Since 1 June 2026 a work permit (arbetstillstånd) as a general rule needs a salary of at least 90 percent of the median wage in Sweden. The government has now decided which jobs and groups get an exception (undantag) from that level.
The government presented the decision on 22 May 2026. For the exempt groups the salary requirement is lower, but not gone: at least 75 percent of the median wage instead of 90 percent.
The shortage occupations
Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency), together with Arbetsförmedlingen (the public employment service), was asked to propose bristyrken (shortage occupations) that could be exempted. It suggested up to 81; the government chose a narrower set of 27.
The 27 are jobs where Sweden has a lasting shortage. Examples named by the authorities include engineers and IT technicians, certain healthcare roles such as undersköterskor (assistant nurses) and ambulance staff, welders and mechanics, and operators in the food industry. The full list sits with the government and Migrationsverket.
Other groups with the lower threshold
From 11 June 2026 the 75 percent level also covers several groups, whatever their exact job title:
- Former students in Sweden who apply for a work permit from inside the country.
- People with a foreign degree seeking a Swedish licence in a regulated profession (legitimationsyrke), such as pharmacist, doctor, nurse or dentist.
- People with protection under the massflyktsdirektivet (the EU mass-flight directive), including many from Ukraine, who apply for a work permit.
- Employees at start-ups in tech and life science, where the company is still being built up, is under five years old and has fewer than 100 staff.
Two jobs closed to work permits
Two occupations can no longer be granted a work permit at all: personal assistant (personlig assistent) and forest berry picker (bärplockare i skog).
Employers also have a new duty: they must report to Migrationsverket if the worker has not started the job within four months of the permit being granted.
This article describes the rules. Whether a specific job or person falls under an exception is for Migrationsverket to decide.
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.
