New Rules for Labour Immigration – Exempted Occupations Announced

On May 25, 2026, the Swedish government announced new rules for work permits, effective June 1, 2026. A key change is the introduction of a salary requirement stipulating that, to obtain a work permit, the salary must be at least 90% of the median salary in Sweden at the time of application. However, approximately twenty occupational groups are exempt from this requirement, including certain engineers, IT technicians, assistant nurses, and welders. For these exempted occupations, the salary must be at least 75% of the median salary. Additionally, four categories of applicants are exempt from the 90% requirement, including former students applying from within Sweden and individuals with foreign qualifications seeking Swedish licenses in specific professions. The government also introduced a new notification requirement for employers, mandating them to inform the Swedish Migration Agency if an employee with a work permit has not commenced work within four months from the permit's effective date. These measures aim to prevent fraud and abuse in the labour immigration system.