In a new scheme by the Migration Agency, applicants for a Swedish work or student permit will be able to verify their passport digitally instead of having to travel to a Swedish embassy – but so far only if they come from one of the 23 countries involved in the pilot.
Three months after the Swedish Migration Agency rolled out a new system for work permits, how long are highly qualified foreign professionals having to wait for a decision?
Sweden's main business group has attacked a proposal to exempt some jobs from a new minimum salary for work permits, saying it is "unacceptable" political interference in the labour model and risks seriously affecting national competitiveness.
A new analysis by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise has found that 51 percent of the labour migrants likely to be blocked by a new higher salary threshold will be graduates. Karin Johansson, the organisation's Deputy Director General, told The Local how this will hurt businesses.
The government has tasked a new inquiry with figuring out how to make Sweden a more attractive destination for foreign students, doctoral students and researchers – while cracking down on permit cheats.
Centre Party leader Muharrem Demirok branded plans to further raise Sweden's work permit salary threshold 'a human catastrophe' in an interview with The Local's Sweden in Focus podcast.
A new government report has laid out how to decide on which in-demand skills and professions should be excused from a new work permit salary threshold. Here are the inquiry's recommendations in detail.
Less than four months after Sweden doubled its income requirement for foreign workers, the government is considering raising it even further. What's the impact on work permit holders living in Sweden?
Sweden should from next year raise the work permit threshold to the median salary, with exemptions for some categories of workers, according to a new government report.
Ibrahim Idrees had 17 years of experience in the finance industry when he moved to Sweden. After applying for over two thousand jobs without getting a single interview, he decided to create his own job, opening Malmö’s first hummus bar, Hummusson.
The government has announced a new plan to introduce a compulsory 'Sweden course' for newly-arrived immigrants. What could be included, and who would it affect?
Sweden's Migration Agency has hit back at criticism of "severe shortcomings" in its work recalling residency permits, claiming to have become much better at uncovering when people no longer meet the criteria.
More than a month after emergency appointments were announced to deal with long queues and lengthy delays, a lack of action from Stuttgart's immigration authority continues to cause hardship and difficulties for many foreigners.
The European Commission has proposed a shared 'EU talent pool' as part of a package of new measures to make it easier for skilled workers to come to the EU to work.
Hundreds of work permit holders have told The Local they fear for their futures and those of their children as they risk being forced out by Sweden's new salary requirement.
Several countries in Europe are reducing the salaries people from outside the EU need to be eligible for a work visa, although one – Sweden – is raising the threshold. Here's a comparison of current rules in the countries covered by The Local.
While Sweden's government is making it harder for foreign workers to get residency permits, Germany's and Denmark's are making it easier. Why the difference and what's the likely impact?
Moving to another country is never easy, as it requires going through cultural changes and administrative formalities. It can be even more complicated when looking for a job.
Swedish agencies and associations, including trade unions and the Migration Agency, have weighed in on government proposals to overhaul the work permit system.
