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Not every working visit to Sweden needs a work permit. Swedish law (the Aliens Ordinance, chapter 5, section 2) lists types of assignment that are exempt, many with a time limit. Getting this right matters: under the Aliens Act (chapter 20, section 12), an employer with someone working without a required work permit must pay a special fee.
Who decides whether an exemption applies
Migrationsverket doesn't approve exemptions in advance: the traveller, alone or with the employer, judges whether the trip fits one. If you're unsure, Migrationsverket recommends applying for a work permit. Citizens of some countries still need an entry visa even when the work is exempt, and travellers from outside the EU are registered in the EU's Entry/Exit System at the border.
Exemptions and their time limits
| Who | Time limit without a work permit |
|---|---|
| Participants in a business deal | 3 months in any 12 |
| Employees of an international group taking part in skills development | 3 months in any 12 |
| Specialists in an international group | Less than 1 year in total |
| Installers or technical instructors on urgent, unplanned repairs | Up to 2 months |
| Artists, technicians and tour staff invited by an established organiser | 14 days in any 12 months |
| Professional athletes and officials (no contract with a Swedish club) | 3 months in any 12 |
| Researchers and teachers in higher education | 3 months in any 12 |
| Temporary radio and TV assignments | 1 month from entry |
| Drivers and staff on tourist coaches | 3 months |
Other exempt groups include train staff and international lorry drivers, company representatives, journalists reporting for a foreign news agency, diplomats, and temporary construction work by people employed in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland. Some of these groups need a visitor's residence permit for stays over three months. Check the exact wording for the group on Migrationsverket's page before relying on an exemption.
What the exemptions don't cover
- Hands-on work for a Swedish client beyond what the exemption describes, for example a consultant working on a project for months.
- Long assignments that go over the time limit. Count days across the rolling 12 months.
- Postings: an employer posting workers to Sweden must notify the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) before the work starts. Whether the worker also needs a work permit depends on the exemptions above.
A checklist for HR and travel managers
- Write down the purpose of each trip and which exemption it relies on.
- Track days in Sweden per person across the rolling 12 months.
- Check visa requirements by nationality, separately from the work permit question.
- For anything longer or more hands-on, apply for a work permit or an ICT permit in good time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a work permit for a business trip to Sweden?
Work in Sweden needs a work permit unless it falls under one of the exemptions in the Aliens Ordinance, many with their own time limit. You and your employer judge whether an exemption applies; if you're unsure, Migrationsverket recommends applying for a work permit.
How long can a specialist work in Sweden without a work permit?
It depends on the exemption: for example up to 2 months for urgent repairs, 3 months in 12 for participants in a business deal, and less than a year for specialists within an international group.
Does a work permit exemption remove the need for a visa?
No. Citizens of some countries still need an entry visa for the trip, and stays over three months in some exempt groups need a visitor's residence permit.
How Settio helps employers and agencies
Settio helps employers and immigration agencies run every work permit and relocation case in one place, from the first step to the renewal:
- Before the move: a plan for every hire, with each step, owner and deadline counted back from the start date, and documents that check themselves as they come in.
- After arrival: the employee portal shows the new hire their next steps on their phone, in their language, with no account or password.
- For the renewal: permit and salary monitoring tracks every expiry date and flags the extension in good time.
Your first hire is free, and agencies can try a real case for free. See plans and start.
Sources
8 official sources
- Government Offices of Sweden: List of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when entering Sweden
- European Commission: EES fully operational from 10 April 2026
- Migrationsverket: Certain people may work in Sweden without a work permit
- Lagen.nu: Aliens Ordinance (2006:97), chapter 5
- Lagen.nu: Aliens Act (2005:716), chapter 20
- Migrationsverket: New EU-wide border control system
- Migrationsverket: Visiting Sweden for more than 90 days
- Arbetsmiljöverket: Employer obligations when posting workers (in Swedish)
More in our guide toAI immigration compliance
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