Key Takeaways
• Sweden may raise work permit salary threshold to 100% of median salary, currently SEK 28,480 monthly.
• Government agencies to suggest job exemptions by August 1, 2025; changes likely delayed to late 2025.
• No formal decision yet, amid political disagreements and ongoing debates about immigration and labor market needs.
Sweden 🇸🇪 has long been an attractive destination for people wanting to build a career and a life in Northern Europe. The country is known for its strong social system, open society, and high quality of life. But in recent months, a heated debate has built up around changes to Sweden’s immigration rules, especially those for work permits. A key part of the discussion is the so-called “work permit salary threshold”—essentially, the minimum salary a foreign worker must earn to get a work permit.
With rumors, proposals, and sharp political arguments swirling around, Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell recently stepped in to clear confusion. He said that “no formal decision” has been made yet on any new changes to the work permit salary threshold. As reported by VisaVerge.com, his statement arrives at a time of serious government debate and broad interest from employers, workers, and the wider public. The uncertainty about the rules creates questions for anyone thinking of working in Sweden, as well as for companies trying to plan ahead.
Let’s look at what’s at stake, what the current rules are, what could change, and what all this might mean for you or your business.
What Are the Current Salary Requirements for a Swedish Work Permit?
If you’re not Swedish but you want to work in Sweden, you must meet certain rules. The Swedish Migration Agency says that for most foreign workers, the job you get must pay you at least 80% of the so-called “median salary” in Sweden. As of June 2024, this means you need to earn a minimum of SEK 28,480 every month. This amount aims to make sure that foreign workers have a decent living and are not underpaid.
To give some historical background, up until November 2023, the required minimum salary was just SEK 13,000 a month. The jump to SEK 28,480 is very large—more than double. The new minimum kicked in after Sweden decided to connect the salary rule to the country’s median pay, which reflects what a typical worker in the country earns.
These tougher rules came about partly because of concerns that some companies used low wages to take advantage of foreign workers. Sweden wanted to encourage fair pay and to make sure people coming to the country could support themselves.
Learn more about work permit requirements on the Swedish Migration Agency’s official website.
What Are the Proposed Changes?
Even after the sharp rise in 2023, the debate hasn’t ended. Some politicians and experts think the new threshold still isn’t high enough. A government-appointed panel, in a report called “New regulations for labor immigration” (SOU 2024:15), suggested raising the minimum all the way to 100% of the median salary. In other words, a foreign worker’s pay would need to match or exceed the monthly amount made by the very middle worker in Sweden.
To put it simply, if the threshold is set at 100% of the median salary, getting a work permit in Sweden would get even harder. Many jobs—especially those in sectors like home care, restaurants, and cleaning—would fall short of the new pay rule. This means fewer foreign workers could qualify.
Sweden 🇸🇪 faces a tricky problem here. On one hand, there’s a need to make sure people are not underpaid. On the other, many industries depend on workers from outside the country because of worker shortages.
Exemptions for Certain Jobs
The Swedish Migration Minister and the government know that not all jobs are the same. That’s why, in February 2025, they assigned the Swedish Migration Agency to come up with a list of jobs that should not have to follow the new, even higher salary rule if it becomes law. For example, some jobs in farming, hospitality, or elder care might be left out if their market pay remains lower than the national median.
The Migration Agency, together with the Swedish Public Employment Service, must hand in their suggestions to the Ministry of Justice by August 1, 2025. Only after that can the government decide which jobs should be “exempt” from the rule.
When Could These Changes Happen?
So far, no formal choice has been made on when or if the new 100% median salary threshold will take effect. At first, there was talk that the government might introduce it in June 2025. Now, because there are so many details to sort out, experts think the changes likely wouldn’t start until late 2025 at the earliest.
This timeline matters for everyone from workers applying for jobs, to families planning a move, to companies needing to hire staff in the months ahead.
Political Debate and Different Opinions
One thing that stands out in this story is that even top people in Sweden’s coalition government can’t agree. While some, including the government-appointed committee, want to increase the threshold, others are more cautious.
Sweden’s Employment Minister Mats Persson said in January 2025 that his party—the Liberals—might want to actually lower the minimum salary for work permits. This runs directly against the idea of making the threshold higher. His comments highlight the lack of unity within the government.
This “push and pull” between stricter and looser rules is not just about numbers. It shows deeper questions about what Sweden’s labor market should look like, who gets to take part, and how to balance the country’s needs with the global movement of workers.
Why Does the Work Permit Salary Threshold Matter?
If you are a current or potential immigrant, an employer, or a recruiter, these rules directly affect you. Here’s why:
- For job-seekers: If the threshold rises to 100% of the median salary, some roles may no longer bring in enough pay to qualify.
- For employers: Companies that usually hire workers from outside Sweden 🇸🇪—often in care, hospitality, or seasonal work—could struggle to fill jobs.
