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Most Swedish permits need a job offer first. The permit to look for work or start a business is the exception: it gives highly educated people up to nine months in Sweden to find a job or plan a company, and then switch to a work permit without leaving.
Requirements
- Education: completed studies corresponding to a second-cycle (advanced level) qualification, such as a master's degree, or higher.
- Funds: bank assets of at least SEK 13,000 for each month of the stay, plus money for the trip home.
- Insurance: comprehensive health insurance for the whole stay, including medical repatriation.
- Passport valid for the whole period.
| Stay | Funds needed (SEK 13,000/month) |
|---|---|
| 3 months | SEK 39,000 + return travel |
| 6 months | SEK 78,000 + return travel |
| 9 months | SEK 117,000 + return travel |
Fee and waiting time
The fee is SEK 2,200. Apply from outside Sweden, or the application may be rejected. At the time of writing, Migrationsverket decided 75% of complete applications within about five months, so apply well before you plan to travel.
What you can do while in Sweden
- Look for jobs, go to interviews and build a network.
- Research the market and prepare a business, then apply for a self-employed permit.
- When you find a job, apply for a work permit from inside Sweden. This is an exception to the main rule that a first work permit is applied for from outside Sweden. You can't start working until you have applied.
The work permit then has the normal requirements, including the salary level (SEK 34,470 a month from June 2026). See the June 2026 rules. People who held a student or researcher permit in Sweden have their own route, with a lower salary level. See from studies to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move to Sweden without a job offer?
If you have a master's degree or higher, yes: the permit to look for work or start a business gives up to nine months in Sweden. You need funds of SEK 13,000 a month plus return travel, and comprehensive health insurance.
Can I apply for a work permit in Sweden after finding a job on a job-seeker permit?
Yes. Holders of the permit to look for work or start a business can apply for a work permit from inside Sweden.
Can my family come with me on a Swedish job-seeker permit?
Migrationsverket's page for this permit doesn't describe a family route, so check with Migrationsverket for your situation before applying.
How Settio helps
Planning your own move? Our free tools answer the common questions in under a minute: is this salary enough for a permit and how long the decision takes.
Once you are hired, Settio helps your employer or immigration agency run the case in one place: a plan with every step before the move, an employee portal on your phone after arrival, and reminders before your permit runs out.
More in our guide toImmigration to SwedenSwedish immigration news
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