International Staff Services for HR in English
Support and advice for you who is working to recruit and receive incoming doctoral students and researchers from abroad. Also information for you who is sending staff abroad.
Checklist for administration of international staff
Information for hosting departments
Photo: Pinke Olive @flickrURA employment contract
Information for departments
Photo: N/AInternational staff
Information for incoming researchers and doctoral students
Proposal: Better conditions for foreign researchers and doctoral students to work in Sweden
Proposals with a view to improving the migration regulations for foreign researchers and doctoral and other serious students, and to counteract abuse of residence permits for studies.
European Union – Entry/Exit System
The new system applies to non-EU citizens, both visa holders and visa-exempt visitors, entering the Schengen Area for short stays. Launch delayed.
International Staff Services 25 years
Over the past 25 years, International Staff Services has been dedicated to enhancing the support system for guest researchers and foreign doctoral students at Karolinska Institutet.
New rules
New work permit salary threshold from 18 June 2024
The minimum salary threshold for a work permit has been raised to 28 480 kronor a month for labour migrants from outside the EU. Researchers and doctoral students will not be affected as they have residence permits for researchers and doctoral studies respectively.
New assessment of maintenance requirement when applying for a permanent residence permit
The Swedish Migration Agency has now removed the requirement of at least 18 months of subsistence to obtain a permanent residence permit. It emphasizes the importance of individual assessment if the applicant for a permanent residence permit does not have permanent employment.
New EU Blue Card rules from 1st January 2025
One of the key changes include lower salary threshold to qualify for the permit: from 1.5 times the gross average salary (59,850 kronor per month) to 1.25 times the gross average salary (49,875 kronor per month)
Current
Digital passport control for citizens of 23 countries
The Swedish Migration Agency is launching a pilot for digital passport control that will facilitate the application for a residence permit. Students and employees from 23 countries are the first to be allowed to use the identification app Freja to show their passport.
The Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan closed for visitors
The Embassy of Sweden in Islamabad is currently unable to receive external visitors. Applications for residence permit due to family ties, study or work are referred to the Swedish Embassy in Ethiopia
Babies born in Sweden to foreign researchers must go abroad to apply for residency
According to the Aliens Act, a researcher’s family member must have applied for a residence permit before entering Sweden. Foreign researchers with permits to live and work in Sweden are told that they must travel abroad to be able to apply for a residence permit for their newborn children. In June 2025, the rules are expected to change.
Proposals
New government investigation into labour migration to come into force by June 1st 2025.
Investigation proposes new stricter rules for labor immigration, but also measures to promote immigration of highly qualified workforce.
Plans to introduce tests on Swedish language and society for permanent residency from 2027
A new government inquiry has proposed that adults seeking permanent residency from 2027 will have to pass two tests, one on the Swedish language and the other on Swedish society. The proposal states that applicants would be expected to have a level of Swedish equivalent to A2 on the CEFR, equivalent to SFI level C.
Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN)
Stockholm Dual Career Network
The Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN) is a non-profit network for partners and spouses of international talent in Stockholm. SDCN supports expat partners with professional events, career-related advice and by building a social network in their new hometown. Membership in SDCN is free of charge for partners to KI coworkers.
EURAXESS
EURAXESS - Researchers in Motion is a unique pan-European initiative delivering information and support services to professional researchers. Read more about EURAXESS services at KI.