Work permits for athletes and coaches
This is information for people who are citizens of a non-EU country and who have a contract with a club or association that is affiliated with the Swedish Sports Confederation.
Requirements for work permit
To obtain a permit, you must
- have a valid passport (if your passport is about to expire, you should extend it because you are not able to get a permit for longer than your passport is valid)
- play at least in Division 1 (for men) or in Damallsvenskan or Elitettan (for women) if you are a football player. The same requirements apply if you are going to work as a football coach
- play or coach in Basketligan or Basketettan (for women and men) if you are a basketball player. The same requirements apply if you are going to work as a basketball coach
- play or coach in Svenska hockeyligan (SHL), Hockeyallsvenskan or Hockeyettan (for men) and Damhockeyligan (for women) if you are a hockey player. The same requirements apply if you are going to work as a hockey coach
- you have a written contract with a club or association in Sweden that is affiliated with the Swedish Sports Confederation, signed by both parties
- have been offered a monthly salary of at least SEK 14,300 before tax
- have a health and accident insurance that is consistent with what is customary in your sport and at your level
- The Swedish Sports Confederation must certify that your employment is of vital importance for the positive development of the sport.
Requirements for using the e-service
In order to use the e-service, you need
- to get an email from your employer with a link that will take you to the e-service
- copies of the pages of your passport that show your personal data, photograph, signature, passport number, issuing country, period of validity and if you have permission to stay in countries other than your home country
- be able to pay the application fee by credit card
- a contract with information about your salary (in Swedish crowns), insurance and the validity period of the contract. The contract must be signed by the club and yourself.
- pay slips or statements of earnings and deductions if you have had a work permit for the last twelve-month period (you must submit details for the entire period you have had the permit).
As a professional sportsperson or sports official, you can participate in international competitions for a maximum of three months over a period of 12 months without a work permit. However, citizens in some countries need a visa to enter Sweden.
Countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Sweden
External link, opens in new window.
You must show your passport
The Swedish Migration Agency must check your passport before a decision can be made. You may therefore need to show your passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general if you are outside Sweden, or one of the Migration Agency's service centres if you are in Sweden.
In some cases, you can have your passport checked digitally, instead of showing it in person.
Read more about the digital passport check e-service
In some cases, you will not be required to show your passport, for example, if we have already checked your passport during a previous visit.
If you need to show your passport, we will contact you with information on how and when to do so.
If you need an entry visa or residence permit card to travel to Sweden, you will in most cases have your fingerprints taken and be photographed when you show your passport at an embassy or consulate-general.
If your family also applies for a residence permit, the Swedish Migration Agency must check their passports as well. The requirement to show your passport in person does not apply to children under the age of five, it is sufficient that the parent brings the child's passport to the visit. However, if the child needs a residence permit card, they must come along to be photographed for it.
Be photographed and have your fingerprints taken
If you are granted a permit for more than three months, you will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof that you have permission to be in Sweden and contains, among other things, your fingerprints and photograph.
If you need a visa to travel to Sweden, you must go to the Swedish embassy or consulate-general to have your photograph and fingerprints taken as soon as possible, if you did not do this in connection with showing your passport. You need to do this even if you have previously had a residence permit card, as your photo and fingerprints are not saved.
If you do not need a visa, you must book an appointment to have your fingerprints and photograph taken once you have arrived in Sweden.
Read more about residence permit cards
Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.
The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate-general you stated in your application. You must take your passport with you when you go to get your decision. You can get a permit for the same period as your contract or for maximum two years at a time but never for longer than your passport is valid. The permit applies only for work for the club that has offered you a job and within the sport specified in the contract. If you are going to continue to work in Sweden or change your club, you must apply to extend your permit.
Once the residence permit card is ready, the embassy or consulate-general will issue or send it to you. Please note that it may take up to four weeks to manufacture and deliver the card to the embassy or consulate-general after you have received your decision. When you enter Sweden, you must present the residence permit card along with a valid passport.
If you have a permit for less than three months, you must present the decision together with your passport when you travel to Sweden.
If you can travel to Sweden without a visa, you should be able to present a copy of the decision when you enter the country. You must book an appointment to have your fingerprints and photograph taken as soon as possible after coming to Sweden. Once your residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to your address in Sweden.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.
The Swedish Institute's website about Sweden External link, opens in new window.
Information for people with a residence permit who have just moved to Sweden
If the Swedish Migration Agency rejects your application
If the Swedish Migration Agency rejects your application, it means you are not entitled to a residence permit for Sweden. You may lodge an appeal against the decision within three weeks of the date when you received notification of the decision. Information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in your decision. If you have given someone a power of attorney document that authorises him/her to represent you, this person is able to lodge an appeal on your behalf.
If you are still in Sweden when your application is rejected, you must leave the country within the timescale given in the decision.
Important information about insurance
If you need to seek medical care in Sweden, you may need to pay for the care yourself if you are not registered in Sweden in the Population Register, and do not have a Swedish Personal Identity Number. If you register in the Swedish Population Register, you can also be registered with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, and covered by the country’s social insurance.
To be registered in the Swedish Population Register and receive a Swedish Personal Identity Number, you generally need to have been granted at least a one-year residence permit in Sweden, and you generally need to be planning to live here for one year or longer. Therefore, you should register in the Population Register as soon as possible after moving to Sweden.
Information about how to register at the Swedish Tax Agency External link, opens in new window.
If you are not able to apply online, fill in the form Application for Swedish work permit, 149011, and submit it to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in the country where you live. The application form states which documents you must enclose. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before submitting your application.
Application for Swedish work permit, form 149011
Pdf, 851.7 kB, opens in new window.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.
If it is not possible for you to apply in your home country, you must apply to the embassy or consulate-general that is closest to the country where you live. Before submitting your application, you must contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information.
If you apply at an embassy or consulate-general, you pay the fee when you submit your application. For information about the fee, contact the embassy or consulate in question since they do not follow the same fee regulations as the Swedish Migration Agency.
If want to extend your permit
If you are going to apply to extend your permit, fill in the form Application for Swedish work permit, 148011 (in Swedish). The application form states which documents you must enclose.
Send the application to
Migrationsverket
Box 3100
903 03 Umeå
Application for Swedish work permit, form 148011 (in Swedish) Pdf, 855.2 kB, opens in new window.
In most cases, you will pay a fee.
