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
New rules
New work permit salary threshold from 17 June 2025
The minimum salary threshold for a work permit has been raised to 29 680 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)
Proposals
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. The amendments are proposed to come into effect on March 1, 2026.
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.
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. The legislative amendments that make it possible to apply from Sweden proposed to enter into force on 1 March 2026.
Travel to Sweden
Digital passport control for citizens of 74 visa-exempt countries or territories
The Swedish Migration Agency is extending its digital passport control initiative to include more countries. This development will simplify the residence permit application process for students and employees. Individuals from 74 countries or territories can now use the identification app Freja to show their passport.
Embassies responsible for migration matters
Find out which embassy or consulate general is responsible for your application.
The Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan opens for visitors on April 9
From 9 April 2025, you can once again visit the embassy in Islamabad for certain migration matters.
International travel
The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will start operations on 12 October 2025
The EES is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) to a European country using the EES.
New requirements for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to the UK from 2 April 2025
Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are being introduced worldwide for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status.
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.