Immigration & International Mobility
International Mobility and Immigration Law
Our Immigration and International Mobility practice advises employers, entrepreneurs, families and individuals on the right to enter, live and work in Sweden. We assist companies that recruit from abroad or relocate staff to Sweden, and individuals who wish to work, establish a business or live with family in the country. Swedish immigration law is administrative and procedural, and its requirements are applied strictly and change from time to time. We help clients to identify the correct type of permit or right, to prepare complete applications, to understand the obligations that follow a grant, and to plan the timing of a move, so that the legal position is secure before work or residence begins.
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Our Expertise
The right to enter Sweden, the right to reside and the right to work are related but distinct questions, and an offer of a job, a board appointment or a company registration does not by itself answer them. Those who treat the offer as the answer risk delays, refused applications or, worse, a period of work or residence without proper permission. Our work is to separate the questions and answer each one properly, before commitments are made.
We advise employers that recruit non-EU nationals and need to understand their obligations in the application process and during employment, and we advise individuals, founders and families on their own applications. For EU and EEA nationals we advise on rights of residence and on the practical steps of registration. Our advice takes account of the nationality, the purpose and the expected duration of the stay.
Mobility affects more than a permit. It touches the employment contract, the employer’s obligations, social-security and tax questions, and the family’s circumstances. Where a matter calls for it, we coordinate with our employment and corporate practices and encourage clients to take tax and social-security advice in parallel.
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How We Can Assist
We support employers and individuals through each stage of the immigration process, from planning to the follow-up after a decision.
Swedish work permits
We advise on work-permit applications for employees from outside the EU/EEA, including the conditions concerning the offer of employment, the salary and terms of employment, insurance and the employer’s role in the application. We also advise on extensions and on changes of employer or occupation during the validity of a permit.
Residence permits
We advise on the different categories of residence permit, including permits based on work, self-employment, study and ties to a person in Sweden, and on permanent residence. We help clients to identify the category that matches their circumstances and to assemble the documents it requires.
Business immigration
Founders and business owners who wish to live and work in Sweden need to consider permits for self-employed persons, work permits for employment in their own companies, and the way the company structure interacts with the permit. We advise on these matters together with the corporate steps of establishing the business.
Employer-related immigration matters
We advise employers on their obligations as sponsors of work permits: the terms of employment offered, compliance with collective agreements or customary terms, the duty to report changes, and the consequences of non-compliance, including the possibility that applications are refused on account of the employer’s own shortcomings.
International recruitment
We help companies plan the recruitment of international talent, including the timeline from offer to arrival, the sequencing of the employment contract and the permit application, intra-company transfers, and the information to be given to the incoming employee.
Family-related residence matters
We advise on applications by spouses, partners and children who wish to accompany or join a person in Sweden, including the requirements concerning the relationship, the sponsor’s circumstances and the evidence to be submitted, and on what happens to the family members’ permits when the sponsor’s situation changes.
Mobility involving EU and non-EU nationals
We advise on the rights of EU and EEA nationals and their family members to live and work in Sweden, the conditions on which family members who are non-EU nationals may join them, and the registration steps that follow. We also consider situations in which a person holds permissions in more than one country.
Administrative immigration processes
We assist clients with the interaction with the Swedish Migration Agency and other authorities, including preparation of applications, responses to requests for further information, and, where a decision is unfavourable, advice on whether and how it may be appealed.
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Swedish and International Legal Considerations
Swedish immigration rules are set by statute and by government and agency decisions, and they change frequently. The Swedish Migration Agency’s website is the authoritative source for current requirements.
Official legal sources
The Aliens Act (utlänningslagen (2005:716))
The Aliens Act is the principal statute on the entry, residence and work of non-Swedish nationals. It regulates permits, the grounds on which a permit may be granted, extended or revoked, and the right of appeal. Applications are decided by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).
Work permits
A non-EU national who wishes to work in Sweden generally needs a work permit. From 1 June 2026, the salary offered must amount to at least 90 per cent of the median salary in Sweden at the time of application, and the terms of employment must be at least on a par with collective agreements or what is customary in the occupation or industry. Certain occupations are subject to lower thresholds. The Migration Agency may also refuse an application because of shortcomings on the part of the employer, and employees who will stay for no longer than a year must have comprehensive health insurance.
EU and EEA nationals
Citizens of EU and EEA countries have a right of residence in Sweden under EU free-movement rules and do not need a work permit. Their family members may have derivative rights, and non-EU family members may need to apply for a residence card.
Appeals
A decision of the Swedish Migration Agency can generally be appealed to a migration court within a short time limit, three weeks from the date on which the applicant received the decision. A further appeal to the Migration Court of Appeal requires leave.
Immigration and employment law
A permit does not displace the rules of employment law. An employee who holds a work permit has the same statutory protection as any other employee, and the employer remains bound by its obligations under the Employment Protection Act and any applicable collective agreement.
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Our Approach
An immigration matter depends on the facts of the person and the offer. We begin with the person.
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Establishing the facts
We establish the person’s nationality, the purpose and duration of the proposed stay, the employer or business involved and any family members who will accompany or join them.
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Identifying the correct permit or right
We determine which category of permit or right applies, whether an application is required before or after arrival, and what documents and conditions the category involves.
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Checking the employer’s position
Where an employer is involved, we review the terms of employment offered, the employer’s obligations and any risk that could affect the application.
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Preparing and submitting the application
We prepare the application and supporting documents, coordinate with the employer and the applicant, and respond to requests from the authority.
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Following up after the decision
We advise on the conditions attached to the decision, on extensions and changes in circumstances, and, where necessary, on appeals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a work permit to work in Sweden?
Citizens of EU and EEA countries do not need a work permit, although they may need to register for certain purposes. Nationals of other countries generally do need a work permit before beginning work, issued by the Swedish Migration Agency on the application of the employer and the employee. We help to determine which applies in your situation.
What salary must an employer offer to obtain a work permit?
For first-time applications decided on or after 1 June 2026, the monthly salary must amount to at least 90 per cent of the median salary in Sweden, and the terms of employment must also at least match collective agreements or common practice in the occupation. The Migration Agency publishes the current amount, and transitional rules apply to certain extensions. We check the current requirement before advising on an offer.
Can my family come with me to Sweden?
In many cases, yes. Spouses, partners and children of a work-permit holder can generally apply for residence permits, subject to the conditions of the law and the length of the permit holder’s own permit. EU and EEA nationals’ family members have separate rights under EU law. We advise on the application and on the order in which applications should be submitted.
How long does a work-permit application take?
The processing time is determined by the Swedish Migration Agency, varies over time and depends on the type of case and the completeness of the application. We can explain the steps and help to avoid delays caused by incomplete documents, but we cannot guarantee a processing time or a decision.
Can I start my business in Sweden if I am not an EU citizen?
It may be possible, subject to a permit for self-employment or a work permit based on employment by your own company. The authorities examine the nature and viability of the business and the applicant’s means of support. We advise on the corporate structure and on the application together.
What can I do if my application is refused?
A decision of the Migration Agency can generally be appealed to a migration court, and the time limit for appeal is short. We review the reasons for the decision, advise on whether an appeal is likely to be worthwhile and, where appropriate, on whether a new application would be better.
The information provided here is general in nature and is not legal advice. It does not consider any particular document or circumstance. Swedish and EU rules change, and official texts should be read in the version in force.
Immigration & International Mobility
Discuss Your Legal Matter
If you are planning to recruit internationally, move to Sweden or bring your family, write to us at info@smartlawafab.com with your nationality, the proposed activity and any decision you have already received. We will consider your enquiry and reply by email.