Effective May 21, 2026, Sweden is expected to implement the following single permit reforms, among other changes:
- Single permits will no longer be tied to a specific employer or profession. A notification requirement informing authorities of the change will be introduced.
- Foreign nationals who have had a Swedish single permit for more than two years will be able to retain their permit for six months after becoming unemployed – up from the current three months.
- Work permit periods will no longer be limited to the probationary period of six months but will be able to be granted for up to two years.
- Employers will not be able to ask foreign workers to reimburse them for the single-permit application fee.
- Standard government processing times for single permit applications will decrease to 90 days from the submission of a completed application (down from the current 120 days).
The government must still review this proposed change and parliament must pass the law before it would enter into force. We will report on related developments.
These reforms are proposed as part of Sweden adhering to the revised EU Single Permit Directive, which seeks to make the European Union more attractive to foreign workers and was formally adopted following in 2024.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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