- For the Swedish economy: While stricter rules aim to curb worker exploitation and raise income standards, they may also make worker shortages worse in needed sectors.
There’s also a debate about fairness. Some worry these rules shut out talented workers who bring needed skills, simply because their jobs pay under the national average.
Other Immigration Policy Changes Sweeping Across Sweden
While the debate over the work permit salary threshold carries on, Sweden 🇸🇪 has made or suggested several other big immigration changes. Some are aimed at different groups of migrants, such as those coming through EU programs or those wanting to become Swedish citizens.
EU Blue Card Simplification
Sweden’s version of the EU Blue Card, which is meant for highly skilled workers from outside the EU, has gotten easier to obtain since January 2025. Key changes include:
- Lower salary requirement—now set at 1.25 times Sweden’s average salary.
- Shorter work contract needed—minimum contract is now 6 months instead of 12.
- Workers can show relevant professional experience, not only university degrees.
These changes come as Sweden 🇸🇪 tries to attract more skilled workers to fill top-level jobs in fields like technology, science, and engineering.
Tougher Rules for Swedish Citizenship
Besides work permits, the Swedish government has been looking at who should become a Swedish citizen. The main proposals include:
- People applying for citizenship must now have an income equal to three “income base amounts“—this is about SEK 20,000 a month. The aim is to make sure new citizens can support themselves.
- The time you must have lived in Sweden as a permanent resident before applying for citizenship could rise from 5 years to 8 years.
These stricter rules are meant to ensure people are well rooted in Sweden 🇸🇪 before they become citizens. Supporters believe it will help with better integration, while critics argue it could make Swedish citizenship harder to reach for those who work in lower-paid jobs or struggle to find long-term work.
Sweden’s Balancing Act: Integration, Fairness, and Labor Market Needs
For now, despite the many suggestions and rumors, the Swedish Migration Minister stands firm in saying: nothing has been settled for sure about the work permit salary threshold. The next months are likely to see more debate, research, and negotiation, shaped by the input of different political parties, government agencies, and community voices.
Sweden 🇸🇪 faces many of the same questions as other countries: How can it protect its citizens and labor market while also welcoming much-needed talent from abroad? How can it stop low pay and exploitation without locking out people who can contribute?
Some argue that higher thresholds keep standards high and prevent abuses. Others fear they could hurt industries that rely on global workers and make Sweden less attractive as a place to live and work.
What Should You Do If You’re Affected?
For now, the Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance remains the best source for current rules. If you’re planning to move to Sweden 🇸🇪 or hire from abroad, here are some steps to consider:
- Check the official requirements for work permits.
- Watch for news from the government and agencies about any final decisions or exemptions.
- If you work in a field likely to be considered for exemption (such as seasonal or care work), keep in contact with your employer or union for updates.
- Businesses should plan for possible staffing issues, and may want to get legal advice before hiring staff from outside Sweden.
It’s important to note that while the government is discussing many proposals, only the current rules are legally binding until new laws are signed and take effect.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next?
With the Migration Agency and Employment Service not due to report on exemptions until August 2025, and with political disagreements still ongoing, it’s likely that the work permit salary threshold question will stay open for many months. People thinking about working in Sweden 🇸🇪, and the employers who want to hire them, must stay alert for change.
Meanwhile, changes to other parts of Sweden’s immigration system—like EU Blue Card rules and citizenship requirements—show that the country is actively rethinking how it welcomes and supports newcomers.
Whether these moves make Sweden 🇸🇪 more open, more selective, or simply more complex remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that immigration policy will stay a major topic in Sweden’s politics and public debate for the near future.
For anyone interested in moving to or hiring in Sweden, the only safe bet is to keep checking official updates and stay informed through trusted resources like VisaVerge.com and government sites. This way, you can adapt to whatever changes might come and make the best decisions for your future.
In summary, the Swedish Migration Minister’s statement signals that while talk and planning about the work permit salary threshold continue, no law has changed yet. But with big policy ideas on the table, the landscape for immigration to Sweden 🇸🇪 may keep changing in the seasons ahead—showing the need for careful planning and up-to-date advice at every step.
Learn Today
Work Permit Salary Threshold → The minimum monthly pay a foreign worker must earn to qualify for a Swedish work permit.
Median Salary → The salary in the middle of all wages; half of workers earn more, half earn less in Sweden.
Swedish Migration Agency → The government body managing immigration, work permits, and related processes in Sweden.
EU Blue Card → A special work and residence permit for highly skilled non-EU nationals working within the European Union.
Exemption → A job or category allowed to bypass a specific immigration rule, such as the salary threshold for work permits.
This Article in a Nutshell
Sweden’s government is debating raising the work permit salary threshold to 100% of the national median salary. No formal decision has been made, but experts expect any changes no earlier than late 2025. Certain jobs may be exempt. For now, current rules and guidance from the Migration Agency still apply.
— By VisaVerge.com
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