Sweden: New EU Blue Card Rules

Lower minimum salary threshold. The minimum salary threshold will decrease to 1.25 times the average gross annual salary, down from 1.5 times.

This will make it easier for foreign nationals to access a Swedish EU Blue Card and for employers to afford highly skilled foreign talent under the EU Blue Card pathways, effectively increasing their pool of available employees.

Reduced job-offer duration requirements. Employment contracts will only need to be six months in duration, down from 12 months.

This change will grant employers more flexibility in terms of crafting employment terms. 

Expanded eligibility, including professional experience. Although authorities are expected to provide further details in the near future, it is currently understood that eligibility criteria will be expanded to allow applicants with professional experience in a relevant field to qualify for an EU Blue Card, even if without relevant educational qualifications. Currently, applicants are only eligible if they have appropriate education qualifications. 

Update October 22, 2025: As of January 2025, at least five years of relevant work experience (in lieu of education qualifications) is sufficient for Blue Card eligibility for unregulated professions. This does not apply to regulated professions (for instance, medicine) which still require education qualifications.

Employers would be able to hire highly skilled talent from a wider pool of applicants. This is particularly pertinent given the current labor shortages in Sweden.

Relaxed long-term mobility pathways. Foreign nationals with certain residence permits – including study permits, researchers, and those who have held an EU Blue Card in another EU Member State for at least 12 months – will be allowed to apply for an EU Blue Card from within Sweden. Currently, this is only possible under exceptional circumstances.

By allowing in-country applications, this change will reduce costs and bureaucratic hurdles for employers seeking to attract or retain foreign talent already present in Sweden. 

Relaxed change-of-job rules. All EU Blue Card holders will be able to change jobs simply by submitting a change-of-status notification to Swedish authorities; whereas currently, such individuals must submit a work change application (although the process is more flexible for individuals who have held their EU Blue Card for at least two years). 

Relaxed change-of-job rules will provide more flexibility for EU Blue Card holders seeking to remain in Sweden and may result in increased retention of foreign talent in the country.