Under the new rules, which had a suggested implementation date of May 21st, 2026, but will now only come into force in Sweden on February 1st, 2027, work permit holders will no longer need to apply for an entirely new permit if they switch employers, for example if their original employer goes bankrupt or they lose their job.
Currently, an applicant’s first two-year work permit is tied to a specific employer and a specific role, whereas work permits after two years are tied to a specific role only.
Sweden is required to bring in the new rules to comply with a new EU directive adopted in April 2024, aimed at simplifying the process for so-called third country citizens to get work and residence permits in EU member states.
Instead of applying for a new permit, applicants would simply need to inform the Migration Agency of their change of employer, although failure to do this could lead to their work permit being withdrawn.
The Migration Agency would then check the specifics of the new role to make sure that it meets the requirements necessary for a work permit.
The new proposal also will also change the rules around trial periods. Currently, the Migration Agency is only able to issue a work permit for the length of the applicants’ work contract, which in the case of trial periods is usually less than six months.
Under the new proposal, the agency would be able to issue a permit for longer than six months but for a maximum of two years, with the work permit holder then responsible for informing the agency if the trial period does not turn into a full-time job offer.
The government on July 8th, 2026, submitted the proposal to Sweden's Council on Legislation, which scrutinises bills before they go before parliament to ensure they are in line with existing legislation.
Comments (4)