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

Turkish citizens handle the in-person steps of a Swedish work permit at the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul. You give biometrics and collect your card there before you travel, because Turkish citizens need a visa for Sweden.

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.
• Welders (SSYK 7212) and butchers (7611) are among the exempted occupations with a lower SEK 28,725 level.
• Engineers and specialists should compare with the EU Blue Card (SEK 53,625 a month).
• The employer starts the application online. Apply before you enter Sweden.

Rules: Sweden's June 2026 work permit rules.

2. Biometrics and the passport check in Istanbul

• The Consulate General in Istanbul takes applications, interviews, biometrics and passport checks for Turkish citizens.
• If Migrationsverket asks only for a passport check, you don't need an appointment. Visit during the migration section's visiting hours with your passport. Biometrics are usually taken at the same visit.
• For interviews, book through the consulate's appointment request form once Migrationsverket asks for one.
• If your biometrics were taken at the passport check or interview, the card is ordered automatically once the permit is granted. If not, visit with your passport to give biometrics.

3. Collecting the residence permit card

• The card takes at least about three weeks to reach the Consulate General after approval.
• You collect it in Istanbul with your passport, without an appointment. Someone else can collect it with a power of attorney.
• Cards can't be sent to your home address.
• Don't book flights until you have the card.

4. The Ankara Agreement

Türkiye has an association agreement with the EU, often called the Ankara Agreement. The Additional Protocol and an Association Council decision contain so-called standstill clauses, which, as the EU Court of Justice has read them, stop EU countries from adding new restrictions for Turkish workers and self-employed people. A new restriction can still be allowed if it is justified by an overriding public interest. This may be relevant if your case is refused, if you want to be self-employed, or for family members. It is a complex area of law, so get legal advice if you think it applies to you. It doesn't replace the normal work permit requirements.

5. Social security: the Sweden–Türkiye convention

• Sweden and Türkiye have a social security convention. A worker posted by a Turkish employer can stay in the Turkish system for up to 12 months.
• People hired by a Swedish employer are in the Swedish system from the start.
• Ask Försäkringskassan how the convention applies to you.

6. Tax

Sweden and Türkiye have a double taxation agreement from 1988. Skatteverket counts a stay of six months in a row in Sweden as living here, and residents are taxed in Sweden on their salary. Senior hires should check expert tax relief.

7. After you arrive

1. Register at Skatteverket for your personnummer (how).
2. Get your ID card, bank account and BankID (how).
3. Driving: a Turkish 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.

Moving with family? Read moving to Sweden with your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do Turkish citizens give biometrics for a Swedish work permit?

At the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul, which takes biometrics and passport checks for Turkish citizens. For a passport check you don't need an appointment. Go during the migration section's visiting hours with your passport.

Can my Swedish residence permit card be posted to me in Türkiye?

No. The Consulate General says residence permit cards can't be sent to your address. You collect it in Istanbul, or someone else collects it for you with a power of attorney.

Does the Ankara Agreement give Turkish citizens an easier route to work in Sweden?

It may be relevant in some cases, because its standstill clauses limit new restrictions on Turkish workers and self-employed people. It is complex and depends on the facts, so get legal advice before relying on it.

Is there a social security agreement between Sweden and Türkiye?

Yes. Under the convention a posted worker can stay in the Turkish system for up to 12 months. People employed by a Swedish company are in the Swedish system from the start.

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

13 official sources

• Government Offices of Sweden: List of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when entering Sweden
• Consulate General of Sweden, Istanbul: Where to visit
• Consulate General of Sweden, Istanbul: Work permit FAQ
• Consulate General of Sweden, Istanbul: Visa and migration section
• Migrationsverket: Work permits for employees
• Migrationsverket: Salary requirements for a work permit
• Migrationsverket: EU Blue Card
• Migrationsverket (Lifos): Article 13 of Association Council Decision No 1/80
• Skatteverket: New in Sweden and will be employed here
• Skatteverket: Countries with social security agreements
• Riksdagen: Sweden–Türkiye social security convention (SFS 2005:234)
• Riksdagen: Sweden–Türkiye double taxation agreement (SFS 1988:782)
• Transportstyrelsen: Foreign driving licences