Your first weeks, in the right order
Most of what follows depends on one thing: being listed in the Swedish Population Register. Do that first.
- Notify Skatteverket of your move. The Swedish Tax Agency's "Moving to Sweden" e-service takes your details and copies of your passport and residence permit card. You then book an identity check at a government service centre. Once you are registered, you get a personal identity number (personnummer).
- Contact Arbetsförmedlingen soon after the decision. The Swedish Public Employment Service decides whether you can join the introduction programme, and neither the introduction benefit nor any programme activity can start before that decision. Bring the decision from Migrationsverket, proof of identity (your Swedish ID card, if you already have a personal identity number), and every diploma, transcript and work certificate you have. Write your questions down beforehand.
- Open a bank account now, then get an ID card and e-ID. A bank account does not have to wait. Anyone living in Sweden or elsewhere in the EEA has the right to a basic payment account, and lacking a personal identity number is not on its own a reason for a bank to refuse, as Konsumenternas Bank- och finansbyrå explains (in Swedish). The bank must still be able to verify who you are, so bring your passport and residence permit card, and expect it to take longer. If a bank says no, ask for the refusal in writing; Finansinspektionen (in Swedish) explains how to complain. The Swedish ID card and an e-ID such as BankID do need the personal identity number.
Arbetsförmedlingen's local offices only see visitors who have booked an appointment with an employment officer. Government service centres answer questions about Arbetsförmedlingen without a booking. Both are listed on Arbetsförmedlingen's office page.
The personal identity number is worth chasing early because so much waits on it:
- Försäkringskassan cannot pay your introduction benefit without it
- most banks ask for it, though a basic payment account cannot be refused for that reason alone
- you need it to apply for a Swedish ID card and for e-ID
- the activities in the introduction programme require it
If you live in Migrationsverket accommodation and cannot find housing yourself, the agency assigns a municipality that helps you settle. Declining that offer means you arrange housing on your own.
What your permit means for work
A permit based on protection needs is not tied to an employer or an occupation. If you are 16 or older, you can take any job for as long as the permit is valid. When you apply, employers usually ask for a copy of the first page of your decision and your residence permit card, so they can see how long you may work here.
The length of your first permit depends on your status. An extension is a new decision with its own length, not a repeat of the first one:
| Status | First permit | Extended permit |
|---|---|---|
| Refugee | Three years | Usually two or three years |
| Subsidiary protection | 13 months | Usually two or three years |
Since 12 July 2026, a permit on protection grounds can no longer be turned into a permanent residence permit, so every renewal is an extension. Applying is free. Send the application during the last two months before your current permit expires, not earlier and never after it has run out. If you apply late, you cannot work while you wait for the decision, you risk losing introduction benefit or student finance, and the application itself can be refused. Migrationsverket's extension page has the details.
The introduction programme
The introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet) gives certain newly arrived people activities and education with one aim: learning Swedish, getting a job and supporting yourself as soon as possible. It is for people aged 20 to 67 who have recently been granted a permit as a refugee, a person in need of protection, or a family member of either. You and an employment officer agree on a plan. Depending on your background it can include:
- Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) and civic orientation
- validation of skills you already have
- a work placement (praktik) and job-search support
- studies at upper-secondary, vocational, college or university level
The programme is usually full time, though part time is possible during parental leave, part-time work or illness. Taking part is voluntary, but once you join you must follow the plan, send a monthly activity report and accept job offers. While you take part you can apply to Försäkringskassan for introduction benefit.
You can stay in the programme for up to 24 months in total, all within 36 months of receiving your personal identity number. Starting late costs you time.
What happens at the first meeting
The employment officer asks about the work you have done, what you studied, what interests you and where you want to end up. You can have an interpreter. The officer also looks at what your family situation and health allow, and the plan of activities is built from that conversation. Come with documents that back up your story, since the plan is only as good as what the officer knows about you.
Not eligible for the programme?
If your permit is not based on protection, or you are not a family member of someone whose is, Arbetsförmedlingen still works with you as long as you have the right to work in Sweden. It can help you:
- search for vacancies
- take Swedish lessons
- pick a course or programme that fits your goals
- try out a job so an employer can see what you can do
- understand how working life and everyday life function here
- see which parts of the country offer the best odds in your field
Getting your degree recognised
The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) assesses foreign qualifications for people looking for work. Two routes:
- Qualification Assessment Tool. Look up your country and degree and download a PDF showing the comparable Swedish degree. It covers over 1,000 qualifications from more than 90 countries.
- Individual recognition statement. Apply online with your documents. Expect about two to five months.
Some professions are regulated by law, including doctors, nurses, psychologists and pharmacists. For those you apply to the responsible authority, such as the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), not UHR. UHR keeps the full list.
If you are an academic, engineer or clinician
Arbetsförmedlingen runs two routes designed for people with university degrees.
Academic fast track (Akademikertjänst Korta vägen). For jobseekers with at least two years of university studies, from Sweden or abroad. It runs for up to six months full time and combines a skills mapping, a work placement in your field and academic guidance, with optional modules such as academic Swedish. You need to have finished SFI course D or have equivalent Swedish.
Contract education for degree holders. Full-time distance courses at Swedish universities, paid for by Arbetsförmedlingen, in fields where employers are short of staff. Recent courses have covered doctors, nurses, teachers, energy engineers and software developers. You need a degree in the field, good Swedish and registration as a jobseeker. The list changes, so ask your employment officer.
Swedish opens most doors here, and licensed health professions require it. Our guide to learning Swedish covers the options. Many research and engineering roles also hire in English, so browse open positions while you study.
If you decide to leave Sweden
People with a protection-based permit who move permanently to another country can sometimes get a repatriation grant from Migrationsverket. The conditions are strict: among other things, your permit must have been granted on or before 12 September 2024, and moving to an EU/EEA country or Switzerland does not qualify. The amounts were raised on 1 January 2026. Check the current rules on Migrationsverket's repatriation grant page before you plan.
Common questions
Can I start working before I join the introduction programme?
Yes. A protection-based permit gives you the right to work from age 16 for as long as it is valid. If you are in the programme and start working full time, the programme ends, so tell Arbetsförmedlingen about any job you take.
Do I have to join the introduction programme?
No, it is voluntary. If you join, you must follow the agreed plan, report your activities every month and accept job offers, or your introduction benefit from Försäkringskassan may be affected.
Can my permit become permanent?
Not on protection grounds. Since 12 July 2026, a protection-based permit cannot become a permanent residence permit. The first permit runs three years for refugees and 13 months for subsidiary protection. Extensions are free and usually last two or three years. Apply during the two months before your current permit expires, never after.
Is a UHR statement enough to work as a doctor or nurse?
No. Health professions are regulated, so you apply for a licence from Socialstyrelsen, which has its own steps, including proof of Swedish. A UHR statement helps in unregulated jobs, where employers use it to understand your degree.