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With the new model approaching from the Swedish Migration Agency, now more than ever it will be important to send in complete applications to ensure fast decision times. Work permit extensions (that fall into Category A) are going to have the same timeline as New Permit applications. This means extension permits will need to be complete

A vital aspect of a work permit application involves the consideration of salary levels. The Aliens Act governs the acceptable salary standards for obtaining a work permit, stipulating that the salary must align with current collective union agreements or prevailing industry practices. While companies are not obligated to have such agreements in place, salaries must still correspond to these benchmarks. During the permit application process, the Swedish Migration Agency evaluates this criterion, often obtaining input from the relevant labor union. If the union declines to provide a statement on applicable employment conditions, the agency has the authority to assess the salary level using data from SCB – Statistics Sweden. Additionally, the current law mandates that an employee holding a work permit must earn a minimum of SEK 13,000 per month. Its crucial to note that this minimum amount applies even to employees working part-time, although this standard is currently undergoing review and is expected to see a substantial increase soon. In Sweden, companies traditionally rely on collective agreements rather than minimum wages, a practice different from many other countries. This distinction can pose a challenge for companies employing foreign workers, as obtaining precise information on suitable salary levels might be complex.