Some countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea has signed a work agreement with Sweden, which makes it possible for citizens from these countries to come to Sweden to work. The work permit is valid for one year and does not require you to have a work offer before you enter Sweden.

Quick guide to Work permits for young people in Sweden (updated for 2025).

This means that you could come to Sweden (without a job offer) and search for a job here. If you find a job and want to stay in Sweden, for more than one year, you could then apply for a regular residence permit based on employment.

Requirements for work permits

• to be a citizen of either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay or South Korea.
• to be between 18-30 years old.
• have at least 15 000 SEK, in order to support yourself initially in Sweden.
• have a return ticket or enough money to buy one.
• have a valid health insurance and valid passport.

Note: this type of work permits do not allow you to bring your children to Sweden.

Read more and apply at The Migration Board

E-learning course: Preparing your move to Sweden

Are you already feeling a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff you need to figure out how to move to Sweden? We’ve got you covered. Over the years we’ve been repeatedly told just stressful this process can be so we created a digital course with all the information you need to move. Here you will learn about:

• Short (and long facts) about Sweden.
• The history and background of Sweden in regards to democracy, religious freedom, gender equality, social security, child welfare and LGBTQIA+.
• The types of visas and residence permits that are available plus the requirements.
• Important Swedish agencies, and trust us, you DO need to know about these ones.
• How to find a place to stay and how to avoid rental fraud.
• How to pack for your move depending on the season.
• And there will be some quizzes to make sure you are paying attention and not falling asleep at your screen.

After finishing this course, you will have a greater understanding of what has made Sweden what it is today, how you best prepare for a move here and to get your stay here started in the best manner.

Sign up to your course here

Further reading

• Newbie stories
• Work in Sweden guides
• Learn Swedish

FAQs

Need more on Work permits for young people? See the resources below.