After a decision has been made on a residence permit for work in Sweden
If you are granted a residence permit to work in Sweden, the permit entitles you to work for the employer and in the occupation that you stated in your application.
If you get a new job with another employer, or your job information changes, you should apply for a new permit.
When applying to extend your work permit, you will need to show that the conditions of the work permit have been satisfied throughout the permit period. Therefore, you need to save all payment receipts, certificates of employment, certificates of absence (if applicable), and certificates showing that you have been covered by insurance throughout the permit period, as you may be asked to present these documents to the Swedish Migration Agency.
If you are granted a residence permit
Residence permit card
If you receive a permit to work in Sweden for a period longer than three months, you will get a residence permit card. The card serves as proof that you have a permit to be in Sweden and contains, among other things, a photograph of you and your fingerprints.
Read more about residence permit cards
If you need an entry visa to travel to Sweden
If you need an entry visa to travel to Sweden, but did not have your photograph or fingerprints taken when you applied, you should visit the embassy or consulate-general so that a residence permit card can be issued for you. Not all embassies or consulates-general are able to have you photographed or take your fingerprints. Therefore, you should always contact the embassy or consulate-general before your visit to get further information. When you visit the embassy, you should bring your passport with you.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general
External link, opens in new window.
When the card is ready, the embassy or consulate-general will hand it out to you or send it to you. Please note that, after you have received your decision, it can take up to four weeks to issue the card and deliver it to the embassy or consulate-general, provided that you have already had your photograph and fingerprints taken. When you travel to Sweden, you should present your card along with a valid passport.
This will not speed up the process of issuing or delivering the card. Also, when an order has been made for your card, it is not possible to change where the card will be sent.
If you are able to travel without an entry visa
If you are able to travel to Sweden without a visa you may need to demonstrate a copy of the decision when you enter the country. You may also need to demonstrate the document regarding Information about residence permit card together with the decision when you leave the country.
As soon as possible after you have arrived in Sweden you need to book an appointment at the Swedish Migration Agency to provide your fingerprints and have your picture taken. When you visit the Swedish Migration Agency you must bring your passport. Once your residence permit card is ready it will be sent to your address in Sweden.
This will not speed up the process of issuing or delivering the card. Also, when an order has been made for your card, it is not possible to change where the card will be sent.
Working for less than three months
If you receive a work permit for a shorter period than three months, you will not receive a residence permit, and thus you will not receive a residence permit card. Instead, you should present the documentation containing the decision to issue a work permit, along with your passport and possible entry visa, when you travel to Sweden.
The permit's period of validity
In most cases, you receive a permit that lasts as long as your employment, but never longer than the period your passport is valid for. A work permit can be granted for at most two years at a time. If your family is accompanying you, they will receive a permit for the same time period as you, though never longer than the validity period of their passports.
If you plan to continue working in Sweden after your permit has expired, you should submit an application for extending your permit. You should apply for an extension before your previous permit expires. When you have had a work permit for 48 months, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency will determine whether you are entitled to a permanent permit when your application for an extended permit is processed.
Things to keep in mind when extending your work permit
Important information regarding insurance
In order for you to receive a work permit, your employer must be planning to sign you up for health insurance, life insurance, occupational injury insurance, and occupational pension insurance when your employment begins. The insurance must be valid starting the day that your employment begins.
In order for you to extend your work permit, you need to have been covered by health insurance, life insurance, occupational injury insurance, and occupational pension insurance throughout the time you have had a work permit in Sweden.
If you need to seek medical care in Sweden, you may need to pay for the care yourself if you are not registered in Sweden in the Population Register, and do not have a Swedish Personal Identity Number. If you register in the Swedish Population Register, you can also be registered with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, and covered by the country’s social insurance. However, to meet the insurance requirements that apply to work permits, it is not enough to be registered with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
To be registered in the Swedish Population Register and receive a Swedish Personal Identity Number, you generally need to have been granted at least a one-year residence permit in Sweden, and you generally need to be planning to live here for one year or longer. Therefore, you should register in the Population Register as soon as possible after moving to Sweden.
Information about how to register at the Swedish Tax Agency External link, opens in new window.
