Starting from 1 January 2025, requirements for an EU Blue Card issued in Sweden have been eased. This includes a lower salary threshold and removing the requirement to leave Sweden when applying for an EU Blue Card in-country. This is following implementation of the recast EU Blue Card Directive into national law.
In September 2024, the Swedish government submitted a bill to the Riksdag with proposals aimed to enhance Sweden’s ability to attract and retain high-skilled workers. This is an area of great focus for Swedish policymakers as the Swedish labour market is familiar to the issues that are prevalent on the EU labour market as a whole, in which skills shortages and an ageing population are amongst some of the key concerns.
As a result of the bill, in November 2024, the Riksdag decided to implement the European Union’s new Blue Card-directive, which effectively replaces the old Directive which was introduced in 2009. The EU Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit for highly qualified professionals from outside the EU who have an employment in Sweden. This type of work permit is an important keystone in the strategy to attract high-skilled immigrant labour. The new EU Blue Card-Directive was effectively implemented in Sweden on January 1st, 2025.
Below are some of the key policy changes that entered legal force in Sweden on January 1st, 2025.
The salary threshold to apply for an EU-Blue Card in Sweden is lowered: The minimum salary requirement is reduced from 1.5 times to 1.25 times the average gross salary in Sweden. Effectively, today’s salary requirement amounts to 49 875 SEK (Swedish Krona) per month. Failure to meet the salary requirement will lead to a rejection of the application. The salary amount will be updated on an annual basis.
Shorter employment duration: The required minimum employment period prior to being eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card is reduced from 12 months to 6 months.
Flexible job transitions in the Swedish labour market: Cardholders can switch to another highly qualified job that meets the EU Blue Card requirements without submitting a new application to the Swedish Migration Agency. Instead, any employment changes must be reported to the Swedish Migration Agency.
Improved flexibility when changing permit grounds in Sweden: Individuals with other types of residence permits in Sweden can now apply for an EU Blue Card without leaving the country. As a general rule, the Swedish Aliens Act states that all applications for a Swedish residence permit must be approved prior to entry. Exemptions to this rule do apply and the EU Blue Card is now a part of the exemption list.
According to statistics from the Swedish government in September 2024, the EU Blue Card has only represented a very small number of applications and approved permits based on work in Sweden. With the implementation of the new EU directive, Swedish policymakers are hopeful that the new effective changes will have a positive impact on the attractiveness of applying for an EU Blue Card in Sweden.
First, with the new policy changes, holders can enjoy more flexibility in the Swedish labour market. The ability to change employment in Sweden without submitting a new work permit application to the Swedish Migration Agency allows beneficiaries to explore the Swedish labour market without the complexity of filing a new permit application. In addition, being able to transition from a national work permit to an EU Blue Card from within Sweden, allows greater stability for both the employee and the employer as it minimises any potential interruptions to the employment caused by a temporary departure from Sweden.
Second, the lower salary threshold and reduced employment period (to 6 months) for being eligible to apply will result in a larger work pool being qualified to apply for an EU Blue Card in Sweden. Whether this will result in an actual increase in the number of EU Blue Card applications to the Swedish Migration Agency, remains to be seen.
Third, a more streamlined policy framework helps Swedish employers when they have to turn to international recruitments due to a skill shortage in the local labour market. Simplifying regulations for skilled labour coming from third countries is important for Sweden’s international competitiveness.
Since the new policies were only introduced in January 2025, their short-term and long-term effect on labour market immigration to Sweden are yet to be determined.
The policy changes bring significant updates for both new applicants and existing EU Blue Card-holders. In order to retain and attract high-skilled labour, employers must stay informed about legislative changes as navigating the Swedish work permit system can be a complex task.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Patrik Nyström
Senior Manager
Ida Eriksson
Senior Associate
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