New salary threshold for work permits announced

Sweden is to raise the salary threshold for work permits to 33,390 SEK monthly. The changes were announced by Sweden’s migration minister, Johan Forssell, at a government press conference on Monday 6^th October.

The new salary requirement for work permit holders will increase to 90% of the median wage starting June 1, 2026. This is a 10% increase from the current level of 80% of the median wage introduced two years ago. The new threshold will increase the minimum salary from 29,680 SEK to 33,390 SEK when it comes into effect next summer.

The change is a departure from the controversial measure proposed by a government inquiry in February 2024, which was backed by The Sweden Democrats. This proposal was that Sweden should raise the work permit threshold to 100% of the median salary from 2025, with exemptions for some categories of workers. It has taken the government 18 months to align on 90% of the median wage instead and not implementing the more complicated system proposed for deciding which jobs would be exempted from the new salary requirement.

The government now plans to manage exemptions by using a system of government decrees, which will be developed along with the planned bill and come into force simultaneously with the new legislation, according to Forssell.

Wondering how this will impact your business and workforce planning?

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