Employers – You want to employ People applying for international protection (asylum)

You want to employ a person who has applied for international protection (asylum) and who has AT-UND and is thus exempt from the work permit requirement.

The proof that a person is exempt from the requirement to have a work permit is called “AT-UND”. A person who has applied for international protection (asylum) and have received AT-UND may therefore work in Sweden while waiting for a decision regarding their application. If you employ a person who has applied for international protection, you have an obligation to regularly check the employee’s right to work.

If the person has AT-UND, this must be stated on their application card or LMA card.

The application card or LMA card is not an identity document, but only proof that a person has applied for international protection and has the right to be in Sweden while waiting for a decision on their application.

The application card and the LMA card have a QR code that you can scan to see if the card is valid and if the person has AT-UND. No other personal information about the applicant is displayed if they have an LMA card. The QR code on an application card, however, displays more information about the applicant. The information on the card is updated digitally, and you always get up-to-date information when you scan the card. The search is not logged.

The check is easily done with a QR reader, such as a smartphone or hand scanner for a cash register. If you do not have access to a QR reader, you can check the card on the web using the unique web address located on the back of each card.

Scan the QR code regularly to ensure that the person you have employed still has the right to work in Sweden.

When you employ a person who has applied for international protection, you must fill in the form:

Anmälan om anställning eller upphörande av anställning av asylsökande [Registration of employment or end of employment of an asylum seeker] (152011, only in Swedish) pdf, 2 MB.

Send the form to the Swedish Migration Agency unit for reception with which the applicant is registered. You must also notify the Swedish Migration Agency when the employment is terminated.

Addresses of the Swedish Migration Agency’s units for reception

You cannot pay salary/wages to the payment card that a person who has applied for international protection receives from the Swedish Migration Agency.

However, the applicant has the option to open their own bank account. There is an agreement between the Swedish Migration Agency and most major banks in Sweden that makes it easier for a person who has applied for international protection to open a bank account, even though the person’s identification documents are in the possession of the Swedish Migration Agency. Under this agreement, the applicant can present certified copies of their identification documents and the bank branch then contacts the Swedish Migration Agency to get the information confirmed. However, it is always up to each bank branch to decide whether or not to accept the documents. Some banks also require the applicant to be able to present a certificate of employment in order to open a bank account.

News

2026-06-01

New rules for work permits come into force

New rules for work permits are now coming into effect in Sweden. This affects employers who want to hire people from countries outside the EU/EEA. The changes include a new salary requirement and a possibility for the Swedish Migration Agency to reject applications because of deficiencies linked to the employer.

2025-04-01

The possibility of changing tracks ends on 1 April

On 1 April, the Swedish Parliaments decision to remove the possibility of changing tracks will come into force. This affects people who have been granted, or applied for, a residence permit on the basis of work after their asylum application has been rejected through a so-called change of track.

2025-03-05

The Swedish Migration Agency's new website has now been launched

On 5 March, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a completely new version of migrationsverket.se, with a new structure and a more user-friendly navigation. The purpose of the new website is primarily to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.

2025-01-07

New EU Blue Card rules now apply

As of 1 January, new requirements and rules apply for anyone who wants to apply for an EU Blue Card and existing Blue Card holders.

The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for considering applications from people who want to live in Sweden, seek protection or become Swedish citizens. Our work is based on Swedish laws and international conventions, with a focus on legal certainty and effective reception and return.