Sweden raises work permit salary threshold to SEK 33,390 from June 2026

Sweden’s new labour immigration rules take effect on 1 June 2026, raising the minimum monthly salary for work permit applicants from 80% to 90% of the national median wage — now SEK 33,390 per month. The threshold will be adjusted annually based on Statistics Sweden data, making it harder for lower-paid roles to qualify but aligning Sweden’s permit system more closely with its high cost of living.

Employer penalties for hiring illegal labour are also doubling, to SEK 118,400 per foreign national for initial violations and SEK 236,800 for breaches lasting more than three months. The government retains authority to grant exemptions for shortage occupations or where collectively agreed wages fall below the threshold.

For remote workers considering a move to Sweden, the changes underscore the country’s increasingly selective approach to labour migration. Sweden still has no dedicated digital nomad visa, so non-EU nationals working remotely for overseas employers face limited legal pathways. The reforms do, however, make it easier for international students and researchers already in Sweden to switch permit categories without leaving the country — a small but meaningful improvement for the tech-adjacent workforce.