Employer Considerations for Student and Job Seeker Permit Holders
We will highlight the three most common scenarios and what you, as an employer, need to know to ensure that candidates remain fully compliant with Swedish immigration regulations.
Valid student permit
Candidates with a valid student permit are allowed to work a maximum of 15 hours per week during semesters. The candidate can freely work in any occupation or for any employer in Sweden, unless it is a regulated occupation.
No reporting to the Migration Agency or additional immigration formalities are required.
Student permit about to expire
If the candidate’s student permit is nearing expiration, it is possible to apply for a status change from a student permit to a work- and residence permit.
Generally, applications for status changes must be submitted and processed while the applicant is outside Sweden. However, students are exempt from this rule and may remain in Sweden and work while their application is processed, provided the following conditions are met:
- Employment in Sweden begins before the student permit expires
- The application is submitted to the Migration Agency before the student permit expires
- The candidate must have completed a programme at a university or university college corresponding to at least two semesters.
Please also note that the job advertisement requirement is generally waived for student permit holders.
Residence permit to look for work
You may also encounter recent graduates holding a residence permit to look for work in Sweden. This permit allows candidates who have completed higher education in Sweden, or those who held a student permit in another EU country but completed at least two semesters in Sweden, to look for work or start a business.
Key points to consider:
- The application for status change from a residence permit to look for work to a work- and residence permit must be submitted before the residence permit to look for work expires and before the employment can commence.
- The applicant may remain and work in Sweden while the application is processed.
- Unlike student permit holders, the job advertisement requirement must be fulfilled for candidates with a residence permit to look for work.
Why does this matter?
Understanding these requirements is crucial to ensure students and recent graduates remain compliant with the Migration Agency’s rules when working in Sweden. Non-compliance often leads to application refusals, which forces candidates to leave Sweden within a short timeframe.
We therefore encourage you and your team to contact K2 X Border for any questions or assistance when planning to onboard candidates holding a student permit or residence permit to look for work.
You are very welcome to contact our team via immigrationsweden@k2xborder.com
