The offer from Stockholm lands on a Tuesday, and by Wednesday the questions start. Is the salary enough? Does the employer have to do anything before the application goes in? Could the rules change again before the permit arrives? We hear these questions every week in our Dubai office, and in 2026 the answers have changed. Here is what the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) says, as at September 2026.
At a glance
- From 1 June 2026, a Swedish work permit requires a salary of at least 90 percent of the national median, replacing the old 80 percent rule. This is in force, not proposed.
- As at the 16 June 2026 median update, that means at least SEK 34,470 per month. The figure is recalculated every June.
- People extending a permit granted before 1 June 2026 keep the 80 percent rule only if they apply between 1 June and 1 December 2026.
- Certain occupations and qualifying start-up employees are exempt from the full rule but must still earn at least 75 percent of the median.
- Your employer must notify the trade union, arrange four insurances, pass an employer check and report if you do not start within four months.
The salary rule as at September 2026
Until 31 May 2026, Sweden asked that a work permit job provide “a good living”: a monthly salary of at least 80 percent of the national median.
From 1 June 2026, a new salary requirement applies. Your salary must be at least 90 percent of the median salary in Sweden at the time of your application. Migrationsverket confirms the new rules came into force on that date, so this is the live rule, not a draft.
In money terms, the current figure is SEK 34,470 per month. That is 90 percent of the median salary Statistics Sweden published on 16 June 2026, which was SEK 38,300. The median is refreshed every June, so the threshold will change again in June 2027. The figure that counts is the one in force on the day you apply.
Think of the threshold as a tide line rather than a wall. It rises each June, so an offer that clears it this year should be checked again if the application slips into next summer.
The requirements in one table
| Requirement | What it means | Source-dated value |
|---|---|---|
| Salary requirement (new) | At least 90 percent of the Swedish median salary at the time of application | SEK 34,470 per month (median update 16 June 2026; rule in force 1 June 2026) |
| Maintenance requirement (old) | At least 80 percent of the median; applied until 31 May 2026, now transitional only | SEK 29,680 (17 June 2025 median); SEK 30,640 (16 June 2026 median) |
| Exempt occupations and start-up employees | Exempt from the full rule but must still be paid at least 75 percent of the median | 75 percent of the median at the time of application (from 1 June 2026) |
| EU Blue Card threshold | Separate route for highly qualified employment; 1.25 times the average gross salary | SEK 53,625 per month (since 15 July 2026) |
| Application fee, employee | Paid on application; not refunded if the application is rejected | SEK 2,200 (accessed 13 September 2026) |
| Processing, complete applications | Time within which 75 percent of recently decided cases were decided | 1 month for highly qualified workers; 4 months for other employment |
Already hold a Swedish permit? Check the transition dates
If your current work permit was granted before 1 June 2026, and you apply to extend it between 1 June and 1 December 2026, the old 80 percent maintenance requirement still applies. The new salary requirement does not cover you in that window.
If you apply to extend on or after 2 December 2026, you must meet the new 90 percent requirement. That date is a hard line, and anyone planning a renewal from the UAE should note it now.
Who is exempt from the full 90 percent rule
Migrationsverket lists certain professions and applicant groups that are exempt from the salary requirement. Exempt does not mean unlimited. A person covered by an exemption must still be paid at least 75 percent of the median salary in Sweden at the time of application.
The exempt occupations sit in the Aliens Ordinance and include roles such as IT support technicians, systems administrators, network technicians and laboratory engineers.
A second exemption covers employees of certain tech or life science companies. The company must be in a start-up phase, be less than five years old and have fewer than one hundred employees. We see UAE-based developers and data specialists receiving offers from exactly this kind of company. Ask the employer directly whether they meet all three tests.
What your employer must do
A Swedish work permit is employer-led, so here is what Migrationsverket asks of the company hiring you.
Notify the trade union
The employer sends information about the employment to the relevant trade union for the industry, and the union is given the opportunity to comment on the terms and conditions. If the union refrains from commenting, Migrationsverket itself decides whether the terms correspond to collective agreements or what is customary in the occupation. A silent union is not a veto.
