Sweden Job Seeker Visa 2024- Key Requirement & Process

Sweden is one of the key destinations for the skilled professionals looking to live and work abroad. Earlier, Sweden was not issuing any permit to allow people to come to Sweden to find a job and setup their own business. However, in the month of June 2022, Swedish government has introduced a Residence permit for highly qualified persons to look for work or start a business, i.e. Sweden job seeker visa.

What is Sweden Job Seeker Visa?

This new Swedish visa allows people to seek for a job in Sweden. This job seeker visa will be valid for minimum 3 months; however, can be granted for a maximum of 9 months.

Key requirements for Sweden Job Seeker Visa

To be eligible to apply for this permit, you:

• You must have an advanced degree (master’s degree, PhD, advanced vocational degree/professional degree)
• Have the intent of seeking job or looking into the possibility of starting your own business in Sweden
• should be capable to support yourself money-wise during the whole residence period
• need to have a comprehensive health insurance
• must have a passport that is valid for the whole period of intended stay
• Must be located outside of Sweden

What is an advanced level degree?

As already mentioned, to apply for job seeker visa travel to Sweden, you need an advanced degree. Your degree will be considered as advanced level, if it corresponds any of the following:

• a 60-credit Master’s degree,
• a 120-credit Master's degree,
• a professional degree worth 60-330 credits, or
• A postgraduate/PhD-level degree.

While submitting the application, you need to provide a letter granting the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) the right to contact your educational institution to validate the educational documents you have submitted.

The Swedish Migration Agency sends your documents to UHR, so that they can assess your level of education. The Agency cannot answer questions about the level of your degree before you have made your application. This permit is a first step towards the work permit, i.e. Sweden work visa.

Use e- services to make application

To make an application, you require,

• digital copies of the pages in your passport that show your personal data, photo, signature, passport number, issuing country, period of validity, entry stamps and if you have permission to live in countries other than your country of origin
• digital copies of examination certificate
• digital copies of official transcript of academic record that shows the courses included in your education
• Digital copies of bank statements or other documents showing that you have enough funds to support yourself during the period for which you are applying for a residence permit, i.e. the bank assets equivalent to at least SEK 13,000 for each month. Moreover, you should also have money to be able to pay your travel home.
• If permission from a central bank or the equivalent is required to take out the funds from your country, you must include such a permit
• digital copies of documents showing that you have comprehensive health insurance that is valid for care in Sweden
• digital copy of a signed letter of consent that gives the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) the right to contact higher education institutions in your home country to verify your educational documents
• Be able to pay any fee for the application by credit card or debit card.

When you need to translate documents?

Since the skilled professionals in India enquire a lot about, Sweden work visa for Indian, therefore it is important to know about a key aspect regarding the document translation. If your examination certificate and official transcript are issued is not in either Swedish or English, get the same translated into Swedish or English through an authorized translator. Attach the copies of the original documents and the translated documents to your application.

Paper application for Job seeker permit

If you are not able to submit your application through e-service, you can rather fill in the form Residence permit for highly qualified persons to look for work or start a business.

• It is mentioned in the application as to which all documents you need to attach.
• The form mentions about the letter of consent to the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) to contact higher education institutions in your country to verify your educational documents. It is important that you attach the letter of consent to your application.
• You need to submit the form and attached documents at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence.
• If you are applying at an embassy or a consulate-general, pay the fee when handing in your application.

After you submit the application

Once the applicant has submitted an application for a residence permit, the Swedish Migration Agency verifies the submitted application and documents and accordingly takes decision. The permit can be granted for a minimum of 3 months and for no more than 9 months

Once you receive the approval

• If you have received a permit for more than 3 months, you will get a residence permit card. The card is proof that you have an authorization to be in Sweden and comprises your fingerprints and a photo, apart from other details.
• If you need an entry visa to travel to Sweden, you should visit the Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence to be photographed and provide your fingerprints as soon as possible.
• Please contact the embassy or consulate-general prior to your visit.

FAQs about Sweden Job Seeker visa

If you are also interested in applying for job seeker permit and subsequently, the Sweden work permit for Indian, find out answer of few most common and frequently asked questions:

Can I bring family members with me on this permit?

It is not possible to bring any family members with you on this permit. However, if you find employment you can apply for a work permit, which will allow family members to join you in Sweden.

Can I work on job seeker permit?

You are not allowed to work on the job seeker permit. If you find a job in Sweden, you need to apply for a work permit in order to start working. However, you are allowed to start working immediately after submitting the work permit application (Do not need to wait for the approval).

What is a comprehensive health insurance?

A comprehensive health insurance (CHI) covers the following:

• Emergency care and other medical care,
• hospitalization,
• dental care, and
• Repatriation for medical reasons. 

Usually, a good and comprehensive travel insurance covers the above-mentioned healthcare services. However, you must have proof that the insurance is valid for the whole residence period.

How can I get a permit to start my own busi­ness in Sweden?

If you wish to start a business in Sweden, you can apply for a residence permit as a self-employed person in Sweden and operate your business while the Swedish Migration Agency processes your application.

If you need further clarification or assistance to apply for a Sweden Job Seeker Visa, you may get in touch with a qualified and trusted Immigration Expert at Visas Avenue. You may call VA immigration expert on Toll-Free-Number- 78-18-000-777. Alternatively, you can drop us an email at info@visasavenue.com

Disclaimer: Visas Avenue does not offer consultancy on overseas jobs/work permits/international or domestic placements, etc. The content and information shared above are just for the knowledge and understanding of the people who aspire to apply for jobs in Sweden after acquiring permanent residency visa.