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| Performing artists

Employers of performing artists

A performing artist who wants to work in Sweden must have a work permit. If the performing artist plans to work in Sweden for longer than three months, he/she will also need a residence permit.

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 over a twelve-month period. This is 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

For a performing artist to be granted a permit you must:

prepare a contract with the performing artist
provide 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 you as an employer in Sweden can download via the Swedish Migration Board website. You must complete the form and send it to the performing artist you want to employ so that he/she can enclose it with the application and the contract.
To be granted a work permit there requirements must be fulfilled:

The terms of employment must be equal to or better than those provided under a Swedish collective agreement or that are customary for the occupation or sector.
The relevant trade union has been given the opportunity to express an opinion on the terms of employment.
The artist must currently have and previously had work whose scope is such that the monthly wage is at least SEK 13,000 before tax.
He/she must have a passport that will still be valid after the permit expires.

Applying for a work permit

Performing artists must apply for a work permit from their country of origin or other country outside Sweden where they are living.

The promoter may apply

If the performing artist does not need an entry visa or residence permit, the promoter in Sweden can apply on his/her behalf. The promoter must send the application to the Swedish Migration Board, Box 507, SE-169 29 Solna, Sweden. It must contain

the performing artist's passport details (period of validity and passport number)
a job offer using the form no. 232011
a contract detailing the period of the engagement
a 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.

Decision on residence and work permit

The decision on a residence and work permit will be sent to the embassy or consulate where the application was made or that was specified when applying on-line.

Important to remember

If the performing artist is not listed in the Swedish civil registry he/she will not be eligible for social welfare benefits. It is important, therefore, that he/she organises insurance protection beforehand to cover any costs that may arise in Sweden from an accident or illness, etc.