Starting November 1, employers are required to offer prospective employees a monthly salary of at least 27,360 SEK to meet the new subsistence requirement. How will this affect your business? Which industries and occupations will be most affected, and what is the purpose of this change?

The income requirement for those applying for a work permit in Sweden is now being raised. Anyone applying for a work permit after November 1 must have a salary equivalent to at least 80 percent of the current median wage, which is currently 27,360 SEK. The median wage is updated annually by Statistics Sweden (SCB).

The purpose of the change is to establish the conditions under which it is reasonable and justifiable for a labor migrant to come to Sweden and work. According to the government, the new rules are intended to ensure that every labor migrant achieves a decent standard of living through their employment . The current abuse of the system is reportedly set to be reduced under the new rules. There should be no people working for excessively low wages, excessively long hours, and sometimes without time off. This requirement strengthens the position of labor migrants in the labor market and combats wage dumping.

The monthly salary must also be in line with collective bargaining agreements or industry/occupational standards. In cases where the salary in line with the collective agreement is still below the subsistence requirement, the monthly salary must reach 80 percent of the median salary applicable at the time of the work permit application. It is irrelevant whether the position is full-time or part-time.

In practice, this means that certain occupations and industries are affected significantly more than others. The occupational areas most affected are service, care, sales, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, berry picking, fishing, and occupations requiring only brief training or orientation. These groups often have lower wages today than what is required under the new income requirement. According to the Swedish Migration Agency, approximately one in four workers has a wage below the new wage requirement.

I submitted an application before November 1, but it hasn't been processed yet. What will happen to it?

– The date of your application is what counts. If you submitted your application before November 1, the new means test does not apply; it applies only to applications submitted on or after November 1.

Workers who are exempt from the new requirement include those who exercise their right to free movement (EU/EEA citizens or family members of such individuals), those who hold or are applying for an EU Blue Card, those who hold or are applying for an ICT permit, and seasonal workers.

What should I keep in mind when applying to your organization?

– ByHart focuses almost exclusively on processing and managing work permit applications for professional groups that fall above the new income requirement. The majority of the employers we assist need work permits for specialists and more executive-level positions. In cases where the income requirement becomes an issue, we will of course inform and guide you, as the client, on how we need to handle your applications together.

Please contact us if you need assistance with processing work permits and/or recruiting new employees outside of Sweden and the EU.

Source: Swedish Migration Agency