Sweden

Sweden Job seeker visa

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.

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.