The Migration Agency may withdraw a permit
Your permit may be withdrawn
- if, in your application, you provided incorrect information or did not mention something that was significant in regards to your residence permit
- if the requirements for the permit are no longer met – for example, if you are no longer working, or if the terms of employment are no longer met
- if you have not started your employment within four months of the first day of validity of the permit.
If the Swedish Migration Agency rejects your application
If the Swedish Migration Agency rejects your application, it means you are not entitled to a residence permit for Sweden. You may lodge an appeal against the decision within three weeks of the date when you received notification of the decision. Information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in your decision. If you have given someone a power of attorney document that authorises him/her to represent you, this person is able to lodge an appeal on your behalf.
If you are still in Sweden when your application is rejected, you must leave the country within the timescale given in the decision.
What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney can be a signed letter in which the person applying for a permit allows another person to represent them. A power of attorney can, for example, give someone the right to apply, be informed of the reasons for a decision, or lodge an appeal for someone else. The power of attorney must be signed by the person who gives their power of attorney to another person, and must be presented in the original if required by the Swedish Migration Agency.
In order to give another person power of attorney, you will need to send a letter to the Swedish Migration Agency stating
- that it is a power of attorney
- the name, date of birth and address of the person giving someone else the power of attorney
- what the person who has the power of attorney has to do
- the name, personal identity number and address of the person who is given the power of attorney
- the signature of the person giving someone else the power of attorney
- the date and place where the power of attorney is signed.
Power of Attorney, form 107011
Pdf, 641.6 kB, opens in new window.
The Swedish Migration Agency may conduct follow-up inspections
The Swedish Migration Agency may carry out inspections during the period when a work permit is in effect – so-called follow-up inspections. In follow-up inspections, the Swedish Migration Agency checks to ensure that you have received the wages and insurance coverage that served as a basis for your permit. In follow-up inspections, your employer must, if the Swedish Migration Agency requests it, provide information on wage payments and insurance coverage.
If the Swedish Migration Agency performs a follow-up inspection and discovers that the terms of employment are not being complied with – i.e., that you, as an employee, have not received the wages and insurance coverage on which your work permit was based, the Migration Agency may revoke your permit.
You can choose to change employers during the time when the Swedish Migration Agency is investigating the possibility of revoking your work permit. In this case, you must apply for a new work permit for a job with a new employer within four months.
Information for persons arriving in Sweden with a residence permit
Do not forget to save your residence permit decision. It will be useful when contacting various national authorities and organisations.
To register as living in Sweden and obtain a Swedish personal identity number, contact the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket. External link, opens in new window.
To be registered in the social insurance system, contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan. External link, opens in new window.
Some municipalities have municipal housing agencies where you can look for accommodation. The municipality can also give you advice on private landlords.
The municipality in which you live will offer child care and schooling for children.
For questions about health care, contact the region where you live. Find healthcare in the whole of the country on 1177 Healthcare Service Guide. External link, opens in new window.
For questions about learning Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), contact the municipality you live in. See also the website of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. External link, opens in new window.
If you are looking for a job you can register with the Swedish Public Employment Service, Arbetsförmedlingen. External link, opens in new window.
The Swedish Pensions Agency External link, opens in new window. has information in Swedish about income support for the elderly for those who come to Sweden late in life and have a low or no pension.
For information about studying at colleges or universities, see Universityadmissions.se External link, opens in new window. or studera.nu. External link, opens in new window.
For questions about student loans and grants, contact CSN. External link, opens in new window.
For questions concerning driving licenses, visit the Swedish Transport Agency. External link, opens in new window.
For questions about the right to vote, contact the Election Authority, Valmyndigheten. External link, opens in new window.
Information from the Swedish National Agency for Education about the Swedish education system can be found at Skolverket. External link, opens in new window.
Information about society in Sweden can be found in a number of languages at informationsverige.se. External link, opens in new window.
For more information on society in Sweden visit the website of the Swedish Institute. External link, opens in new window.
Hej hej Sverige! External link, opens in new window. has simple and inspiring films about how Sweden works.
On the page Learn Swedish on www.informationsverige.se, External link, opens in new window. you will find links to several programmes for learning Swedish on your own.
The information service at the Swedish Consumer Agency External link, opens in new window. can answer your questions about buying goods and services and about contract terms and conditions.