Moving to Sweden
3 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Freelance or your own business
Sweden self-employed permit
Residence permit for self-employed people (own business)
Experienced business owners who will run and own at least 51% of a business in Sweden and already have customers or networks.
- What you need
- Money for living costs for 2 years in a bank account in your name (abroad is fine); add SEK 100,000 for a spouse and SEK 50,000 per child (SEK 200,000 a lump_sum)
- Own funds for running costs, investments or buying a business; loans normally not accepted
- Good experience in the industry and in running your own business; own at least 51% and run it yourself; established customer contacts
- Relevant Swedish or English; very good Swedish if dealing mostly with Swedish customers/suppliers
- Not for
- Freelancers serving only foreign clients without a real Swedish business
- Business plans funded by loans
- People without business-ownership experience
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Apply online; biometrics at a Swedish embassy/consulate where you live.
- How long it takes
- Not published for complete applications (too few decisions); 75% of incomplete applications decided within 11 months.
- First permit
- Up to 2 years
- Renewal
- Extendable if the business is profitable and lasting.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 2 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Spouse and children can get permits for the same period; extra SEK 100,000 spouse, SEK 50,000 per child.
A job offer
Sweden EU Blue Card
EU Blue Card (EU-blåkort)
Highly qualified employees with a degree (or equivalent experience) and a high-paying Swedish job offer who want EU mobility rights.
- What you need
- Monthly salary threshold (unchanged on 1 June 2026) (SEK 53,625 a month)
- Higher education or equivalent professional experience; employment contract (details not verified here)
- Not for
- Self-employed or remote workers
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Online application; first-time applicants generally apply from abroad.
- How long it takes
- Not stated in the source checked.
- First permit
- Up to 4 years (from 1 June 2026)
- Renewal
- Extendable.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 4 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Family can accompany (details not verified).
A job offer
Sweden work permit
Work permit for employees (arbetstillstånd)
People with a signed Swedish employment contract paying at least 90% of the Swedish median salary.
- What you need
- Monthly salary at least 90% of the median salary (applications from 16 June 2026), and in line with collective agreements or industry practice (SEK 34,470 a month)
- Exempt groups (listed occupations by SSYK code, students/researchers switching, some health professionals, staff of young tech/life-science start-ups): 75% of median (SEK 28,725 a month)
- Employer must provide health, life, occupational injury and pension insurance; for employment of 1 year or less you need comprehensive health insurance
- Not for
- Remote workers for foreign employers
- Jobs paying under the threshold
- First-time applicants already in Sweden (must apply from abroad)
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Employer starts the online application; first-time applicants apply from outside Sweden and visit the Swedish embassy/consulate-general where they live (for the US, Washington DC or a VFS centre).
- How long it takes
- 75% of complete applications decided within 4 months (9 months if incomplete); shorter for highly qualified workers (Migrationsverket).
- First permit
- Up to 2 years (never longer than the contract or passport)
- Renewal
- Extendable. Transitional rule: holders under the old rules who extend between 1 June and 1 December 2026 need only 80% of median (SEK 29,680).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 4 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Spouse/partner and children under 21 can apply together; you must show you can support them.