You want to apply for a work permit because your application for asylum has been rejected, but you are employed by an employer in Sweden. You can apply for a residence permit for your family members at the same time.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, you will in most cases need a permit to work in Sweden.
If you are going to work in Sweden, you need a work permit regardless of whether you are employed in Sweden or abroad, if you are employed by a temporary employment agency that hires out labour to a business in Sweden, or if you have been transferred within a group.
In order for you to be granted a work permit, your employment must meet all the requirements. You cannot combine two or more jobs in order to meet the requirements.
If your application for asylum has been rejected, then to be granted a work permit, you must meet the following requirements:
You must have a valid passport
You must have had an exemption from the work permit requirement (AT-UND) while you were an asylum seeker
To be granted a work permit after your asylum application has been rejected, you must have started working during your time as an asylum seeker, and have had an exemption from the work permit requirement known as “AT-UND” (a certificate stating that you are exempt from the obligation to have a work permit).
You must have been employed by the same employer for the past four months before you apply
Your employment must continue for at least 12 months into the future
Your application must be received by the Swedish Migration Agency on time
Your application for a work permit must have been submitted and your application fee must have been paid no later than two weeks after the decision rejecting your application for asylum entered into force (became legally binding).
You must have the right terms and conditions of employment
Your salary/wages and other working conditions must be at least on par with Swedish collective agreements or common practice in your profession or industry.
Your employer must have taken out insurance for you
By the time you started your job, your employer must have taken out health insurance, life insurance, industrial injuries insurance, and occupational pension insurance for you. The requirements must have been met during the past four months of your employment.
Your employment must enable you to make a good living
This means that you must have a monthly salary or wages totalling at least 80 percent of the median salary published by Statistics Sweden (SCB) that applied when you submitted your application.
To be considered to be making a good living, you must have a monthly salary/wages of at least SEK 28,480. This corresponds to 80 percent of the current median salary that Statistics Sweden publishes in June of each year.
Read about the current median salary on Statistics Sweden’s website (in Swedish)
External link.
Your monthly salary/wages must also be in line with collective agreements or with common practice in your profession or industry. This means that your salary/wages may need to be higher than 80 percent of the median salary.
Read more on the page A good living – maintenance requirement for work permits
Make sure that your employer has the correct information about you
Your employer needs information about your name, date of birth, citizenship and email address. They will use this information when they start your application for a work permit.
It is important that you have access to the email address that you give to your employer until you have received a decision about your application. The Swedish Migration Agency will use this email address when we contact you.
Translate documents
All submitted documents should be in Swedish or English. If you have translated your documents, the translation should be certified. You must also include a copy of the document in its original language.
Make sure that the information on your submitted documents is clearly visible.
Correctly made copies of your passport
You can never be granted a permit for longer than your passport is valid.
If the Swedish Migration Agency has taken possession of your passport during the asylum process and if we still have it, you do not need to send in a copy of the passport together with your application.
Employment contract
It must be signed by both you and your employer.
Pay slips
For the past four months.
A representative can apply for you, if you grant them power of attorney. In that case, the person who applies for you must attach a copy of the power of attorney to your application.
Power of attorney (107011)
Pdf, 1.1 MB.
More about power of attorney
Correctly made copies of each family member’s passport
Your family member can never be granted a residence permit for longer than their passport is valid.
If the Swedish Migration Agency has taken possession of your family member’s passport during the asylum process, they do not need to send in a copy of the passport.
Documents showing your relationship
If you are married: marriage certificate, marriage record, or similar document.
If you are cohabiting partners: documents showing that you have lived together, such as population registration certificates, a joint rental contract, or proof of the joint purchase of a home.
Documents showing that you meet the maintenance requirement
Documents that show that your income is sufficient to financially support you and your family.
You can act as a representative for your family members over the age of 18 and apply on their behalf. To do this, you must have a power of attorney and attach it to the application.
Power of attorney (107011) Pdf, 1.1 MB.
More about power of attorney
Birth record or birth certificate stating the names of the child’s parents
Sole custody decision
If you have sole custody of your child, you must attach a court decision to this effect. If the other parent is deceased, you must submit a death certificate.
Consent that the child may move to Sweden
If a child has two parents/legal guardians and the child’s other parent/legal guardian will be remaining in their country of origin, you must attach a statement of consent from the other parent/legal guardian to the application. You must also attach a copy of the other parent or legal guardian’s passport or other identity document.
Consent for a child to settle in Sweden (217011) Pdf, 1.1 MB.
Adoption documents, if your child is adopted
2025-03-06
Changes for those residing in Cyprus who wish to apply for residence and work permit
From 17 March 2025 the Swedish embassy in Nicosia will no longer handle migration matters. If you are a citizen of Cyprus, you should instead contact the Swedish embassy in Athens, Greece. The same applies for non-Cypriot legal residents of Cyprus.
2025-03-05
The Swedish Migration Agency's new website has now been launched
On 5 March, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a completely new version of migrationsverket.se, with a new structure and a more user-friendly navigation. The purpose of the new website is primarily to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.
2025-02-07
Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are now part of the Schengen area. Legal residents of these countries shall, from 24 February 2025 turn to one of the five Schengen hubs for migration related matters.
2025-02-07
As from 10 March, 2025, the embassy in Sarajevo will no longer handle migration related matters. Instead, you should turn to the Swedish embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia.
2025-01-07
New EU Blue Card rules now apply
As of 1 January, new requirements and rules apply for anyone who wants to apply for an EU Blue Card and existing Blue Card holders.
2024-12-20
As of 3 February 2025, residents of Serbia and Montenegro should contact the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje, North Macedonia for applications for residence and work permits.
