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Sweden Work Permit Rules 2026: New Salary Threshold, Health Insurance Requirement, and Major Changes Effective 1 June

  • Writer: Xavi
    Xavi
  • Jun 18
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 18

Sweden work permit rules 2026: 90 percent salary threshold, mandatory health insurance, longer permits, and excluded occupations effective June 1.
Sweden work permit rules 2026

Stockholm, 18 June 2026 — Sweden has rolled out significant reforms to its work permit system, introducing stricter salary requirements, mandatory comprehensive health insurance, longer permit durations for certain categories, and new restrictions on specific occupations. The changes, which took effect on 1 June 2026, aim to ensure fairer wages, stronger worker protections, and better alignment with labour market needs.

These updates affect new applications, extensions, and specific permit types. Here is everything foreign workers, employers, and HR professionals need to know.

Major Changes in Sweden’s Work Permit System (Effective 1 June 2026)

1. New Salary Requirement Applicants must now earn at least 90% of the median salary in Sweden at the time of application. This applies to decisions issued on or after 1 June 2026, even if the application was submitted earlier.

Transitional Rules for Extensions

  • If your current work permit was granted before 1 June 2026, you can extend it under the old 80% median salary rule if you apply between 1 June and 1 December 2026.

  • From 2 December 2026 onward, the new 90% requirement applies to all extensions.

2. Exemptions from the Salary Requirement Certain groups are exempt and only need to meet 75% of the median salary:

  • Occupations on the government’s exempt list (check the latest list when applying or extending).

  • Former students and researchers applying for a work permit for the first time.

  • Persons with temporary protection under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (exemption for up to 2 years or permit validity).

  • Doctors, dentists, and nurses with international qualifications pursuing Swedish certification.

  • Employees of qualifying tech or life science start-ups (less than 5 years old and under 100 employees).

3. Comprehensive Health Insurance Now Mandatory All applicants staying in Sweden for a maximum of one year must show proof of comprehensive health insurance (or proof of application).

4. Minimum Salary Levels for Seasonal Work and ICT Permits Salaries must now match at least the minimum under Swedish collective agreements or industry standards — even for part-time work.

5. Longer Permit Periods

  • EU Blue Card: Maximum validity increased from 2 years to 4 years.

  • Seasonal Work Permits: Maximum stay extended from 6 to 9 months within a 12-month period.

6. Occupations No Longer Eligible for Work Permits

  • Forest berry pickers (SSYK 9210) — except for seasonal work permits with Swedish-established employers.

  • Personal assistants (SSYK 5343).

7. Stronger Employer Scrutiny The Swedish Migration Agency can now reject applications due to shortcomings linked to the employer, including criminal offences, suspected violations, or sanctions.

Practical Advice for Applicants and Employers

For Foreign Workers:

  • Check your salary against the current median published by Statistics Sweden (SCB) before applying or extending.

  • Secure comprehensive health insurance early if your stay is one year or less.

  • Verify whether your occupation is still eligible or exempt.

  • Apply well in advance to avoid processing delays.

For Employers:

  • Update contracts and salary offers to meet the new thresholds.

  • Maintain detailed records of compliance with collective agreements.

  • Review internal hiring and sponsorship processes for any employer-related risks that could lead to rejections.

Transition Strategy: If eligible, consider submitting extension applications before 2 December 2026 to benefit from the more lenient transitional rules.

Why These Changes Were Introduced

The reforms aim to:

  • Protect migrant workers from low-wage exploitation.

  • Ensure work permits contribute positively to the Swedish labour market.

  • Strengthen overall system integrity and fairness.

The Swedish Migration Agency has released a studio discussion featuring experts explaining the changes in detail.

Official Resources

  • Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) – Work Permits: migrationsverket.se

  • Statistics Sweden (SCB) – Median Salary Data

  • Aliens Ordinance (Utlänningsförordningen)

Visit for the most recent updates on Sweden work permits, salary criteria, EU Blue Card information, seasonal work regulations, and immigration news for 2026:

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