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| For people wanting to work in Sweden
| Employees from countries outside the EU
| Performing artists

Performing artists

If you want to work as a performing artist in Sweden, you must have a work permit. If you plan to work in Sweden for longer than three months you will also need a residence permit.

Requirements to be granted a work permit
Applying for a work permit
If you are granted a residence and work permit
Right to appeal

Examples of performing artists include singers, musicians, dancers and circus performers. Associated work groups such as technicians or equivalent are also included in this category.

The following do not need a work permit:

performing artists who have a temporary engagement for a radio or TV broadcast by Sveriges Radio AB, Sveriges Television AB, Sveriges Utbildningsradio AB or Nordisk Television AB
performing artists and their technicians and other tour staff who work temporarily in Sweden for fourteen days at the most for a twelve month period. Providing that there is an invitation from an established promoter; see link in the right column.

For work that is shorter than three months, citizens in certain countries must have an entry visa; see link in the right column.

Requirements to be granted a work permit

In order to be granted a permit you must have:

a valid passport
a contract with the promoter in Sweden
a written offer of employment in Sweden.

Contract
The contract must

include the time and place for the engagement
be signed by both parties.

Job offer

There is a special form for job offers Offer of employment, no 232011 which your employer in Sweden can download via the Swedish Migration Board website.

Your employer must guarantee you a wage, insurance cover and other terms of employment that are at least equal to those of a collective agreement or Swedish practices in the profession or sector. Your employer must complete the form and send it to you so that you can enclose it with your contract.

Applying for a work permit

You must apply for a work permit as a performing artist from your native country or other country outside Sweden where you are living. 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.

Different ways of applying

You apply:

on the Swedish Migration Board's website. (If you plan to work for a period shorter than three months and need an entry visa, you cannot apply on-line.) or
at a Swedish mission abroad in the country you are living in. You must then use the form Application for Swedish work permit — for applicants outside Sweden, no. 149011.

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

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
contract
offer of employment
receipt of paid application fee.

If you plan to work for less than three months and need an entry visa, you must also enclose two photographs in passport format. They must be taken from the front and not be older than six months.

The promoter may apply

If you do not need an entry visa or residence permit, the promoter in Sweden can apply for you. The promoter must send the application to the Swedish Migration Board, Box 507, SE-169 29 Solna, Sweden. It must include

your passport details (period of validity and passport number)
an offer of employment on form no 232011
a contract, showing the time of the engagement? Tour schedule, if any? Personal details for you (name, date of birth, gender and nationality).

Application fee

Most people have to pay an application fee; see page on fees. If your application is refused, your money will not be returned.

If you are granted a residence and work permit

If you are granted a residence and work permit, a decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate where you applied or that you specified when you applied via the website. 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.

Important to remember

You will not be listed in the Swedish civil registry and will therefore be ineligible for social welfare benefits. It is important, therefore, that you organise insurance protection beforehand to cover any costs you may incur in Sweden arising from an accident or illness, etc.