Arrange four insurances before you start
By the time you start your job, your employer must have taken out health insurance, life insurance, industrial injuries insurance and occupational pension insurance for you.
Pass the employer check
Under the 2026 rules, Migrationsverket may reject a work permit application because of circumstances relating to the employer or its representatives, such as certain crimes, sanctions for employing people without permits, or tax and fee compliance failures. A qualifying candidate can now be refused because of a non-compliant employer.
Report if you do not start within four months
From 1 June 2026, employers must notify Migrationsverket if an employee has not started within four months of the permit being granted. If employment does not begin within four months, the permit may be revoked.
Short contracts need comprehensive health insurance
If your employment will last a maximum of one year, you must have, or have applied for, comprehensive health insurance valid for your whole stay. It must cover urgent and other medical care, hospitalisation, emergency dental care and medical repatriation.
The EU Blue Card: a higher bar, a longer permit
Senior professionals with a stronger offer may qualify for the EU Blue Card, a separate route for highly qualified employment. Migrationsverket sets the threshold each year at 1.25 times the average gross salary published by the National Mediation Office. Since 15 July 2026, the threshold is SEK 53,625 per month. Under the June 2026 reforms, the maximum Blue Card permit period was extended from two years to four years.
We compare both routes for clients through our skilled talent visas service, and the choice usually comes down to the salary in the contract.
Fees and processing times
The application fee for an employee is SEK 2,200, with SEK 1,500 for each adult family member and SEK 750 per child. The fee is not refunded if the application is rejected.
Migrationsverket publishes its own processing statistics. For highly qualified workers with a complete application, 75 percent of recently decided cases were decided within 1 month. For other employment with a complete application, the figure is 4 months.
From the UAE: what this means for you
Start with the offer letter. The requirement is stated in Swedish krona, so ask your employer to state the monthly gross salary in SEK and check it against SEK 34,470, or the 75 percent figure if you fall within an exempt group. If the offer sits close to the line, remember the threshold moves every June.
Next, ask the employer three questions in writing: has the trade union been informed, are the four insurances arranged, and is the company clear on the employer check? We have seen offers that looked fine on salary stall because the employer had not started the union step.
Then plan the calendar. A UAE notice period, a Dubai apartment handover and a school term in Sweden all have to fit inside the four-month start window after the permit is granted. If your contract is for a year or less, arrange the comprehensive health insurance early.
Finally, keep your employment contract, reference letters from former employers and bank statements in one folder. Most of the delays we see begin with a missing document.
Our Sweden page explains how we review an offer, and our how we work page sets out each step from the first call to submission. If Sweden is one of several countries on your list, our countries we serve page shows the other routes we handle.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 90 percent salary rule already in force, or is it a proposal?
It is in force. Migrationsverket confirms the new work permit rules came into force on 1 June 2026. As at September 2026 the figure is SEK 34,470 per month, based on the median salary published on 16 June 2026.
I already have a Swedish work permit. Does the new rule affect my extension?
If your permit was granted before 1 June 2026 and you apply to extend between 1 June and 1 December 2026, the old 80 percent rule applies. From 2 December 2026, extension applicants must meet the 90 percent requirement.
Can the application be refused even if my salary and documents are in order?
Yes. Since the 2026 reform, Migrationsverket may reject an application due to circumstances relating to the employer, such as certain crimes, sanctions for employing people without permits, or tax and fee compliance failures.
What to do next
If you have a Swedish offer, or expect one, request a free eligibility assessment and we will check the salary, the exemption position and the employer steps against the current rules. Call our Dubai office on 04 357 7796, or book a 20-minute review at a time that suits you. We never promise an outcome; every decision rests with Migrationsverket.
Sources
- Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — New rules for work permits come into force — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — Apply for a work permit in Sweden — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — A good living – maintenance requirement for work permits — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — Extending a work permit – what the employer must do — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — Apply for an EU Blue Card for highly qualified employment in Sweden — accessed 13 Sep 2026
Not sure which route fits you? Book a free eligibility assessment with our Dubai or Abu Dhabi team. No obligation.
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