Sweden’s EU Blue Card will now have a processing time of 30 days instead of 90 provided that all requirements are met. Lowering the salary threshold, allowing 6 months’ work contract, and many other easy rules are to be implemented from 1 January subject to the successful voting in the parliament on 28 November.
As per the announcement of 15 August 2024 of the immigration authorities in Sweden:
In the legislative council referral, the government proposes the legislative changes needed to implement the new blue card directive, which replaces the 2009 blue card directive. The proposals aim to improve the opportunities to attract and retain highly qualified workers and to facilitate the mobility of these people within the EU.
Major changes in Sweden’s EU Blue Card
The new changes for Sweden’s EU Blue Card will be implemented from 1 January 2025 subject to the successful voting on 28 November. A draft of changes in rules will be presented in the parliament on 27 November. The proposed changes are as follows:
- In order for an EU blue card to be granted, a foreigner must have an employment contract for highly qualified employees with an employment period of at least six months;
- the salary threshold of the proposed occupation in Sweden is at least 1.25 times the average gross annual salary in Sweden;
- opportunities to change from other types of residence permits to an EU blue card from within Sweden are being expanded;
- a foreigner who wants to change to another type of work or to another employment will no longer have to apply for a new EU blue card. Instead, the foreigner must report a change of employer or changes that affect the conditions for the permit to the Swedish Migration Agency;
- the scope of the application is expanded so that fewer categories of persons are exempted from the possibility of being granted an EU Blue Card;
- anyone who has been granted an EU Blue Card by another EU state may travel into Sweden and conduct business for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period;
- a foreigner who has had an EU blue card in another EU state for at least twelve months may, under certain conditions, apply for an EU blue card in Sweden with a somewhat simplified procedure.
Current EU Blue Card Requirements in Sweden
To get an EU blue card in Sweden, a non-EU citizen must have:
- a university education equivalent to 180 university credits or five years of relevant professional experience;
- taken out or applied for comprehensive health insurance that is valid for treatment in Sweden (the health insurance must be valid for the first three months in Sweden before you are registered in the national register);
- been offered a highly qualified position lasting at least one year;
- at least one and a half times the Swedish average salary.
On the other hand, there are also certain requirements for the employer to follow as well which are as follows:
- the employer has advertised the position in Sweden and within the EU/EEA and Switzerland for at least ten days;
- the employer has provided information about the employment and given the trade union concerned the opportunity to comment on the terms of employment offer and employment conditions that are at least at the same level as Swedish collective agreements or what is customary in the profession or industry; and
- the employer intends to take out health insurance, life insurance, occupational injury insurance, and occupational pension insurance when you start employment.