How does Work Permit (Employee) work in Sweden, and who qualifies?

The standard work permit is Sweden's main employment route, and it is employer-driven: you must already hold a concrete job offer before you apply. The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) then issues a combined work-and-residence permit.

To qualify, the pay, insurance and other terms have to be at least equal to what the relevant Swedish collective agreement or normal practice in the occupation requires, and the salary must meet the agency's minimum threshold, which is set as a share of the national median salary. Your employer must also provide health, life, employment and pension insurance, and you will need a valid passport.

Highly qualified applicants can instead apply for the EU Blue Card, which has its own salary rules and stronger family and mobility rights. Because Sweden's work-permit rules were updated again in 2026 and the salary thresholds change, confirm the current figures on Migrationsverket's official site before applying — and ACME can review your offer to confirm whether the standard work permit or the Blue Card fits you best.