Guide to working in Sweden as an expat

1. Sweden's job market

2. Best places to work

3. Visas for Sweden

4. Practicalities

5. Work culture

This Nordic country provides excellent working conditions, and is known for its high standard of living and generous parental & annual leave. A flat organisational structure is also common, encouraging greater collaboration and transparency in workplaces.

Let’s explore what working in Sweden is like for expats, including the work culture, the state of the job market and the visa application process.

Sweden's job market

There are a variety of job opportunities for expats who are looking to relocate to Sweden, with the country having a huge GDP of 638.78 billion USD as of 2024 according to the International Monetary Fund.²

If you’re looking for jobs in Sweden, it’s worth noting that some of the professions currently experiencing skills shortages incorporate the following:

• Construction workers

• Software developers

• Engineers

• Teachers

• Healthcare professionals

To meet labour demands, Sweden has introduced several measures to attract skilled foreign talent to the country. This includes streamlining the application process for various types of visas, and simplifying the pre-requisites for its highly-skilled worker visa. They have also implemented programmes like Startup Sweden and Impact Innovation to encourage entrepreneurs to pursue their business ventures in the country.

You could begin your search job search through the Swedish Public Employment Service’s website, where you can also find useful guidance about the application process. Utilise local job boards as well or leverage your professional network where possible, which could help you secure a role.

Best places to work

Location is another huge consideration when you decide to live in Sweden, and can impact your overall living experience. When researching locations, take into account factors such as cost of living, amenities and transportation networks, supporting you in narrowing down the options.

Below, we take a look at some of the top cities in Sweden for international workers as well as some of their key industries:

• Gothenburg: approximately 570,000 residents live in Gothenburg, which is the second-largest city in Sweden. Its core job sectors are automotive, shipping and research and development.

• Stockholm: the capital of Sweden, Stockholm is situated on the Baltic Sea in the eastern part of the country. Job opportunities for expats here include in the financial services, manufacturing and technology sectors.

• Malmö: Situated close to the Denmark border in southern Sweden, Malmo is a smaller city with around 350,000 residents. Its key industries comprise of healthcare, education, and business and support services.

• Uppsala: Located about an hour north of Stockholm, Uppsala is a university town that has a variety of roles for expats in sectors such as life science, tourism and retail services.

• Discover our blog about the best places to live in Sweden for expats for a more in-depth look at some of these locations.

Visas for Sweden

Depending on your personal situation, you may need to obtain a visa to be able to work in Sweden.

If you’re from an EU/EEA country don’t require a visa for living, working or studying in Sweden. However, you must register your residence with your local municipality if you plan on remaining in the country for longer than three months.

If you’re a non-EU/EEA citizen, you might have to obtain a visa before you’re able to work here. Your employer has to sponsor this on your behalf, and some of their responsibilities during this process include providing:

• Insurance: when you work in Sweden, it’s mandatory for your employer to offer you insurance that covers health, life, employment and pensions.

• Application support: they must make sure the application meets all compliance regulations and that the necessary paperwork is submitted to the Swedish Migration Agency in a timely manner.

• Documentation: in order to work in Sweden, your employer has to first present you with a formal job offer and employment contract.

When getting a job in Sweden, you could also consider purchasing international health insurance to provide you with additional coverage to enable you to have fast access to diagnosis and eligible treatment.

As part of the Sweden visa application, it could be necessary for you to attend a visa appointment at your local embassy or consulate. At this meeting, you will need to provide certain information, including your biometric information, passport and your application form.

Practicalities

Let’s take a look at some of the other practicalities related to working in Sweden that it can be useful to know.

Though English is widely spoken in Sweden, it is advisable to learn the basics of the language if you’re going to work here. This can help you feel more settled in your workplace, and make communicating with your colleagues easier.

When you work in Sweden, it’s worth noting that you must pay contributions towards social insurance alongside your employer. This works out at around 31.42% of your salary and goes towards the cost of service such as healthcare, public pensions and disability support.

Your tax responsibilities will depend on your salary, but all workers are required to pay municipal and national income tax out of your income. You might also have to pay state tax if you earn above a particular threshold.

It’s a good idea to spend some time looking into setting up a bank account in Sweden. In some instances, you’re able to do this without being a legal resident, such as if you’re a national from an EU/EEA country. Check this in advance of your relocation so you’re aware of the rules surrounding this.

Work culture

The Nordic countries are frequently voted as some of the happiest places in the world, with Sweden retaining its high position as number three in the rankings for 2025.3

The concept of “fika” is important to Swedish work life. This refers to the culture of taking a break throughout the day for a hot drink and sometimes food, giving employees the space to have discussions with colleagues in a relaxed environment.

It’s common for workplaces to have a flat hierarchical structure, meaning that there are fewer levels of management or leadership. Decision making in this type of environment is characterised by collaboration and shared decision-making.

It’s important to consider your employee rights when relocating. In Sweden, workers are entitled to 25 days of paid holiday leave every year and many workplaces are closed on its 13 public holidays.

Parents can also receive up to 480 days of leave when they have a child. This can be equally split between them at 240 days, and is one of the highest parental leave entitlements worldwide.

For more information about what to expect when moving to Sweden as an expat, check out our blog here.