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Last updated: February 17, 2026
As of June 1, 2026, Sweden has increased the minimum salary requirement for work permit applicants to SEK 33,390 per month, which corresponds to 90% of the national median salary. This is an increase from the previous threshold of SEK 29,680 per month, which was 80% of the median salary.
The Swedish government has the authority to grant exemptions from this salary requirement for certain occupational groups, such as those in shortage occupations or where collectively agreed wages fall below the threshold. However, these exemptions are expected to be limited.
Employers planning to hire foreign workers must ensure that the offered salary meets or exceeds the new threshold of SEK 33,390 per month. Additionally, terms of employment must align with collective agreements or industry standards. For stays up to one year, comprehensive health insurance covering medical care and repatriation is required.
These changes aim to ensure fair wages, protect against exploitation, and align with Swedish wage standards amid labor market updates.
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Lucas Botzen
Lucas Botzen is the Founder of Rivermate, a global employment platform that helps companies hire, employ, and manage talent internationally. Since founding Rivermate in December 2020, he has focused on building practical solutions that simplify international payroll, benefits, taxes, contracts, and employment compliance for remote teams. Before Rivermate, Lucas co-founded and co-directed Boloo, an e-learning and software company that helped entrepreneurs start and grow e-commerce businesses. He scaled Boloo to more than €2 million in annual revenue before successfully exiting the business in 2020. Lucas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Innovation from Avans University of Applied Sciences. His background in entrepreneurship, technology, automation, and remote work continues to shape his approach to making global employment simpler and more human.
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