness benefits. Additionally, industry-specific insurance may be required depending on the employee’s occupation. This brings the total estimated monthly cost to approximately 41,000 SEK for the employee.
  6. Proof of Financial Stability
    The employer must demonstrate that the company has sufficient financial capacity to cover the employee’s salary and related costs for at least three months. Established companies should provide financial reports showing adequate funds. New companies may prove financial stability with bank statements, balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and signed contracts for ongoing or future assignments.
    For example, with a monthly salary of 35,000 SEK, the employer must document the ability to cover the salary and employer contributions (31.42%), totaling approximately 138,000 SEK for three months, plus additional employment-related costs.
  7. Passport Validity
    Ensure that the employee’s passport is valid for the entire duration of the work permit. Work permits are granted only for the period the passport is valid.
  8. Authorization for Digital Processing
    To process the application digitally, both the employer and employee must provide authorization. We will send the power of attorney forms once we have all the necessary details about the employer and prospective employee (as outlined in point 1).
  9. Embassy Verification
    The Swedish Migration Agency or embassy may need to verify the employee’s passport before making a final decision. The applicant will need to present the passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate.
  10. Job Advertisement
    The employer must advertise the position for at least 10 days before the contract can be signed. The advertisement must meet Swedish labor market regulations. We ensure that the advertisement complies and that the employment contract is correctly dated after the advertisement period.
  11. Job Classification (SSYK)
    The position must be assigned an SSYK code (Swedish Standard for Occupational Classification). This classification helps organize information about jobs and workers in Sweden. We ensure that the correct SSYK code is applied and, if needed, assist the employer and employee in determining the appropriate code based on the job duties and qualifications.
  12. Trade Union Approval
    The relevant trade union will have the opportunity to review and provide comments on the employment conditions. This is necessary to ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and labor standards.
  13. Insurance Requirements
    The employer must provide health, life, occupational injury, and pension insurance. We will ensure that all necessary insurance policies are in place and that the costs are calculated, typically ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 SEK per month.
  14. Residence Permit Card
    Employees granted a work permit for three months or longer will receive a residence permit card. This card, issued by the Swedish embassy or consulate, must be presented alongside the passport upon arrival in Sweden and serves as proof of the right to stay and work in the country. The card typically takes about four weeks to process.
    By following these steps, we ensure that all necessary documentation, requirements, and legal obligations are met for a successful work permit application in Sweden.

Each employment must be assigned a code

When applying for a work permit in Sweden, it is important to correctly specify the occupation code that best describes the employee’s job tasks. This is done using the Swedish occupational classification system, SSYK (Standard för Svensk Yrkesklassificering). SSYK is based on the international system ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations) and is used to classify occupations at a detailed level.

SSYK is the Swedish version of ISCO and is used to organize and report occupations in labor market statistics. The SSYK classification has four levels, where occupations are divided into groups based on job tasks, qualification requirements, and work experience. The exact SSYK code for a specific job role must be stated in the work permit application to ensure that the job can be correctly assessed according to Swedish standards.
Link to ISCO SSYK is essentially an adaptation of ISCO, the international occupational classification developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Since ISCO is used by many other countries, the SSYK code can be linked to the corresponding ISCO codes to create a common understanding of the occupation at an international level. This allows for comparison and identification of occupations and qualifications between countries.

When you apply for a work permit in Sweden and enter the SSYK code, it can also be compared with ISCO codes in other countries. This facilitates the understanding of the job role if the employee needs to work internationally or if the international classification is relevant for future work permits in other countries.
By specifying the correct SSYK code in the work permit application, it ensures that the occupation can be identified accurately both in Sweden and internationally. This simplifies administrative tasks and communication between countries, especially during international recruitment and labor force transfers.

We assist in determining the correct SSYK code and ensure that all other necessary information is accurate in the application. If you, as the work permit applicant, check the international code for the current position in your home country, it can simplify the process of determining the correct SSYK.

ISCO - International Standard Classification of Occupations

The International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) is used by many countries (see the list below) around the world to organize and classify occupations and job tasks in a standardized way. This allows countries to compare labor market data and create a unified picture of global workforce trends. Since a work permit application in Sweden requires specifying the correct SSYK code, it may be helpful if you, who are familiar with the work to be performed, investigate which code is applicable in your home country for your application. This will make it easier for us to select the appropriate Swedish SSYK.

The ISCO system is used by many countries worldwide to classify occupations and job tasks. As it is an internationally standardized system, it is difficult to provide a complete list of all countries that use it. However, here is a list of countries that use ISCO or a variant of it to structure their occupational classifications:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Greece
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Ireland
Iceland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
China
Croatia
Latvia
Lebanon
Luxembourg
Malawi
Malaysia
Morocco
Mexico
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Nigeria
New Zealand
Pakistan
Panama
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe

These countries use the system in various forms, and there are also national variations depending on specific needs and national context. Many of these countries have adapted ISCO to their own labor markets and labor market statistics.