SWEDEN · HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONS
Look for work
in Sweden.
Sweden offers a residence permit for people with completed second-cycle studies who want to look for work or explore starting a business. It is a defined highly qualified route—not a general visitor visa.
Reviewed against current Swedish requirements · Last updated 24 September 2026
The permit lets an eligible person search and explore opportunities. It does not itself allow you to begin ordinary employment immediately; a new work-permit application is required when suitable work is found.
01 / REQUIREMENTS
Five conditions shape
the initial fit.
Valid for the requested period
A permit cannot be granted for longer than the passport remains valid.
Second-cycle studies
The completed qualification must correspond to a 60- or 120-credit Master's, a qualifying professional degree, or postgraduate/PhD-level study.
A genuine Swedish plan
You must intend to look for work or investigate the possibility of starting your own business in Sweden.
Outside Sweden
A first application for this route must generally be made while you are outside Sweden, with a decision received before entry.
02 / FUNDS & INSURANCE
The financial test is
month by month.
Bank assets must cover at least SEK 13,000 for every month requested.
The permit can be granted for up to nine months, subject to passport validity.
Comprehensive health insurance must remain valid throughout the intended stay.
Funds for the return journey should be available in addition to monthly maintenance. Insurance must cover urgent and other medical care, hospitalisation, emergency dental treatment and medical repatriation.
03 / DOCUMENTS
What the file needs
to demonstrate.
- 01
Passport copies
Clear copies showing the required identity, validity and travel-document information.
- 02
Degree certificate
Evidence that the completed studies correspond to Sweden's second-cycle standard.
- 03
List of subjects
A transcript or subject list showing the courses included in the education.
- 04
Bank evidence
Statements or equivalent documents showing accessible funds for the complete requested period.
- 05
Comprehensive insurance
Evidence of cover valid for care in Sweden throughout the stay.
- 06
Study-verification consent
A signed authorisation allowing the Swedish Council for Higher Education to verify study documents.
Documents should be in Swedish or English. Certified translations should be accompanied by copies in the original language.
04 / AFTER ARRIVAL
Finding an opportunity
changes the permit path.
Apply for a work permit
You must apply for the relevant work permit before starting work. After that application is filed, limited permission to work may apply for the employer and profession covered by the application.
Move to a self-employed route
You can apply from Sweden for the appropriate self-employed residence permit and may operate the business while that new application is processed.
05 / REVIEW
Where an individual
review adds value.
- 1
Confirm that the degree is truly equivalent to a Swedish second-cycle qualification.
- 2
Choose a realistic requested period based on funds, insurance and passport validity.
- 3
Check translations, transcripts and permission for education verification.
- 4
Plan the correct transition if employment or a business opportunity appears.
A programme called “Master” in one country does not automatically establish Swedish second-cycle equivalence. The duration, level, documents and verification process all matter.
Compare Sweden with other routes →Request a free initial assessment →
START WITH YOUR PROFILE
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your degree and budget?
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Important information
This guide was reviewed against current national requirements on 24 September 2026. It is general educational information, not legal advice or confirmation of eligibility. Amounts, procedures and processing conditions may change; the Swedish Migration Agency decides every application.