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Citizens of Australia and New Zealand

If you are a citizen of Australia and New Zealand and between 18 and 30 years of age you can obtain a residence and work permit in order to spend a holiday in Sweden for up to one year.
Sweden has concluded agreements with Australia and New Zealand allowing young people from these two countries to work during their holiday in Sweden provided that he or she has applied for a permit. The work must be  be temporary in nature and intended to enhance travel funds.

The Swedish embassy or conuslate or other Swedish authorites cannot help you find a work in Sweden. You have to contact an employer yourself. You can look for work after entering Sweden. Young peolple from Sweden can do the same in Australia and New Zealand.

The purpose of the agreements is to promote cooperation between Sweden and Australia/New Zealand, as well as to make it easier for young people to familiarize themselves with the culture and social life of each other´s countries.

Requirements to be granted a residence and work permit


To be granted a permit requires that:
  • You have a valid passport.
  • You are between 18 and 30 years of age
  • The main purpose of your stay in Sweden is the holiday.
  • You have a return ticket or enough money to buy one.
  • You have enough money (15,000 kronor) to support yourself for at least your first three months in Sweden.
  • You have a valid health insurance policy (only citizens of New Zealand).
  • You have no accompanying children dependent on you.

Applying for a residence and work permit


You apply at a Swedish embassy or consulate in the country where you live. If you apply for a permit at the Swedish embassy in Canberra, the embassy can grant you a working holiday visa. Otherwise the Swedish Migration Board decides whether you will obtain a working holiday visa. You apply on the form Application for residence and work permit in Sweden for young people from Canada, New Zealand and Australia, nr 155011.
 
Your permit must be valid and be included in your passport before you travel to Sweden.
 

Make sure your application is complete


Always enclose the following 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
  • Two photographs in passport format, taken from the front and that are not more than six
  • Receipt of paid application fee
  • Copy of return ticket
  • Document showing you have a comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden
  • 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 work and residence permit


The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate where you applied. You need to bring your original passport with you when you pick up your permit. 

Permit validity period  


You can be granted a permit for a maximum of one year. You can only be granted a permit in connection with a holiday in Sweden once.
 

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.

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: 2010-02-15