You get a job and an employment agreement or contract
Before you apply for a work permit, you need to have an employment agreement or contract signed by you and the organiser.
The employer starts the application
It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service.
The trade union is given the opportunity to comment
The employer sends information about the employment to the relevant trade union for the industry to which the employment relates. The trade union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions of employment.
You fill in your part of the application
Once the employer has completed their part, you will receive an email with a link to the e-service, where you must fill in your part of the application. You fill in the application and attach the necessary documents. In your application, you indicate which Swedish embassy or consulate-general you want to visit to present your passport. In certain cases, you may also be asked to come to the embassy for an interview.
The Swedish Migration Agency processes the application
The Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information about your application and determine whether you can be granted a residence permit. If we can immediately see that you do not meet the requirements for a residence permit, we may decide to reject your application.
We will contact you if we need more information. In some cases, we will contact your employer for further information.
Present a passport and provide fingerprints
Before the Swedish Migration Agency can make a decision, you must present your passport. Most applicants will receive an email about doing so through a digital passport check via an app. If you are unable, or do not want to do a digital passport check, you must decline via the link in the email. We will inform you if you must present your passport in person.
Read more about digital passport check
You need to book an appointment to visit an embassy or consulate-general if any of the following applies to you:
- The Swedish Migration Agency has informed you that you need to present your passport in person.
- You have been summoned to an interview.
- You need a visa to enter Sweden and must provide fingerprints and be photographed for your residence permit card.
You are waiting for a decision – You have applied for the first time
You receive our decision
As soon as we have made a decision, you will receive an email or letter stating whether you have been granted a work permit or if your application has been rejected. The decision will then be sent by post to your chosen embassy or representative. You may need to book an appointment at the embassy to pick it up. When you receive the decision, you can find out the reasons on which we based it. If you are granted a residence permit, you have the right to live and work in Sweden as long as the permit is valid. If your application is rejected and you are currently in Sweden, you must prepare to leave the country.