Employing a researcher

A researcher, who is a citizen of a country outside the EU and wants to work in Sweden, is exempt from the requirement of a work permit, but needs a residence permit.

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Requi­re­ments for resi­dence permit

The researcher applies for a residence permit him- or herself, but if you want to employ a researcher, you must

  • be approved as a research principal by the Swedish Research Council External link, opens in new window.
  • complete the form Hosting agreement for visiting researchers in Sweden, number 231011, which must be signed by you and the researcher
  • send the hosting agreement to the researcher who must submit it together with his or her application for a residence permit.

Hosting agreement for visiting researchers in Sweden, form number 231011 Pdf, 736 kB, opens in new window.

For work that lasts less than three months, no residence permit is needed. However, citizens of certain countries need a visa.

A researcher who has a residence permit for research in another EU country does not need a residence permit for research in Sweden that is conducted for a maximum of 180 days during a 360-day period. If the research is to be conducted for a longer time, the researcher needs a residence permit for research in mobility for an extended stay. The researcher can apply for such a permit while he or she is in Sweden.

Countries whose citizens must have a visa for Sweden External link, opens in new window.

The researcher’s permit must be issued before travelling to Sweden. A person who is in Sweden with a permit for studies can, however, apply online while he or she is in Sweden. People who have a residence permit for research in another EU country and who are to conduct part of their research in Sweden can submit their application while they are in Sweden.

People who have a residence permit for research in another EU country can begin conducting research directly if

  • the researcher’s residence permit in the other EU country is still valid and
  • the researcher has not already been in Sweden to conduct research for a maximum of 180 days in the past 360 days.

Read more about what applies for researchers

Requi­re­ments for the rese­ar­cher to be able to use the e-service

In order for the researcher to be able to use the e-service, you as the employer need to

  • send the hosting agreement (the researcher must send in the hosting agreement with his or her application).

A researcher is a person who has a PhD or is qualified to begin doctoral studies and has been invited by a research principal that is approved by the Swedish Research Council to conduct research in Sweden. A research principal can be a Swedish university, institution or a company.

People admitted to doctoral studies in Sweden to earn their PhD here or those who intend to conduct a part of their research studies in Sweden are not counted as researchers. Anyone who has been admitted to doctoral studies in Sweden to earn their PhD must apply for a residence permit as a student. Anyone admitted to doctoral studies in a different country who will conduct part of their studies in Sweden must instead apply for a residence permit for visitors.

Read more about applying for a residence permit as a student

Read more about applying for a residence permit as a visitor

When a decision is made, a copy is sent to you, which states if the permit has been granted or not. If you want access to the reasons for the decision, you need an authorisation from the researcher. If the person is granted a permit, it is valid for the same period that the hosting agreement covers, but never longer than the validity of the person’s passport. A person with a residence permit as a researcher is exempt from the requirement of a work permit and may thereby work somewhere else alongside of his or her research.

People who are granted a permit for three months or more also receive a residence permit card that is handed out by the embassy or consulate-general. The card must be presented together with the passport upon entry and is proof of the right to be in Sweden. It takes up to four weeks to manufacture and deliver the card.

Read more about residence permit cards

If the Swedish Migra­tion Agency denies the appli­ca­tion

A decision on a work permit can be appealed within three weeks. Information on how to appeal is provided in the researcher’s decision.

When you employ someone from a country outside the EU, you must inform the Swedish Tax Agency. You do this by filling in the form "Notification – Employment of a Foreigner SKV 1160" stating the name, address and period of employment of the person who is going to work for you. The form can be found on the Swedish Tax Agency’s website.

Form for notifying the Swedish Tax Agency External link, opens in new window.

You must save copies of documents that show that the person has the right to be and work in Sweden. The documents must be archived for the entire period of employment and 12 months after the end of the employment.

If the hosting agreement is extended, the researcher must apply to extend his or her permit. If after four years there is still a hosting agreement, the researcher may be granted a permanent residence permit.

Read more about applying for a permanent residence permit for a researcher

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