Frequently asked questions about permanent residence permits for those who have had a residence permit for studies at upper secondary level and can financially support themselves
To be able to receive a permanent residence permit because you can financially support yourself after studies at upper secondary level, it is a requirement that
- you have a temporary residence permit for studies at upper secondary level, or a residence permit to look for work after completion of studies at upper secondary level
- you are at least 25 years old or be able to show that you have completed an upper secondary education in Sweden or have a corresponding foreign education
- you have sufficiently high income to support yourself through employment or your own business (you can combine incomes from different jobs and/or businesses you own)
- your wages, insurance coverage and additional terms of employment are no worse than the terms laid down by Swedish collective agreements, or than what is normal practice in your occupation or industry
- your employment is not subsidized with any form of government grant (as with e.g. an entry recruitment job)
- your employment is long-term. This means that you have permanent employment or a contract for at least two years’ employment, calculated from the date on which the Swedish Migration Agency makes a decision about your application
- your employer has reported your employment to the Swedish Tax Agency
- you have started your job no later than by the time the Swedish Migration Agency examines your application (a promise of employment or a signed employment contract is not sufficient)
- you have the necessary permits, and any necessary licenses or credentials for practicing your occupation (e.g. a taxi driver’s license).
The Swedish Migration Agency will also investigate your employer in order to make sure that the employment is legitimate and that the company is able to pay the promised salary.
If you want to apply for a permanent residence permit because you can support yourself financially as self-employed, there are additional requirements.
When the Swedish Migration Agency examines your application, we will contact the Swedish Tax Agency to confirm that your employer has reported your employment. You do not need to submit any certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency in order to show that your employer has reported your employment.
No. Studies at an introductory programme are not considered completed studies at upper secondary level, which are required for a permanent residence permit for someone who is under the age of 25. You must first continue your studies at upper secondary school level.
The following are considered completed studies:
- studies at a national programme at an upper secondary school or special needs upper secondary school
- full-time studies at upper secondary level at a folk high school, in municipal adult education (Komvux) or special needs municipal adult education (Särvux)
- a so-called vocational training package, i.e. vocational training aimed at facilitating establishment on the labour market and provided within the framework of an introductory programme at a upper secondary school or full-time studies at a comprehensive vocational course in municipal adult education (Komvux) or special needs municipal adult education (Särvux).
If you have turned 25, there is no requirement that you have fulfilled an upper secondary level education.
If you have a job or self-employment that enables you to support yourself, you can state this when you apply for an extension. If you meet all the conditions, you can get a permanent residence permit. One of the conditions is that you must either have attained 25 years or completed an upper secondary education. In this case, introduction programmes are not counted as a completed upper secondary education.
Yes, in certain cases you can get a permanent residence permit. If the content of your application makes it clear to the Swedish Migration Agency that your probationary period will transition to permanent employment (also known as an employment contract with an “indefinite duration”) and you meet all other requirements, you can get a permanent residence permit. Although it is common for a probationary period to transition to permanent employment, an employer has the right to terminate your probationary period at short notice. In order to assess whether your employment will transition to permanent employment, you or your employer may be contacted by the Swedish Migration Agency, which may want to know more about your job.
To get a permanent residence permit because you can support yourself as an employed person, one requirement is that you have either completed your upper secondary education or attained 25 years. (In this case, introduction programmes are not counted as a completed upper secondary education). If you are under 25, you must, in other words, take all of your upper secondary education before you can apply for a permanent residence permit as an employed person.
If you meet all the conditions, you can get a permanent residence permit as an employed person. But you cannot apply for a permanent residence permit until it is time to apply for an extended residence permit, i.e. no earlier than two months before your present residence permit expires. But you can start working during the period when you have a residence permit for upper secondary studies.
Yes, you can receive a permanent residence permit if you can show that you meet all the requirements and have started working before the Swedish Migration Agency makes a decision in your case. You can supplement your application to show that you have started working by submitting form number 202011, Uppgifter om försörjning (Information about Self-Sufficiency).
Read more about how to apply for an extended residence permit
In order to get a permanent residence permit, you must be able to support yourself with income from employment or business activities (i.e. your own company) that are long-term. Thus, it is not enough to show that you have an income at the moment. You must also be able to show that you will have a sufficient income for a long time to come. “Long-term employment” primarily refers to employment contracts with an indefinite duration, also known as permanent employment. However, a fixed-term employment contract may also be considered long-term if it will last for a longer period of time. According to the assessment of the Swedish Migration Agency, employment must last for at least two years from the date of the Swedish Migration Agency’s decision in order for it to be considered to meet the law's requirements for long-term employment.
Yes, you can apply for a permanent residence permit as an employee even though you are/will be on sick leave. The Swedish Migration Agency reviews the terms of your employment and assesses whether you can support yourself on your wages. If the Swedish Migration Agency determines that you will be able to support yourself on your wages once you return to work, and that your employment is long-term despite your sick leave, you can get a permanent residence permit.
Yes, you can apply for a permanent residence permit as an employee even though you are/will be on parental leave. The Swedish Migration Agency reviews the terms of your employment and assesses whether you can support yourself on your wages. If the Swedish Migration Agency determines that you will be able to support yourself on your wages when you return to work, and that your employment is long-term despite your parental leave, you can get a permanent residence permit.