Sweden’s New Rules for Labor Immigration

In late 2025, the Swedish government approved Prop. 2025/26:87, a bill that proposes more stringent conditions for labor immigration and seeks to counteract fraud and work-related crime. By introducing stricter regulations and new criminal provisions and assigning clearer responsibility, the government hopes the bill will create “a system that protects highly skilled workers and benefits serious employers,” according to Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.

Proposals in the bill

The bill proposes a range of new requirements, offenses, and penalties.

• Wage requirement: A wage requirement of 90% of the median wage will be set as a condition for receiving a work permit. However, there may be exceptions for certain groups such as licensed professionals or recent graduates or in areas where there is an acute shortage of skills. There is also a requirement for comprehensive health insurance.
• Possible exclusion of professions: If serious abuse of the labor immigration regulations is detected among certain professions, they may be barred from receiving work permits. The bill proposes a government ordinance to regulate the exclusion of these professions.
• New offenses: The bill proposes the introduction of two new offenses — exploitation of foreign labor and trading in work permits.
• Refusal of work permits: The legislation includes a provision that allows work permits to be refused if the employer has been issued certain sanctions or is suspected of/has been convicted of certain offenses.
• Increased fines: The bill doubles the fine for employers that hire any foreign national who is not entitled to work or stay in Sweden.
• Permit periods: The bill extends the permit periods for EU Blue Cards and permits for seasonal labor.
• Expanded opportunities for residence permits: The bill proposes the expansion of opportunities for certain highly skilled aliens to apply for a residence permit from within Sweden.

The Swedish government intends for these legislative amendments to enter into force on June 1, 2026.

Sources: Government Offices of Sweden, EY, Government of Sweden Regeringskansliet