The short answer
An ordinary Swedish work permit application must show pay of at least 90% of the median salary applicable when the application is filed. Since 16 June 2026, Migrationsverket states SEK 34,470 per month. Decisions from 1 June follow the new framework, but some extensions filed between 1 June and 1 December 2026 remain under the earlier threshold, and named categories use a reduced threshold or separate rules.
The figure changed after the rules began
The reform began on 1 June 2026 with a threshold of 90% of the median salary. When Statistics Sweden published a SEK 38,300 median, Migrationsverket changed the displayed threshold to SEK 34,470 on 16 June.
The phrase vid ansökningstillfället, at the time of application, matters. An older article showing SEK 33,390 may have been correct for an earlier filing and wrong today.
Pay must also match collective agreements or normal conditions in the occupation. Reaching the general threshold does not cure an offer that is below the professional rate.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| lönekrav | salary requirement | The work permit pay threshold. |
| medianlön | median salary | The statistic from which the 90% threshold is calculated. |
The extension transition ends on 1 December
If the current permit was granted before 1 June and an extension is filed between 1 June and 1 December 2026, Migrationsverket says the new threshold does not apply. The earlier 80% level applicable at filing is used instead.
This is narrow protection. Check the current decision date, whether this is an extension, and the actual filing date. A first application does not gain the transition merely because it is filed in the same months.
Keep the filing receipt and previous decision beside the offer. The contract signature date is not necessarily the controlling date.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| förlängningsansökan | extension application | The application type covered by the transition. |
| beviljat före den 1 juni | granted before 1 June | The condition on the current permit. |
Insurance and named exceptions
For a stay lasting no more than one year, comprehensive health insurance is now required. Seasonal and ICT permits also have specific minimum pay rules tied to collective agreements or professional practice.
The government announced a 75% median threshold for defined categories, including certain shortage occupations, eligible tech and life-science startup employees, some recent graduates and people from Ukraine. The list and conditions matter as much as the percentage.
Personal assistants and forest berry pickers were excluded from work permits under the announced framework. SEK 34,470 is therefore not a universal answer.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| undantag | exception | A worker must meet a named category, not merely resemble it. |
| heltäckande sjukförsäkring | comprehensive health insurance | Required for some stays of up to one year. |
Read the offer before signing
Find the gross monthly pay, employment percentage, start date and duration. Ask which collective agreement applies. Convert hourly or annual figures carefully for part-time work.
Ask in writing: Uppfyller lönen Migrationsverkets krav vid ansökningstillfället? Does the pay meet Migrationsverket's requirement when the application is filed?
After starting, use the Swedish payslip guide to check that actual pay continues to match the offer supporting the permit.
Once the contract starts, two practical processes arrive quickly: reporting a change of address and notifying work correctly when sick.
Before leaving that job, examine both the 2027 employer-change proposal and the legal identity of companies in an illegal-labour subcontracting chain.
Sources
- Migrationsverket: New rules for work permits now apply2026-06-01
- Migrationsverket: Permit to work in Sweden as an employee or self-employed person2026-06-16
- Government announces exemptions from new salary requirement2026-06-17
Rules and processing times change. Check the official page for your own case before acting on anything here.
Questions people ask
- What is Sweden's work permit salary threshold in September 2026?
- Migrationsverket states SEK 34,470 per month from 16 June 2026, equal to 90% of the SEK 38,300 median salary, for the ordinary route.
- Does it apply to applications filed before June?
- The new framework covers decisions from 1 June, with a specific transition for some extensions filed by 1 December 2026.
- Are there exceptions to SEK 34,470?
- Yes. Named categories may use a 75% threshold, while seasonal, ICT and other permits have separate conditions.
- Is reaching SEK 34,470 always enough?
- No. Pay and employment conditions must also match collective agreements or normal professional practice, and insurance may be required.
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