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Questions, answered · HR directors

What are the penalties for employers who get work permits wrong in Sweden?

Updated · Facts checked against the official sources below

An employer who employs someone without a right to stay or the required work permit pays a special fee (särskild avgift) of twice the price base amount per person, or four times if it went on for more than three months, and can also face criminal liability. The employee can lose the permit and be asked to leave, which is often the bigger cost to the business.

In detail

  • Check the right to stay in Sweden before the first day.
  • Keep a copy of the documents that show it and notify the authority of the employment.
  • Terms below the permit level put the extension and the person's stay at risk.

How Settio helps

Settio keeps the right-to-work check, the permit copy and the terms on each case, and flags any month below the permit terms.

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Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Facts checked 16 October 2026. About this information