Immigration
Entry Requirements
Sweden is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes with a valid U.S. passport and without obtaining a visa. You will need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see the U.S. Department of State’s Schengen fact sheet.
Additional information is available at the Embassy of Sweden’s website.
Permanent Residency
Before arriving in Sweden, you must apply for a residence permit (UT card) to enter the country. You should submit your application to the Swedish embassy, authorized consulate or online. Your application must be approved before arriving in Sweden. Additional documents, such as bank statements and proof of international insurance, must be submitted in order to apply. The application process usually takes six to eight months.
The residence permit card is proof that you have a residence permit and gives you permission to be in Sweden. This card has an embedded microchip that has your fingerprint and photograph. You will need to go to the Swedish embassy or consulate to be photographed and fingerprinted. Afterward, you will receive your card either directly or in the mail. Once you have received this card, keep it with you at all times. Children under six must be photographed, but do not have to provide fingerprints. The residence permit and card are good for up to five years and can be renewed.
For more information on the residence permit and the residence permit card, please visit the Migration Board (Migrationsverket) website.
Work Permits
Depending upon your occupation, there are different kinds of work permits in Sweden. If you obtain a work permit that will last for more than three months, you will have to get a residence permit card, proving that you have a residence permit. In order to get a work permit, you must have a job offer in Sweden, verified through an offer of employment filed by your employer. The documents you will need include passport copies and statements from the Trade Union regarding your offer of employment, your expected salary and terms of your employment. For a speedy approval process, you can also apply for the work permit online. The application for a work permit costs around US$300.
The Migration Board has more details on how to apply for a Swedish work permit. If you want to see the application to obtain a work permit in Sweden, a link for it is provided in step three.
Additional work permit information is provided on the Embassy of Sweden’s Work and Live In Sweden website.
Business Permit
If you plan to start a business, you will need a business permit. You should submit your business permit application to the Swedish embassy or a Swedish consulate. An approved residence permit is required to get a business permit.
The application for a business permit is available online through the Migrationsverket or Swedish National Migration Board. On the website for application forms, click on the Application by Self-Employed Person (No. 125011).
In addition to the application, you also will need to provide the following:
- Documentation proving that you have the capital and financial resources to get your business established
- A detailed business plan, with projections
- Business references
The application fee is a little more than US$300. To download the work permit application and for more detailed information on business permits, please visit this Swedish Embassy Starting Your Own Business website.
A great guide to read is Working in Sweden. It is geared toward non-European Union citizens and offers resources for moving to Sweden.
Retirement
Sweden does not have an immigration category for retirement. Please see our Permanent Residency section.