Sweden Information
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Home Country: sweden
|
 Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:06 am Post subject: WORK PERMITS IN SWEDEN |
 |
|
WORK PERMITS IN SWEDEN
You must have a work permit in order to work in Sweden. Once you have been granted a permit, it must be entered into your passport before your arrival.
Obtaining a Swedish work permit is no easy matter. Swedes, foreign citizens already living in Sweden and EU/EEA citizens have preference over others in obtaining work here.
If there is a temporary shortage of labour, or if you have obtained employment as part of an international exchange programme, the Migration Board may grant you a work permit.
If the offer of work is for more than three months you will also require a Swedish residence permit.
A specialist employed by an international concern and travelling to and from Sweden in that capacity in order to work for temporary periods does not require a work permit. This applies if total duration of stay in Sweden is less than 12 months.
What are the requirements?
* You must have a written offer of employment in Sweden, made out on a special form which your employer can obtain via the National Labour Market Board's web site ams.se. Your employer must send it to you so that you can enclose it with your application.
* Your employer shall guarantee you pay, insurance coverage and other terms of employment equal to at least the collective agreement or Swedish practise in the profession or the branch of trade.
* Accommodation must have been arranged for you in Sweden
* You must be fully prepared to leave Sweden when your term of employment is over.
Where do I apply?
First time applications
The first time you apply for a work permit, you do so at a Swedish embassy or consulate in your country of origin or in your country of domicile.
Extension of permits
If you want to renew your permit, send an application to the Migration Board – Migrationsverket, Tillståndsenheten, SE 601 70 Norrköping, Sweden. Alternatively, you can apply at any of the Migration Board offices in Sweden.
How do I pay the application fee?
First time applications
You pay the application fee when you apply at the embassy or consulate-general. If you apply via the Internet, you must pay by credit card and cannot then pay at an embassy or a consulate-general.
Extensions of permits
* You pay the fee at one of Migration Board’s offices in Sweden.
* You may pay the fee into our postal giro account instead. The Migration Board’s postal giro account no. for permits for work or studies is 95 78 46-9. This postal giro number also applies to close relatives of someone who is applying for or already has these permits.
In the message box that says “Meddelande till betalningsmottagaren” on the payment slip, write
-surname and given names of the person making the application
- the civic registration no. and/or case no..of the applicant
If the fee is for more than one person, write each civic registration no. and/or case no.
Write on your application form how you paid the fee. Also write down when you paid it.
Who decides my case?
The Swedish Migration Board decides whether or not you are to be granted a work permit, after consultation with the county labour board. The embassy or consulate sends yours application to the Migration Board.
The work permit must be entered in your passport before your arrival in Sweden. You cannot travel to Sweden and wait for a decision here.
You will be notified by the embassy or consulate-general where you submitted your application.
How long will I have to wait for a decision?
You should submit your application 6-8 weeks before leaving for Sweden.
How long is a permit valid?
Work permits are normally granted for one year at a time, or, if it is less than one year, for the period for which employment is offered. Permits are granted for a maximum of 18 months altogether if the employment is due to a temporary labour shortage.
If the work is part of an international exchange programme or the like, the permit may be extended up to a total stay of four years.
The permit is restricted to the trade or profession envisaged in the offer and to the employer who made you the offer.
EU/ EEA Citizens
An EU/EEA citizen who is an employee, selfemployed person, student or who has sufficient funds to support himself/herself has a right to reside in Sweden. The term right to reside means that an EU/EEA citizen and his or her family members are permitted to be in Sweden for more than three months without a residence permit. A person who has a right of residence must register with the Migration Board no later than three months after entering the country.
If you are a citizen of Switzerland you must apply for a residence permit. Nordic citizens can spend time in and live in Sweden without having to register or have a work permit.
What happens on entering the country?
On entering Sweden citizens of EU/EEA countries and their family members must have a valid passport or an identity card stating their citizenship. Relatives who require a visa to enter Sweden must apply for a visa at a Swedish embassy or consulate before entering the country. A list of citizens who require a visa can be found at www.utrikes.regeringen.se. You and your family members are entitled to begin working immediately.
What documents are required?
To register you must fill in a form with a request for registration of your right of residence. You must enclose certified copies of a valid passport or identity card stating your citizenship. You must also enclose documents showing that you satisfy the conditions that apply for one of the following categories:
Employee
If you intend to work in Sweden you must enclose a certificate of employment from the employer stating the period of employment and the form of employment.
