Moving to Sweden from Iran: Work Permit, Biometrics and Arrival (2026)

Iranian citizens can still apply for a Swedish work permit, but the Embassy of Sweden in Tehran is only partly open. In its notice of 7 July 2026 it said it can't take biometrics or order residence permit cards because of technical issues. The passport check can be done digitally, so the hardest step is getting the card. Contact the embassy before you plan your move.

1. The permit conditions

• A monthly salary of at least SEK 34,470 (from June 2026), and in line with the collective agreement or what is normal in the occupation.
• Engineers, doctors and researchers should also look at the EU Blue Card (SEK 53,625 a month) and the researcher permit.
• Doctors, dentists and nurses with foreign qualifications who are working towards a Swedish licence are an exempted group with a lower SEK 28,725 level.
• Apply online before you enter Sweden, and select the Swedish Embassy in Tehran in the application.

Rules: Sweden's June 2026 work permit rules.

2. What the Tehran embassy can and can't do (July 2026)

Step	Status in the 7 July 2026 notice
Passport check	Iranian citizens can do a digital passport check and may not need to visit
Interviews	Held as planned, unless the embassy contacts you
Biometrics and card orders	Not possible at the moment because of technical issues
Cards that should have gone to Tehran	In most cases sent back to Migrationsverket
Schengen visas	Generally not possible to apply, with limited exceptions for people who gave fingerprints in the last 59 months

If your permit has been granted and is already valid or starts soon, the embassy asks you to email it and describe your situation, and it will look at what options there are. If your start date is later, check the embassy's page regularly. The embassy says it can't yet say when full service will return.

3. The residence permit card

Iranian citizens need a visa for Sweden, so normally biometrics are taken at the embassy before travel, and you collect the card there by appointment. The embassy says production and delivery normally take about four to six weeks. You need the card to travel. While Tehran can't take biometrics, ask the embassy and Migrationsverket what to do in your case. Don't book flights or resign from your job in Iran until you know how you will get the card. For employers, this means start dates for Iranian hires need extra slack. Check current processing times too.

4. Sanctions, banking and money transfers

On 29 September 2025 the EU reimposed its nuclear-related sanctions on Iran. They include asset freezes on the Central Bank of Iran and major Iranian commercial banks, and notification and authorisation rules for transfers of funds to Iranian financial institutions above certain amounts. In practice, moving savings from Iran to Sweden through normal banking channels may be slow or not possible, and Swedish banks may ask more questions when you open an account. Talk to your Swedish bank early, keep records of where your money comes from, and get advice before you move larger sums. Your salary from a Swedish employer is paid into a Swedish account as normal.

5. Social security and tax

• No social security agreement: Iran is not on Skatteverket's list. When you work for a Swedish employer, you are in the Swedish system from the start.
• Tax: Skatteverket counts a stay of six months in a row in Sweden as living here, and residents are taxed in Sweden on their salary. If you keep income in Iran, ask Skatteverket or a tax adviser how it is treated.

6. After you arrive

1. Register at Skatteverket for your personnummer (how).
2. Get your ID card, bank account and BankID (how).
3. Driving: an Iranian licence can't be exchanged. It can be used for up to one year after you are registered. After that you need a Swedish driving licence. A licence that isn't in English, German or French and wasn't issued under the Geneva or Vienna road traffic conventions needs a certified translation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give biometrics at the Swedish embassy in Tehran?

Not at the moment. In its 7 July 2026 notice the embassy said technical issues stop it from taking biometrics or ordering residence permit cards. If your permit is valid or starts soon, email the embassy's migration section to ask about options.

Do Iranian applicants have to visit the embassy for the passport check?

Often not. The embassy says Iranian citizens are eligible for Migrationsverket's digital passport check, done in the Freja app. Contact the embassy if the digital check doesn't work for you.

Can I transfer money from Iran to a Swedish bank account?

It can be difficult. EU sanctions reimposed in 2025 freeze the assets of major Iranian banks and add notification and authorisation rules for larger transfers to Iranian financial institutions. Talk to a Swedish bank and get advice before you move, and keep documents that show where your money comes from.

Moving for work? How Settio helps

Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run the whole move in one place, so the person moving can focus on settling in:

• Before the move: one plan for the permit and the move, with every step and deadline. A partner and children get their own steps in the same household.
• After arrival: the employee portal shows the newcomer their next steps on their phone, in their language, from registering after arrival to help for settling in.
• When the permit runs out: permit monitoring flags the extension in good time.

HR teams and agencies can start for free. Moving yourself? Try our free tools for life in Sweden.

Sources

12 official sources

• Government Offices of Sweden: List of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when entering Sweden
• Embassy of Sweden, Tehran: Migration section notice, 7 July 2026
• Embassy of Sweden, Tehran: Residence permit card
• Migrationsverket: Digital passport check
• Migrationsverket: Work permits for employees
• Council of the EU: Iran sanctions snapback, 29 September 2025
• Council of the EU: EU sanctions against Iran
• Migrationsverket: Salary requirements for a work permit
• Migrationsverket: EU Blue Card
• Skatteverket: New in Sweden and will be employed here
• Skatteverket: Countries with social security agreements
• Transportstyrelsen: Foreign driving licences