Apply for a residence permit to work as a trainee/intern in Sweden via an international exchange programme

You want to apply for a residence permit because you have been offered a traineeship/internship in Sweden via an international exchange programme.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, you will in most cases need a permit to work in Sweden.

The rules for traineeships/internships conducted via an international exchange programme apply to applicants who have been granted a traineeship/internship through

an international exchange programme within organisations such as AIESEC, IAESTE, JUF or SACCUSA
a traineeship/internship exchange agreement between countries. Sweden has agreements with, for example, the United States and Canada.

There is also an exchange agreement for young managers between the EU and China.

Requirements to get a residence permit

De här kraven ska vara uppfyllda för att du ska få uppehållstillstånd:

You must have a valid passport

You must be at least 18 years old

You must have a written offer of a traineeship/internship

You must receive a salary/wages from your employer

Prepare this before you apply

Translate documents
All submitted documents should be in Swedish or English. If you have translated your documents, the translation should be certified. You must also include a copy of the document in its original language.

Plan which embassy to visit to present your passport
You may need to present your passport at an embassy before you can receive a decision. In the application, you must therefore state which embassy you want to visit.

Not all Swedish embassies and consulates-general handle migration cases, so it is important to check which one you should contact:

What country or territory do you live in?

You must attach copies of these documents to your application

Make sure that the information on your submitted documents is clearly visible.

Correctly made copies of your passport

You can never be granted a permit for longer than your passport is valid.

Written offer of a traineeship/internship
The offer must state the terms and conditions of your traineeship/internship or assignment.

Statement from the organisation that mediates the traineeship/internship

Power of attorney – if someone else will be applying for you

A representative can apply for you, if you grant them power of attorney. In that case, the person who applies for you must attach a copy of the power of attorney to your application.

Power of attorney (107011) Pdf, 1.1 MB, opens in new window.

Read more about power of attorney

If your traineeship/internship is related to your education

If you have been granted a traineeship/internship related to higher education, you must instead apply for a residence permit for a traineeship/internship within the context of higher education, even if your traineeship/internship is arranged through a traineeship/internship organisation.

You want to apply – Traineeships/internships within the context of higher education

If your traineeship/internship is not part of covered by an international agreement and is not related to higher education

If you have been awarded a traineeship/internship that is not covered by an international agreement or related to higher education, you must instead apply for a work permit. In that case, you must be able to show that you have been offered a salary/wages and terms of employment that correspond to Swedish rules for trainees/interns.

You want to apply – Employees

For how long can I be granted a residence permit?

You can be granted a residence permit for the time you are being offered a traineeship/internship, but never for longer than the validity of your passport. You can be granted a residence permit as a trainee for one or more periods for a maximum of 18 months.

What does it cost to apply?

The fee is SEK 1,500.

How long must I wait for a decision?

It is not possible to say exactly how long you will need to wait for a decision. There are many things that affect the waiting time, for example whether your application is complete to begin with or whether we need to request more information, or whether we need to check with other authorities when investigating your case.

Here we show statistics on how long it has taken for people who have applied for the same permit as you. The statistics are based on cases decided in the last 12 months.

Complete applications

75% of recently decided cases have been decided within:4 months

Incomplete applications

75% of recently decided cases have been decided within:5 months

Illustration of an offer for an internship.

You are offered a traineeship/internship and sign an agreement

Before you apply for a residence permit, you need to have a traineeship/internship agreement signed by you and your employer.

Illustration of a man sitting at a computer.

The employer starts the application

It is your employer who starts your application in the e-service.

Illustration of a young woman making an application on the computer.

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.

Waiting time before we start examining the application

Now follows a period of waiting until the Swedish Migration Agency takes a closer look at your application.

Illustration of a man who works as a caseworker at the Swedish Migration Agency.

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.

Waiting time while we process your application

Now you must wait.

Log in to My Page

By logging in to My Page, you can access information about your application and use our services.

My Page

Illustration showing how a person provides their fingerprints.

Present a passport and provide fingerprints

Before we can make a decision about a residence permit, you need to present your passport. You must also be fingerprinted and photographed. This information will later be used to produce a residence permit card for you, if you are granted a permit for a period of more than three months.

Digital passport check

In some cases, the Swedish Migration Agency will notify you that you must present your passport for a digital passport check via an app. If you are granted a residence permit, you will be fingerprinted and photographed at one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s service centres once you have arrived in Sweden.

If you present your passport digitally, but have also been called in for an interview, you need to book an appointment to visit an embassy or consulate-general. During this visit, you may also need to provide fingerprints and have your picture taken.

Present your passport and get fingerprinted at the embassy

If you are not offered a digital passport check, we will ask you to book an appointment to present your passport at the embassy or consulate-general you selected in your application.

