Most people applying for a work permit should use the Swedish Migration Agency website and apply online.
If you are applying online, are granted a permit and do not need a visa to enter Sweden, you normally do not have to visit the embassy. Regardless of how you apply, your work permit must have been granted before you enter Sweden.
How to proceed (for applications on paper forms, see further down):
1. Prepare your documentation
Check which documents and personal data you need. The Swedish Migration Agency gives priority to applications that are completed in full, and you get a decision sooner.
Read more under "Required documents" and on the Swedish Migration Agency website:
Instructions on the Swedish Migration Agency Website:
2. Applying
Follow the Swedish Migration Agency’s instructions. You attach documents electronically and pay the application fee using a VISA card or a MasterCard. Family members use the same online application if they apply at the same time as you.
The online application goes directly to the Swedish Migration Agency for processing and a decision:
Swedish Migration Agency web application
3. Waiting for a decision
When the Swedish Migration Agency has reached its decision, you will be informed of this by e-mail. For a copy of your decision, you have to contact the embassy by sending a request to migration.berlin@gov.se. Please state your case number or control number. Your employer or contractor will be informed of the decision by post.
4. Acquiring a residence permit card
If you are granted a permit for more than three months, you will be issued with a residence permit card.
If you need your Swedish residence permit card to enter Sweden
Visit the embassy to provide your biometric data. You can do so either while waiting for a decision or after you have been granted a work permit. You can visit the embassy without making an appointment on Thursdays 9 am-12 noon. Bring the passport that you used when applying for a work permit. You may find the embassy address under "Contact" in the menu on the left.
It can take up to four weeks for the residence permit card to be prepared and delivered to the embassy. If you want to know whether your card has reached the embassy, you can contact us by migration.berlin@gov.se. Once the card has arrived here, you can either collect it in person without making an appointment on Thursdays 9 am-12 noon (you must bring your passport) or you can have it sent directly to your home address in a Schengen country (postage 5,- € or 7,-€).
If you do not require your Swedish residence permit card to enter Sweden
If you do not need a Swedish residence permit card in order to travel to Sweden, you should be able to show a copy of the decision when you arrive there. If you are granted a permit for more than three months and do not need a visa, you travel to Sweden and arrange for the card there. Contact the Swedish Migration Agency for photographing and fingerprinting.
If you are unable to apply online, you can apply on a paper form that you submit by post to the embassy. You may find the embassy address under "Contact" in the menu on the left.
1. Prepare the documentation
Check which documents and personal data you need. The Swedish Migration Agency gives priority to applications that are completed in full, and you get a decision sooner. Read more under "Required documents" and on the Swedish Migration Agency website:
Instructions on the Swedish Migration Agency website
2. Pay the application fee
Please transfer the fee to the embassy bank account and send a copy of the receipt together with your application form. The embassy bank account:
Beneficiary:
Schwedische Botschaft (Embassy of Sweden)
Account Number: 266 216 101
Bank: Commerzbank
BLZ: 100 400 00
IBAN: DE82 1004 0000 0266 2161 01
BIC/SWIFT: COBADEFFXXX
Read more under "Fees".
3. Present an application at the embassy
If you cannot or do not want to send your application by post to the embassy, you can also submit the completed application directly in person at the embassy without making an appointment on Thursdays, 9.00 - 12.00 noon. Bring the completed application form with you, together with all the required documents. You may find the embassy address under "Contact" in the menu on the left.
Your application will be forwarded to the Swedish Migration Agency.
4. Wait for a decision
The Swedish Migration Agency informs the embassy of its decision. The embassy then contacts you. At the same time, your employer or contractor will be informed of the decision by the Swedish Migration Agency.
5. Arrange for a residence permit card
If you are granted a permit for more than three months, you will receive a residence permit card. You arrange for the card in the same way as described above under "Applying online".