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The working holiday permit lets young people from six countries live and work in Sweden for up to a year without a job offer.
Which countries?
Sweden has working holiday agreements with Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Citizens of other countries can't use this route.
Requirements
- Age: 18 to 30.
- Funds: at least SEK 15,000 to support yourself when you first arrive, shown with a bank statement no more than six months old.
- A return ticket, or proof that you can afford one.
- Insurance: comprehensive health insurance for the whole stay, covering medical care, hospital care, emergency dental care and medical repatriation (Australian citizens are exempt).
- A valid passport.
Length, fee and waiting time
- Up to one year, and never longer than your passport is valid. It can't be extended.
- Fee: SEK 1,500.
- At the time of writing, 75% of complete applications were decided within about three months.
Working during the year
The point of the permit is a holiday: you may work, but work must not be the main purpose of the trip, and it must end when the permit expires. You don't need a job offer before you come. Skatteverket registers people in the population register when they plan to live in Sweden for at least a year, so check with Skatteverket how your stay will be handled. See registering after arrival.
To stay longer you need another permit, usually a work permit with a job offer that meets the normal requirements. See all Swedish permit types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries can get a working holiday visa for Sweden?
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, aged 18 to 30.
Can UK or US citizens get a working holiday visa for Sweden?
No. The UK and the US are not among the six countries with a working holiday agreement with Sweden. They need a work permit with a job offer, or another permit.
Can a Swedish working holiday visa be extended?
No. It lasts up to one year and can't be extended. To stay, apply for another permit, such as a work permit.
How Settio helps
Planning your own move? Our free tools answer the common questions in under a minute: is this salary enough for a permit and how long the decision takes.
Once you are hired, Settio helps your employer or immigration agency run the case in one place: a plan with every step before the move, an employee portal on your phone after arrival, and reminders before your permit runs out.
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