Most people applying for a work permit should use the Swedish Migration Agency website and apply online. Regardless of how you apply, your work permit must have been granted before leave for Sweden.
Your employer in Sweden initiates the work permit application by completing an offer of employment. Your employer needs information about your name, date of birth, citizenship, education and your e-mail address, which the Migration Agency will use to communicate with you throughout the application process.
How to proceed (for paper applications, see further down):
1. Preparing your documents
Check which documents and personal data you need.
Read more under ‘Required documents’ and on the Swedish Migration Agency website.
2. Applying
When your employer has completed an offer of employment you will recieve an e-mail (see above).
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.
3. Waiting for a decision
When the Swedish Migration Agency has made its decision, you will be informed of this by e-mail. The actual decision will be given to you when you visit the Embassy. Bring your passport when collecting your decision. 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 a residence permit card.
Visit the Embassy in order to have your photo and fingerprints taken for the residence permit card. You can do so either while waiting for a decision or after you have been granted a residence permit. You need to book an appointment for biometrics.
Bring the passport that you used when applying for a residence permit.
You can find the address of the Embassy under ‘Contact’ in the menu on the left.
Once the residence permit card has been delivered to the Embassy it will be sent out to you by mail to the address that you have provided ín the application process.
If you cannot or do not want to apply online, you apply on a paper form that you submit to the Embassy.
1. Preparing the documents
Check which documents and personal data you need.
Read more under ‘Required documents’ and on the Swedish Migration Agency website.
2. Paying the application fee
Fee must be paid in cash at the Embassy.
For information on current fees, please consult the application fee page. Please note that the fee is non-refundable.
3. Presenting an application at the Embassy
Bring the completed application form with you, together with all the required documents and a receipt of payment of the fee.
You need to book an appointment to hand in your application.
Booking an appointment with the Migration Section: By e-mail: visa.hanoi@gov.se or by telephone during telephone hours, Tuesday and Thursday 15.00 - 16.00 Tel: 0243 72 60 400
You can find the Embassy’s address under ‘Contact’ in the menu on the left.
The Embassy sends your documents to the Migration Agency in Sweden.
4. Waiting 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. Bring your passport when collecting the decision.
5. Acquiring 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’.
The Swedish Migration Agency decides whether or not you will get a work permit. Once the decision has been made, it is sent to the Embassy. If you have given a power of attorney to somebody, the Swedish Migration Board will notify him or her. Otherwise, you will be contacted by e-mail or telephone by the Embassy.
If your application is refused, you may appeal against the decision within three weeks of the date you received the decision. You shall send the appeal to the authority who made the decision. If you have given someone in Sweden a power of attorney to represent you, he or she may appeal on behalf of you.
If you have general questions regarding residence permits, please contact the Embassy by e-mail at visa.hanoi@gov.se or by telephone during our telephone hours, Tuesday and Thursday 15.00 -16.00. Our staff speak English and Vietnamese. If you have any questions regarding an ongoing application, you should contact the Swedish Migration Agency directly.