Residence and work permits for berry pickers
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and plan on coming to Sweden to pick berries, you need a residence and work permit. The permit must be issued before you travel to Sweden.
If you as a private person want to work as a berry picker in Sweden, you must apply for a residence and work permit for seasonal work.
Read more about applying for a residence and work permit for seasonal work
If you have a representative who is applying for a residence and work permit for you, it is the representative who manages the contact with the Swedish Migration Agency.
Read more about applying for a residence and work permit as a representative for berry pickers
If you are employed by a foreign staffing agency
A Swedish company can buy the berry picking service from a foreign company. The foreign company that has employed you must have a branch in Sweden. It is the client or the employer in Sweden that must guarantee what terms of employment apply during your employment. If you are employed by a foreign staffing agency that does not have operations in Sweden, it is the staffing services agreement that shall be applied. This applies regardless of whether a collective agreement has been signed or not.
The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) has decided that the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union (SKAF) shall have the organisation and agreement right for you as a berry picker. This means that it is SKAF that will be given an opportunity to make a statement on the terms of employment.
Your rights as a berry picker in Sweden
There are special requirements on anyone who employs a person to work in the berry picking industry. This applies regardless of whether the person will pick berries or work as an interpreter, cook, mechanic or any other form of support to the berry pickers.
Among other things, the company must pay the salary you have been offered even if there are not many berries and/or if you do not manage to pick enough berries to cover your salary.
Everyone who works in Sweden is entitled to good working conditions. It does not matter if you are a Swedish citizen or if you work here for a limited period of time – you still have a right to having good conditions at work. Therefore it is important that you know what rights you have.
You can find more information about your rights at the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
Swedish Work Environment Authority website
External link, opens in new window.
It is important that you personally find out what terms of employment apply in the information about the employment you have received.
If problems arise with your employer in Sweden, you can try to contact the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union.
Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union website External link, opens in new window.
The Migration Agency may withdraw a permit
Your permit may be withdrawn
- if, in your application, you provided incorrect information or did not mention something that was significant in regards to your residence permit
- if the requirements for the permit are no longer met – for example, if you are no longer working, or if the terms of employment are no longer met
- if you have not started your employment within four months of the first day of validity of the permit.
The Migration Agency cannot help you if your employer or client does not meet the conditions of the employment offer. Try to contact the Swedish Municipal Workers' Union. External link, opens in new window.