Regardless of how you apply, your work permit must have been granted before you leave for Sweden.

The employer initiates the application

Your employer in Sweden initiates the work permit application by completing an offer of employment. Your employer needs information about your name, date of birth, citizenship, education and your email address, which the Swedish Migration Agency will use to communicate with you throughout the application period.

When your employer has completed an offer of employment you will receive an email with information about how to apply for a work permit.

The above information does not apply to the following occupations, which are subject to special rules: performer, au pair, berry picker, visiting researcher, athlete or trainer and trainees. Read more on the Swedish Migration Agency Website.

Applying online

1. Prepare your documentation 
Check which documents and personal data you need. The Swedish Migration Agency gives priority to applications that are completed in full, and you get a decision sooner.

Read more under ‘Required documents’ and find instructions on the Swedish Migration Agency website

2. Applying 
When your employer has completed an offer of employment you will receive an email with information about how to apply for a work permit.

Follow the Swedish Migration Agency's website: Swedish Migration Agency Website

3. Waiting for a decision 
When the Swedish Migration Agency has reached its decision, you will be informed of this by email. The actual decision will be given to you when you visit the embassy. Bring your passport when collecting your decision. Your employer or contractor will be informed of the decision by post.

4. Acquiring a residence permit card 
If you are granted a permit for more than three months, you will be issued with a residence permit card. If you already have been photographed and fingerprinted the card should reach the embassy within 4 weeks after the decision was taken.

If you need a visa to enter Sweden 
Visit the embassy to be photographed and fingerprinted for the card. You can do so either while waiting for a decision or after you have been granted a work permit. You can do this at the reception time. Bring the same passport with you as the one you used when applying for a work permit.

You can find the embassy’s address under Contact information.

It can take up to four weeks for the residence permit card to be prepared and delivered to the embassy. You should contact the embassy to make sure it has arrived before you come to pick it up. You must bring your passport with you. 

If you do not require a visa to enter Sweden 
If you are granted a permit for more than three months and do not need a visa, you travel to Sweden and arrange for the card there. Contact the Swedish Migration Agency for photographing and fingerprinting.

Applying on a paper form

If you cannot or do not want to apply online, you apply on a paper form that you submit to the embassy.

1. Prepare the documentation 
Check which documents and personal data you need. The Swedish Migration Agency gives priority to applications that are completed in full, and you get a decision sooner.

Read more under ‘Required documents’ and on the Swedish Migration Agency website

2. Pay the application fee
The fee should be paid upon your appointment at the embassy. You find the application fees here.

3. Present an application at the embassy
If you have submitted an online application for a residence permit, you can schedule an appointment after the Swedish Migration Agency has asked you to do so. The Embassy of Sweden in Beirut handles questions regarding residence permits. In order to present your application you must book an appointment, more information about this is found here. After this, you will receive an e-mail from the Embassy with a date for an appointment. Bring the completed application form with you to the appointment, together with all the required documents and a receipt for the fee payment. 

You can find the Embassy’s address under contact information.

The embassy sends your documents to the Migration Agency in Sweden.

4. Wait for a decision 
The Swedish Migration Agency informs the embassy of its decision. At the same time, your employer or contractor will be informed of the decision.

5. Arrange for a residence permit card 
If you are granted a permit for more than three months, you will receive a residence permit card. You arrange for the card in the same way as described above under ‘Applying online’.