Is your arbetstillstånd (work permit) for a stay of up to one year? Then this change affects you. From 1 June 2026 you must show that you have a heltäckande sjukförsäkring (comprehensive health insurance), or that you have applied for one.
If your permit is for longer than one year, this rule adds nothing new for you. The insurance requirement is only for the shorter permits.
Who this affects
The rule follows the length of your stay, not your job or your salary. It applies when the permit is for a stay of up to one year. That includes many first work permits and short contracts.
You do not have to already hold the insurance when you apply. Showing that you have applied for one is enough at that point. But you do have to show something. A permit for up to one year with nothing about the insurance is not complete.
What comprehensive means here
The law asks for a heltäckande sjukförsäkring. In plain terms that is insurance which covers care and its costs while you are in Sweden. It can be a private policy or cover through your employer.
What counts as comprehensive is not for you or for us to decide. Only Migrationsverket judges whether a specific policy is enough. So read the terms of any policy against what Migrationsverket asks for, before you rely on it.
How it fits the other June 2026 changes
This rule came in with a wider work permit reform on 1 June 2026. Two other changes arrived on the same day.
- Short permits, for a stay of up to one year, must now show comprehensive health insurance or an application for one.
- Migrationsverket can now refuse a work permit because of problems linked to the employer, such as certain crimes or sanctions.
- A permit for seasonal work can now be up to nine months in a twelve month period. Before it was six months.
What to do now
If you are applying for a work permit for up to one year, sort out the insurance before you send the application. If you cannot buy it yet, apply for it and keep proof that you did.
This is general information, not advice for your case. Whether your permit falls under this rule, and whether a policy counts as comprehensive, is decided by Migrationsverket. For your own situation, ask them or a qualified lawyer.
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.
