Maintenance requirement for work permits

Here you will find information about the maintenance requirement that applies to work permit applications.

Current maintenance requirement for work permits

Based on the current median salary, the current maintenance requirement for a work permit is

SEK 27,360 per month.

This corresponds to 80 per cent of the median salary in Sweden, according to the statistics of Statistics Sweden (SCB). Read more on SCB:s website (in Swedish) External link, opens in new window.

From 1 November 2023 you must have a good living to get a work permit. A good living is defined as an income that is at least 80 per cent of the current median salary. Everyone who applies after November 1 must have a salary that amounts to at least 80 percent of the current median salary, a sum that is currently SEK 27,360. For an application received before November 1, it is the median salary that applied at the time of the application that forms the basis for calculation.

The requirement that applicants be able make a good living means that an employee must have a monthly salary that amounts to at least 80 per cent of the median salary published by Statistics Sweden (SCB) that applied at the time of application. The current median salary can be found on Statistics Sweden’s website. Statistics Sweden usually updates the figure around Midsummer week every year. You can easily calculate the sum (80 per cent of the median salary) by multiplying the median salary by 0.8.

For an application received before 1 November 2023, the median salary at the time of application is the basis for calculation. In addition, the monthly salary must be in line with collective agreements or practices in the relevant profession or industry.

In the text box above, you will find up-to-date information about the maintenance requirement that currently applies to work permit applications.

Median salary in Sweden the last three years

Date for updated median salary

Median salary in Sweden

Total (80 per cent of median salary)

Applies to applications received during the period

20 June 2023

SEK 34,200

SEK 27,360

20 June 2023 – current

21 June 2022

SEK 33,200

SEK 26,560

21 June 2022 – 19 June 2023

22 June 2021

SEK 32,400

SEK 25,920

22 June 2021 – 20 June 2022

16 June 2020

SEK 31,700

SEK 25,360

16 June 2020 – 21 June 2021

A person who has applied for a work permit but has not received their decision before 1 November must, from this date, have a salary of at least 80 per cent of the median salary published when the application for a work permit was received.

Employees who are exempt from the new requirement include those exercising their right to freedom of movement (citizens of the EU/EEA and family members of such citizens), people who have or are applying for an EU Blue Card, those who have or are applying for an ICT permit, and seasonal workers.

Professional coaches and athletes, au pairs, trainees within the framework of international exchange or trainees with traineeships related to higher education, and researchers will not be subject to the new requirement.

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