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Citizens of Canada
If you are a citizen of Canada and between 18 and 30 years of age you can obtain a residence and work permit in Sweden for up to one year due to an agreement between Sweden and Canada on the exchange of young workers —the Canada-Sweden Youth Exchange programme.
The agreement entitles young people who are citizens of Canada to a Swedish work and residence permit for a period of one year. Permits are not tied to a specific employer or place. Similarly, young Swedes may also quality for a Canadian work permit within the framework of the exchange programme.
You do not need to show that you have got a job when you make your application.
You apply for a work and residence permit at the Swedish embassy in Ottawa or at any of the Swedish consulates in Canada. If you are staying in another country, you can submit your application to the Swedish embassy or consulate in that country. You shall use the form Application for residence and work permit in Sweden for young people from Canada, New Zealand and Australia, nr 155011.
Enclose the following documents with your application:
Note that the embassy or consulate where you submit your application may require additional documents. You will find more information and contact information on the website of the relevant embassy. Click on the link in the right column to find the appropriate embassy.
It costs SEK 1,000 to submit an application. If your application is refused, your money will not be returned.
The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate where you applied. If you have not previously been photographed and had your fingerprints taken, you will need to visit a Swedish mission abroad to do so. Once the residence permit card is ready, the mission abroad will issue, or in certain cases send, the card to you.
You can be granted a permit for a maxium of one year
Since you will not be entered into the population registry in Sweden, you will not be entitled to social welfare benefits. For that reason, it is important that you have an insurance policy that covers your expenses if you get sick, etc.
If the Swedish Migration Board rejects your application for a residence permit, you may appeal the decision within three weeks of the date you were given the decision. Send your appeal to the Swedish Migration Board.
If the Board upholds its decision to reject your application, your appeal will be forwarded to the Migration Court at one of the three administrative courts, in either Stockholm, Göteborg or Malmö. Which court will hear your appeal depends on which Permit Unit rejected your application.
Requirements to be granted a residence and work permit
You do not need to show that you have got a job when you make your application.
To be granted a permit requires that you:
- Are a Canadian citizen
- Have a valid passport.
- Are between 18 and 30 years of age
- Can show that you have sufficient money to support yourself until you find work.
Applying for a residence and work permit
You apply for a work and residence permit at the Swedish embassy in Ottawa or at any of the Swedish consulates in Canada. If you are staying in another country, you can submit your application to the Swedish embassy or consulate in that country. You shall use the form Application for residence and work permit in Sweden for young people from Canada, New Zealand and Australia, nr 155011.
Those who receive a residence permit will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof of your residence permit. When you enter Sweden, you must therefore show your card along with a valid passport.
In order for the Migration Board to be able to issue a residence permit card, you will be photographed and will need to submit fingerprints in connection with:
- submitting your application or
- when you receive your residence permit.
Make sure your application is complete
Enclose the following documents with your application:
- Copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity, the validity period of your passport and whether you have permits to be in countries other than your native country
- A receipt of paid application fee
- Bank accounts that confirm that you can support yourself
Check the requirements of Swedish missions abroad
Note that the embassy or consulate where you submit your application may require additional documents. You will find more information and contact information on the website of the relevant embassy. Click on the link in the right column to find the appropriate embassy.
Application fee
It costs SEK 1,000 to submit an application. If your application is refused, your money will not be returned.
If you are granted a residence and work permit
The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate where you applied. If you have not previously been photographed and had your fingerprints taken, you will need to visit a Swedish mission abroad to do so. Once the residence permit card is ready, the mission abroad will issue, or in certain cases send, the card to you.
Permit validity period
You can be granted a permit for a maxium of one year
Important to remember
Since you will not be entered into the population registry in Sweden, you will not be entitled to social welfare benefits. For that reason, it is important that you have an insurance policy that covers your expenses if you get sick, etc.
The Swedish embassy or consulate or other Swedish authorites cannot help you find a work in Sweden; you have to contact an employer yourself.
Right to appeal
If the Swedish Migration Board rejects your application for a residence permit, you may appeal the decision within three weeks of the date you were given the decision. Send your appeal to the Swedish Migration Board.
If the Board upholds its decision to reject your application, your appeal will be forwarded to the Migration Court at one of the three administrative courts, in either Stockholm, Göteborg or Malmö. Which court will hear your appeal depends on which Permit Unit rejected your application.
If you have given power of attorney (and thus the right to represent you) to someone in Sweden, that person can write and submit the appeal for you.
You can not appeal against the decision to reject your application for a work permit
Page updated: 2011-05-19
Migrationsverket