The employment certificate must be written and signed by your employer. Apart from the name, address and telephone number of the employer, the name of a contact at the employer must also be given. Also included must be the company’s registration number and your duties. It must also state how many hours you will work each week. You must preferably use the form ”Certificate of employment for citizens from the EU/EEA”.
Self-employed person
To be registered as a self-employed person in Sweden you must be able to produce the registration certificate for the company and/or other documents which show that you have your own company.
Provider of a service
If you are a provider of some form of service, as a consultant or on a freelance basis for example, you must confirm this by means of a certificate, agreement or similar document. The document must state the type of service in question and how long you will offer that service. The document must be written and signed by the person who will receive the service.
Sufficient funds
If you do not fall into any of the above categories you can register as an EU/EEA citizen if you have sufficient money for your upkeep. When you register you must enclose documents that confirm that your finances are secured through, for example, a pension from your home country or capital so that you will not need welfare benefits.
Family members who are EU/EEA citizens
If you are an EU/EEA citizen and are a member of the family of a person who has a right of residence in Sweden you also have a right of residence. The following family members are included:
* Husband, wife, registered partner or cohabitee.
* Children under the age of 21 years or older children who are dependent on their parents for their upkeep.
* Parents who are financially dependent on children who live in Sweden.
Parents of students, however, do not have a right of residence.
In conjunction with registration you must enclose a certificate showing the marital or familial ties. Children over the age of 21 years who are financially dependent on their parents must confirm this. Parents who are financially dependent on their children who are living in Sweden must also be able to confirm this. You will be granted a residence permit for the same period of time as your relative.
Cross-border workers
If you are an EU/EEA citizen and work in Sweden but live in another EU/EEA country to which you return at least once a week, you do not need to register in Sweden.
Registration and permanent right of residence
You can register by filling in a form, which is then sent by post to the Migration Board or handed in to any of the Migration Board permit units. If you are an employee or student you can register on the Internet.
The registration certificate is sent to your address in Sweden. The registration certificate is valid until further notice and does not need to be renewed. It is free of charge. Registration is valid as long as you are resident in the country and satisfy the conditions laid down.
When you have been in Sweden legally for five years without a break you have a permanent right of residence. If you would like a certificate confirming your permanent right of residence you can apply to the Migration Board.
Residence card for family members who are not EU/EEA citizens
If you are a member of the family of an EU/EEA citizen but not an EU/EEA citizen you must apply for a residence card. (Swedish citizens are not regarded as EU/EEA citizens in this connection.)
Regardless of citizenship, the following family members of employees, self-employed persons, providers of services or persons with sufficient funds can be granted a residence card in Sweden:
* Husband, wife, registered partner or cohabitee.
* Children under the age of 21 years or older children who are dependent on their parents for their upkeep.
* Parents who are financially dependent on children who live in Sweden.
Parents of students, however, cannot be granted a residence card.
What documents are required?
When you apply for a residence card you must fill in the form ”Application for residence card”. You must enclose certified copies of a valid passport. Together with your application you must also enclose a copy of your relative’s certificate of registration of right of residence and a certificate showing the marital or familial ties.
For children under the age of 18 years the guardian must approve the application by signing it. Children over the age of 21 years who are financially dependent on their parents in Sweden must confirm this. Parents who are financially dependent on their children who live in Sweden must also be able to confirm this.
Relatives who require a visa to enter Sweden must apply for a visa at a Swedish embassy or Swedish consulate before they travel to Sweden.
Residence card and permanent residence card
The application for a residence card must be submitted after entering Sweden. This can be done at any of the Migration Board permit units.
The residence card is sent to your address in Sweden. The residence card is valid as long as you are resident in the country and satisfy the conditions laid down. After five years you can apply for a permanent residence card. The residence card is free of charge.
Appeal
A decision regarding registration and a residence card cannot be appealed. If you do not have a right of residence and as a result you are not registered or do not receive a residence card you can instead apply for a residence permit.
Application for a residence permit
Certain persons do not have a right of residence as family members. This applies to persons who are EU/EEA citizens and are:
* A husband/wife/registered partner/cohabitee/child of a Swedish citizen
* A husband/wife/registered partner/cohabitee/child of a citizen of a country that does not belong to the EU/EEA
A person who does not have a right of residence in Sweden but wishes to stay in the country for more than three months must apply for a residence permit. As an EU/EEA citizen you can submit an application after entering Sweden. This can be done at any of the Migration Board permit units.
Further information
For further information, you can contact the Public Contact Unit at the Migration Board by e-mail at upplysningen@migratonsverket.se or by calling 0771-19 44 00. You can also contact a Swedish embassy or consulate. |
|
Register
Log in
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
