Residence permits and visas

As an EU citizen you have the right to work, study or live in Sweden without a residence permit. When entering Sweden, you need a valid passport or ID card showing your citizenship. If your stay in Sweden will be one year or more, you need to contact the Swedish Tax Agency to register yourself in the Swedish population register.  

If you are a non-EU/​​EEA citi­zen but a family member of an EU/EEA citizen who has the right of residence and lives in Sweden, you also have the right of residence as long as you live together. You need to apply for a residence card from the Swedish Migration Agency to confirm your right of residence, and you do not need a work permit to work in Sweden.

If you are a Swiss citizen, or have a long-term resident status in another EU country (not the same as permanent residence permit!) you may move to Sweden to work, study or start your own business. If you wish to stay for longer than three months, you need to apply for a residence permit as a citizen of Switzerland or residence permit with long term resident status in another EU state

You have the right to start working or studying as soon as you have arrived in Sweden and do not need to wait to receive a decision about your residence permit.

See List of foreign citizens who require Visa for entry into Sweden You can apply for an entry visa at a Swedish embassy or consulate in your country of residence, using the application form for Schengen Visa. Some requirements differ from country to country, so you must check what applies in your case. In some countries Sweden is represented by another Schengen state. A visa is temporary and is valid for a maximum 90 days per 180 days period.

Invitation from KI should contain the following information:
• the applicant's name and date of birth
• why the applicant will be visiting Sweden
• period the invitation is valid for
• information about sufficient funds: is the inviting department going to meet all expenses during the visit?
• insurance information if the person stays shorter than one year
• contact person at the department

Researchers or teachers in higher education who will be participating in research, teaching or lecture activities can work in Sweden without a work permit for a total of no more than three months in a twelve-month period. However, nationals of some countries will need an entry visa.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (90 days within any 180-day period) each time they cross the external borders of any of the European countries using the system. 

If you plan to stay in Sweden for longer than three months, you will need a residence permit for researchers (employment or scholarship). You must apply from your home country or another country outside Sweden where you legally reside, unless you already hold a valid permit in Sweden.

You can be granted a permit for a maximum of four years at a time.

If you have a residence permit for research in another EU country, you do not need a residence permit if your research in Sweden is conducted for a maximum of 180 days during a 360 day period. 
If you are starting a new position in Sweden, you have to get a recidence permit for research in Sweden before coming to Sweden. 
Apply for a residence permit to conduct research in Sweden – Swedish Migration Agency

If you plan to continue working make sure to apply for extension before your current permit expires. You can stay in Sweden and wait for new decision.

If you have applied for an extension of your permit and need to go on a business trip outside Sweden during the period when your application is being processed, you have the option to apply for an entry visa, a so-called “D-visa” (new rule June 11, 2026).

You have the opportunity to apply for a residence permit to remain in Sweden for 12, up to 18 months (new rule June 11, 2026) following the completion of your research to seek work, or examine the possibility of conducting business activities in the country. 

You can apply for residence permit for doctoral studies, or for research (new rule June 11, 2026) covering a period from 3 months up to 48 months.

If you are applying for a residence permit for the first time, you must do so while you are outside Sweden, otherwise your application may be rejected. In some cases, you can apply for a residence permit while you are in Sweden with another valid Swedish residence permit.

Doctoral student or researcher? – which permit must I apply for? – Swedish Migration Agency

You can apply for visitor's permit (max 12 months) or residence permit for research (new rule June 11, 2026).
Doctoral student or researcher? – which permit must I apply for? – Swedish Migration Agency

A visitor's permit (classification O) is usually valid for no more than six months, or up to one year. This permit is only valid for a visit, and persons may not work or take up residence in Sweden. For example guest doctoral students, Erasmus+ trainees. 

If you have been granted a residence permit for studies in higher education in another EU country and are studying in a Union programme or a multilateral programme that includes mobility measures (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) you must in most cases notify the Swedish Migration Agency of your planned stay in Sweden, see Notification of planned mobility studies

If you plan to continue studying make sure to apply for extension before your current permit expires. You can stay in Sweden and wait for new decision.

If you have applied for an extension and need to go on a business trip outside Sweden during the period when your application is being processed, you have the option to apply for an entry visa, a so-called “D-visa” (new rule June 11, 2026)
 

You have the opportunity to apply for a residence permit to remain in Sweden for 12 up to 18 months (new rule June 11, 2026) following the completion of your studies to seek work, or examine the possibility of conducting business activities in the country.

Look for work after completing your studies in Sweden

Look for work after completing research

You can apply for a work permit if you are doing research less than 50% of your employment. Note the new salary requirement from 1 June 2026. The permit can be granted for a maximum of two years. 

New rules for labour immigration – these occupations are exempted – Swedish Migration Agency

You can apply for an EU Blue Card if you have been offered highly qualified employment in Sweden with salary that is 1.25 times the gross average salary (52,000 kronor per month as of 9 July 2025). The permit can be issued up to four years.

If you want to continue working in Sweden, you can apply for an extension of your work permit or your EU Blue Card no more than two months before your current permit will expire.

You can apply for a "D visa" If you need to go on a business trip while waiting for a decision on an extension  

Once you have had a residence permit for researchers, a work permit or a residence permit for doctoral studies for a total of four years during a seven-year period, you can apply for a permanent residence permit
Apply for a permanent residence permit – Swedish Migration Agency

As of 11 June 2026, you can receive a permanent residence permit after three consecutive years with a permit for any of the following:

• residence permit for research
• residence permit for research in the case of mobility for a long-stay
• residence permit for doctoral studies
• Swedish EU Blue Card
  New rules for researchers and doctoral students – Swedish Migration Agency

To receive a permanent residence permit, you must also meet other requirements, for example maintenance and lifestyle requirements.

If you have a temporary permit that is still valid, it must be withdrawn before you can be granted a permanent residence permit. Therefore, when applying, you must request that your temporary permit be withdrawn if you are granted a permanent residence permit.

Note that if you have a permanent residence permit in Sweden but are no longer resident here, or have been abroad for a long time for some other reason, the Swedish Migration Agency can revoke your permit. 

If you are a citizen of a country outside of the EU and have lived continuously in Sweden for five years, you may be granted long-term resident status in Sweden. The new law will end the connection between Long-Term Residency (LTR) and permanent residency. From July 12, 2026 you will instead receive a five-year residence permit.

When you have lived in Sweden for several years, you may apply for Swedish citizenship. 

New rules for Swedish citizenship from 6 June 2026 – Swedish Migration Agency

Residence permit for studies | Karolinska Institutet

A visitor's permit (classification O) is usually valid for no more than six months, or up to one year. This permit is only valid for a visit, and persons may not work or take up residence in Sweden. For example guest doctoral students, Erasmus+ trainees. 
Apply for a visitor’s residence permit (more than 90 days) – Swedish Migration Agency

From June 11, 2026, individuals in Sweden with a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive can apply for other residence permits (such as work or study permits) without having to leave the country.
New rules for applying for another residence permit from within Sweden – Swedish Migration Agency