A Guide for HR Professionals
Hiring international talent is a crucial part of today’s global job market. But for HR professionals, it also comes with the responsibility of understanding and managing Sweden’s immigration regulations. This guide covers everything you need to know about work permits in Sweden.
How to Apply for a Work Permit
The process starts with a formal job offer that meets Swedish collective agreement standards. Once the offer is secured, the application is submitted through the Swedish Migration Agency’s online portal, ideally with the support of an expert partner to ensure faster processing and fewer mistakes.
How Long Does It Take?
For highly qualified roles, you can typically expect a processing time of 10 to 30 days from the date the application is submitted. However, it may take longer during peak vacation periods, such as summer, Easter, or Christmas, but in recent years, processing has remained fairly stable even during those times. Other categories of workers often face longer wait times.
What Documents Are Required?
- Employment offer
- Passport copy
- Proof of insurance
- Job advertisement
- Union statement (fackligt yttrande)
- Power of attorney (if using a representative)
HR’s Responsibilities
As the employer, you are responsible for ensuring that the terms of employment meet Swedish standards, that the employee is registered with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) upon starting, and that employment conditions are monitored throughout the contract.
Mistakes here can lead to serious consequences. While the Migration Agency does offer some customer service, we often see companies receive unclear or incomplete information. And crucially, the agency does not take responsibility for errors made on the employer side.
It’s almost always easier (and safer) to do it right from the start than to try and fix an application that fails to meet the requirements. Working proactively with the right expertise ensures a smoother process for both the company and the new hire.
What’s Happening at the Migration Agency Today?
As of spring 2025, we are seeing an increasing number of companies flagged by the Swedish Migration Agency as non-compliant employers. This can happen due to various mistakes, either at the time of application or during the employment period. The intention behind this stricter review is to combat exploitation and misuse of employment terms. However, many of these mistakes are unintentional and come from misunderstandings rather than bad intent.
Currently, it’s unclear how long a flagged company might be restricted from hiring international talent, as there is no formal precedent yet. We have, however, observed cases where companies were blocked for extended periods, and the Migration Agency has stated that, in some situations, a company may permanently lose the right to sponsor work permits.
One concerning trend is that some companies let their employees handle the application process themselves. This is highly risky for both the individual and the employer. These applications are complex, and it is unrealistic to expect an employee to manage it successfully without professional support.
How Nimmersion Supports You
At Nimmersion, our job is to help clients avoid these situations entirely. We take responsibility for guiding you through the entire process, ensuring every requirement is met, connecting you with the right suppliers and platforms, and providing strategic advice.
It’s not just about compliance; it’s also an important part of employer branding. Companies that take responsibility for the process, not leaving it to the employee who doesn’t have the right expertise, send a clear message about how they support their international hires.