Salary requirements for a work permit
Information on the wages required to be granted a work permit.
From 1 June 2026, a new salary requirement applies: in order to be granted a work permit, the salary must amount to at least 90 per cent of the median salary in Sweden at the time of the application. The salary must still be in line with Swedish collective agreements or common practice in the relevant profession or industry.
The new salary requirement replaces the maintenance requirement of a good living.
The new salary requirement applies to those applying for a work permit for the first time and who receive a decision on or after 1 June 2026. This means that the new salary requirement may also apply to people who submitted their application before 1 June, if the Swedish Migration Agency makes its decision after that date.
The salary requirement will also apply to those applying to extend their permit if they received a decision on their current permit after 1 June 2026.
The median salary is published by Statistics Sweden (SCB), and the monthly salary must amount to at least 90 per cent of the median salary that was current when you applied for a work permit. The monthly salary must also be in line with collective agreements or common practice in the relevant profession or industry.
Transitional rules for the new salary requirement
There are transitional rules relating to the new salary requirement. During a six-month transitional period, the salary requirement will not apply to applications to extend work permits that were granted under the previous rules.
This means that people who already have a work permit granted under the previous rules, and who apply to extend their permit between 1 June and 1 December 2026, do not need to meet the new salary requirement. Instead, they must meet the previous maintenance requirement.
Certain professions are exempt from the salary requirement
Certain professions and groups of applicants are exempt from the salary requirement. If a person is covered by one of the exemptions from the salary requirement, their salary must amount to at least 75 per cent of the median salary in Sweden at the time of the application.
Occupations included in the Government’s list of exempt occupations
The list used by the Swedish Migration Agency when making decisions is the one that determines which occupations are exempt from the salary requirement. The exemptions apply for the duration of the permit.
When applying for an extension of a permit, you must check that the profession is still on the list. If the profession is no longer on the list, the salary requirement applies.
Other groups that are also exempt from the salary requirement
Former students and researchers, and persons with residence permits under the Temporary Protection Directive
- Persons who hold a residence permit as a student or researcher in Sweden when applying for a work permit for the first time.
- Persons who hold a residence permit with or after temporary protection under the EU Temporary Protection Directive and who apply for a work permit, an EU Blue Card (issued by Sweden), a permit for research or a permit for higher education studies.
These persons are exempt for two years or, if their permit is valid for a longer period, until the permit expires. The exemption will apply from 11 June 2026.
Certain healthcare professions
Doctors, dentists and nurses with foreign qualifications who are in the process of obtaining Swedish professional certification.
Employees of certain tech or life science companies
Persons employed by certain tech or life science companies. The company must be in a start-up phase, be less than five years old and have fewer than one hundred employees.
It is the median salary at the time of application that counts
The Swedish Migration Agency bases its calculations on the current median salary at the time of application.
| Date for updated median salary | Median salary in Sweden | 90 per cent of median salary | 75 per cent of the median salary | Applies to applications received during the period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 June 2025 | SEK 37,100 | SEK 33,390 | SEK 27,825 | 17 June 2025–now |
| 18 June 2024 | SEK 35,600 | SEK 32,040 | SEK 26,700 | 18 June 2024–16 June 2025 |
| 20 June 2023 | SEK 34,200 | SEK 30,780 | SEK 25,650 | 20 June 2023–17 June 2024 |
| 21 June 2022 | SEK 33,200 | SEK 29,880 | SEK 24,900 | 21 June 2022–19 June 2023 |
| 22 June 2021 | SEK 32,400 | SEK 29,160 | SEK 24,300 | 22 June 2021–20 June 2022 |