If you need an entry visa to travel to Sweden, you may also be fingerprinted and photographed during the same visit.

You are waiting for a decision – You have applied for the first time

Illustration of a young woman holding a decision.

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 residence 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 practice 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.

You have received a decision – Work

It is the traineeship/internship organisation that starts your application. Once it has completed its part, you must continue with your part of the application. Only once you have completed and submitted your part of the application will it be registered with the Swedish Migration Agency.

Have you prepared all the documents?

Be sure to provide complete information and attach all necessary documents. The Swedish Migration Agency prioritises complete cases.

See which documents you must attach under the “Important to know” tab

The traineeship/internship organisation starts your application

The traineeship/internship organisation in Sweden will start your application by submitting information about your employment to the Swedish Migration Agency. To do this, your traineeship/internship organisation needs information about your name, date of birth, citizenship and email address. Once your traineeship/internship organisation has completed their part of the application, you will receive a link via email, which you should use to continue with your part of the application.

You complete your application

Once you have received the email with the link, log in to the e-service and fill in the information about yourself. You must also check that the information about your terms and conditions of employment corresponds to what you and your traineeship/internship organisation have agreed. Once you have completed your part of the application and have submitted it, it will be registered with the Swedish Migration Agency.

Requirements for applying in the e-service

To apply in the e-service, you must

be 18 years or older
have a valid email address
be able to pay the application fee with a payment card issued by Visa or Mastercard
be able to scan or photograph the documents you need to attach.

What does it cost to apply?

The fee is SEK 1,500.

If you cannot apply in the e-service

If you cannot apply in the e-service, the traineeship/internship organisation must send you a written offer stating the terms and conditions of your employment or traineeship/internship assignment . You must then submit a copy of this offer together with your application.

You fill in the form:

Application for a Swedish work permit (149011 Pdf, 900.7 kB.)

Submit your application

You must submit your application at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in the country where you live. Remember to bring the documents you need to attach.

Not all Swedish embassies and consulates-general handle migration cases, so it is important to check which one you should contact:

What country or territory do you live in?

More information to prepare for your visit, such as information about booking an appointment, can be found on the embassies’ website:

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link.

You pay the application fee when you submit your application.

Once you have submitted your application, it will be sent to the Swedish Migration Agency.

News

2025-05-20

Are you going to visit the National Government Service Centre?

From May onwards, there will be changes to which of the Government Service Centers offer the services of the Swedish Migration Agency.

2025-05-20

What counts as a salary?

One of the requirements for being granted a work permit is that the salary must enable you to make a good living. A new ruling from the Migration Court of Appeal clarifies what counts as a salary.

2025-04-03

If you are planning to work, study or move to Sweden to live with someone, you can now visit the embassy in Islamabad

On 9 April, the Swedish Migration Agency will resume its residence and work permit activities in Pakistan. Applicants needing to submit biometric data, have their passport checked or be interviewed after submitting an application can once again do so at the embassy in Islamabad. This does not apply to those who are applying for a Schengen visa to visit Sweden for a short stay.

2025-04-01

From 1 April, the possibility of changing tracks will end

On 1 April, the Swedish Parliament’s decision to remove the possibility of changing tracks will come into force. This affects those who have been granted, or applied for, a work permit after an asylum application has been rejected. Your co-applicant family members will also be affected.

2025-03-31

On site in Skellefteå to answer your questions about work permits

Due to Northvolt’s bankruptcy, the Swedish Migration Agency will be on site in Skellefteå to answer your questions about residence and work permits.

2025-03-06

Changes for those residing in Cyprus who wish to apply for residence and work permit

From 17 March 2025 the Swedish embassy in Nicosia will no longer handle migration matters. If you are a citizen of Cyprus, you should instead contact the Swedish embassy in Athens, Greece. The same applies for non-Cypriot legal residents of Cyprus.

2025-02-07

Changes for residents of Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania or Moldova that wish to apply for residence and work permits or visas

Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are now part of the Schengen area. Legal residents of these countries shall, from 24 February 2025 turn to one of the five Schengen hubs for migration related matters.

2025-02-07

Changes for those residing in Bosnia and Herzegovina who previously applied for residence and work permit in Sarajevo

As from 10 March, 2025, the embassy in Sarajevo will no longer handle migration related matters. Instead, you should turn to the Swedish embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia.

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.

You want to apply Traineeships/internships conducted via an international exchange programmeYou want to apply Traineeships/internships conducted via an international exchange programme

You must attach copies of these documents to your application

Complete applications

Incomplete applications

News

You want to apply Traineeships/internships conducted via an international exchange programme