STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: While most non-EU/EEA citizens require a Work Permit to take up employment in Sweden, certain individuals and professional groups are exempt from this requirement. This is crucial information for anyone planning to live or work in the country.
Here is a breakdown of the key exceptions, according to the Swedish Migration Agency:
✨ Primary Categories Exempt from Work Permits
1. Individuals Already Living in Sweden with a Residence Permit
People who already hold a Residence Permit or another type of permit that grants them the right to live and work in Sweden do not need to apply for a separate Work Permit.
- Note for Employers: Employers looking to hire someone already residing in Sweden should check the specific terms of the individual’s existing permit.
2. Individuals Seeking Work or Starting a Busines
If you have been granted a Residence Permit specifically to look for work or investigate the possibilities of starting your own business, you are permitted to start working before a decision is made on your Work Permit application.
- Crucial Condition: This exemption only applies if the person applies for a Work Permit while their current permit is still valid, and the work must be within the specific occupation and for the employer detailed in the Work Permit application.
- Read more about this type of residence permit at: [Read more about this type of residence permit at link] (Insert relevant link here)
Specific Occupational Groups with Time-Limited Exemptions
Individuals in the following professional groups can work in Sweden without a Work Permit for a limited time:
| Occupational Group | Maximum Duration |
| Specialist in an international group | Less than one year |
| Employee in an international group participating in skills development | Maximum of three months in total |
| Participant in a business deal | Maximum of three months in total |
| Installers or technical instructors in crisis situations | Maximum of two months |
| Persons on temporary assignment for radio or TV | Maximum of one month |
| Artists, technicians and other tour staff (at the invitation of an established arranger) | Maximum of 14 days |
| Professional athletes and officials | Maximum of three months in total |
| Drivers and staff on tourist coaches | Maximum of three months |
| Researchers or teachers in higher education for a brief period | Maximum of three months in total |
| Researchers performing part of their research in Sweden | Maximum of 180 days |
| Caregiver for a visitor | Maximum of three months |
| Residence permit for mobility studies tied to higher education | Maximum of 360 days |
| Diplomatic and consular officials and their family/staff, Train personnel/lorry drivers, Representatives working temporarily in Sweden, Temporary work in connection with construction, Journalists working temporarily in Sweden, Witnesses/injured parties in a criminal investigation, Person participating in a relief effort, Member or civilian personnel of a foreign armed force, People covered by the Defence Cooperation Agreement between Sweden and the United States | No specific time limit stated (Varies based on assignment) |
⚠️ Important Caveats and Recommendations
- Self-Assessment Required: It is the applicant, alone or together with their employer, who must determine if they are covered by an exemption. The Swedish Migration Agency cannot confirm this in advance.
- Recommendation: “In case of the slightest uncertainty, we strongly recommend that you apply for a work permit.”
- Entry Visa Check: Keep in mind that citizens of certain countries require an Entry Visa to travel to Sweden, even if they are exempt from the work permit requirement.
- Countries whose citizens require an entry visa to travel to Sweden: [External link.] (Insert relevant link here)
