New rules for researchers and doctoral students

From 11 June, new rules apply to researchers and doctoral students.

Doctoral students with a hosting agreement can apply for a permit for research

If you are a doctoral student and have a hosting agreement with an approved research principal, you can apply for a residence permit for research under the amended rules. This means that you can receive the same type of permit as other researchers and will then be covered by the rules for research.

If you do not have a hosting agreement, other rules apply:

If you have been admitted to a programme at a university or university college at doctoral level in Sweden, you can apply for a residence permit for doctoral studies.
You want to apply – Doctoral studies

If you are a visiting doctoral student and have not been admitted to a programme in Sweden, you can apply for a residence permit for a visit.
You want to apply – Visiting Sweden for more than 90 days

More people can apply without leaving Sweden

From 1 June, you who have any of the following residence permits can apply for a new permit for research or doctoral studies without leaving Sweden:

• Residence permit to look for work or explore the possibilities of
  starting your own business in Sweden after completed research.
• Residence permit to look for work or explore the possibilities of starting your own business in Sweden after completed studies.

It is important that you apply before your current permit expires.

Longer permit period for residence permits to look for work

If you have completed your research or programme at a university or university college at doctoral level, you can from 11 June receive a longer permit when you apply for a residence permit to look for work or explore the possibilities of starting your own business in Sweden. Previously, the permit period was twelve months, but from 11 June you can receive that type of permit for at least twelve months and a maximum of 18 months.

It will be easier to receive a permanent residence permit

After 11 June, the time that you need to have held a permit in Sweden to be able to receive a permanent residence permit is shortened. The change means that you can receive a permanent residence permit after three consecutive years with a permit for any of the following:

• residence permit for research
• residence permit for research in the case of mobility for a long-stay
• residence permit for a programme at a university or university college at doctoral level
• Swedish EU Blue Card.

If you have held several of these permits, the time can be counted together. This means that you can, for example, add together time with a residence permit for a programme at a university or university college at doctoral level and time with a residence permit for research.

You can still receive a permanent residence permit according to current rules, which will continue to apply. This means that you can receive a permanent residence permit if you over the past seven years have held, among other things, a work permit, residence permit for research, seasonal work permit, EU Blue Card or ICT permit for a total of four years. In that case, the time does not need to be four consecutive years, but it must total four years during a seven-year period.

To receive a permanent residence permit, you must also meet other requirements, for example maintenance and lifestyle requirements.

Family members can apply for a permit for research themselves

New from 11 June is that family members can apply for a residence permit for research or a residence permit for a programme at a university or university college at doctoral level themselves without leaving Sweden. This applies to those who currently hold a residence permit as a family member of a student, doctoral student, researcher, researcher in the case of mobility for a long-stay, or someone with a residence permit to look for work or explore the possibilities of starting their own business in Sweden.