Sweden is open for business, but securing a Residence Permit for Self-Employed People requires careful planning and robust documentation. If you aim to launch or run your own business in the Scandinavian country, you must meet stringent requirements covering finances, experience, business ownership, and language skills.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the requirements and the critical documents you need to prepare for a successful application. Family members wishing to join you must apply simultaneously.
Core Requirements for the Self-Employed Permit
To be granted this permit, the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) assesses your overall capacity to successfully run a business and support yourself in Sweden.
1. Experience and Knowledge
You must demonstrate good experience in your industry and in managing your own business.
- Language Proficiency: You need relevant knowledge of Swedish or English. If your business involves significant contact with Swedish customers or suppliers, you must show very good knowledge of Swedish.
2. Ownership and Responsibility
The application hinges on your central role in the company:
- You must be the person running the business and have crucial responsibility for its operations.
- You must own at least 51 percent of the business.
3. Business and Financial Credibility
Your business plan must be financially viable:
- Credible Budget: The Migration Agency will conduct a financial assessment of your business plans, requiring a credible basis for your budget.
- Established Network: You must prove you have established customer contacts or networks to ensure the business’s immediate viability.
- Business Funds: You must possess sufficient funds to cover the expected costs, investments, and purchase (if applicable) of the business. Critically, these must be your own money; loans are generally not accepted.
4. Personal Maintenance Requirement
You must demonstrate the ability to financially support yourself and any accompanying family for two years. This is a non-negotiable requirement:
- Primary Applicant: At least SEK 200,000 in a bank account in your name.
- Accompanying Spouse: An additional SEK 100,000.
- Each Accompanying Child: An additional SEK 50,000 per child.
The bank account does not have to be in Sweden, but the funds must be transferable to the country.
Essential Documents to Prepare Before You Apply
Submitting a complete and correctly prepared application is vital for a smooth process.
I. General & Financial Documentation
- Valid Passport Copies: Correctly made copies of your valid passport are required. (Note: The permit cannot be granted for longer than your passport’s validity.)
- Proof of Financial Support (Personal):
- Bank statements from the last three months.
- Bank certificates/statements showing the funds for two years of support (SEK 200,000 for you, plus funds for family).
- Proof of Business Funds: Bank certificates/statements showing sufficient money for running costs, investments, and the purchase price (if buying an existing business).
- Business Documentation:
- Certificate of incorporation for your Swedish business.
- Partnership agreement/share register (if applicable).
- Contracts with customers, suppliers, and business premises.
- Balance sheet and profit and loss statement (for the current year up to the previous month).
- Annual Accounts/Reports: The two most recent ones, if the business has been previously active.
- Purchase Contract and proof of payment, if you have bought or are buying the business.
- Certificate of incorporation for any companies you have or have previously had outside Sweden.
II. Qualification & Language Documentation
- Language Skills Proof: Course certificates or other proof of your Swedish or English language proficiency at the required level.
- Educational Diplomas: Degree certificates/diplomas from completed education programs.
- Employment History: Employer’s certificates from your previous employers.
III. Translation and Submission Logistics
- Certified Translations: All documents submitted must be in Swedish or English. If you provide a translation, it must be certified, and you must include a copy of the document in its original language.
- Embassy Selection: You must state in your application which embassy you intend to visit to present your passport, as not all Swedish missions handle migration cases.
👨👩👧👦 Documents for Accompanying Family Members
If your family is applying with you, ensure you include these documents for them:
- Passport Copies: Correctly made copies of each family member’s valid passport.
- Relationship Documents:
- Spouse: Marriage certificate or similar document.
- Cohabiting Partners: Documents proving you have lived together (e.g., population registration certificates, joint rental contract, or joint home purchase proof).
- Maintenance Proof: Bank statements showing the full required maintenance funds (SEK 200,000 + SEK 100,000 + SEK 50,000 per child).
For Accompanying Children (Under 18):
- Birth Documents: Birth record or birth certificate stating the parents’ names.
- Sole Custody: A court decision, or a death certificate if the other parent is deceased.
- Consent: If the other parent/legal guardian remains in the home country, a signed statement of consent is mandatory, along with a copy of the other parent’s ID. You can use the form: Consent for a child to settle in Sweden (217011) [Pdf, 1.1 MB.]
