Swedish Government Unveils New Strategy for Streamlined Work Permit Applications

The Swedish government has recently published a comprehensive report detailing its strategy to introduce International Recruitment Units.

This initiative is designed to address and alleviate the substantial processing delays and backlogs that have affected work permit applications for foreign workers, including those from countries like Nigeria, seeking employment opportunities in Sweden.

Key Highlights of the Report

The report, exclusively obtained by Investors King, includes significant revisions to the existing work permit application system, most notably the introduction of a tiered application category system. This new approach will categorize applicants based on their professions and educational backgrounds, marking a departure from the current Fast Track scheme.

Also, the report recommends the discontinuation of the Fast Track scheme, citing its ineffectiveness. These proposed changes are expected to be implemented by late 2023 or early 2024.

Revamped Application Category System

Under the revamped system proposed by the International Recruitment Units, the assessment of work permit applications will now be primarily based on the applicant’s profession and educational qualifications, a significant shift from the Fast Track scheme in operation since 2011.

Here are the specifics of the four proposed categories as outlined in the report:

Category A: Qualified Professions

• Applicant Category: This category encompasses qualified professions, including management and leadership positions, as well as roles that require higher education qualifications.
• Processing Times: The government aims to process fully completed applications within 30 days. Incomplete applications, containing inaccuracies regarding the role or salary, or lacking necessary documentation or information, among other issues, will have a processing time of 120 days.
• Applicability: This category will apply to roles listed on the Swedish Classification of Occupations that start with a 1, 2, or 3, effectively replacing the less efficient Fast Track scheme.

Category B: Specific Occupations

• Applicant Categories: This category is designed for work permit applicants in specific occupations with distinctive requirements. This includes seasonal workers, EU intra-corporate transferees, EU Blue Card permits, researchers, and more.
• Processing Times: The processing duration will vary based on the type of application. For instance, EU Blue Card, intra-corporate transferee, and seasonal worker applications are expected to be processed within a maximum of 90 days, while researcher applications aim to be completed within up to 60 days.
• Specialized Review Units: These categories will be overseen by designated review units with expertise in handling the respective application types.

Category C: Non-Highly Qualified Occupations

• Applicant Category: This category is designated for occupations that fall outside the ‘highly qualified’ classification, encompassing roles that do not necessitate higher education. These positions, despite not being categorized as ‘highly qualified,’ provide significant societal value.
• Processing Time: A standardized processing period of 120 days will apply to this category, regardless of the application’s completeness.
• Reduced Government Scrutiny: Roles within this category will undergo less intensive government scrutiny during the application assessment. Eligibility includes applicants who do not meet the criteria for categories A or B.

Category D: Scrutinized Professions

• Applicant Category: This category is reserved for applications in professions identified by the Swedish Migration Agency as necessitating the utmost scrutiny due to a history of systemic exploitation of workers. These professions include roles in cleaning, construction, personal assistants in the medical sector, hospitality, and others.
• Processing Time: A processing timeframe of 120 days will be applicable, irrespective of the application’s completeness.

These proposed changes reflect the Swedish government’s commitment to improving the work permit application process for foreign workers, ensuring efficiency and fairness in granting work permits. Stay tuned for further updates on the implementation of these reforms, expected to roll out in late 2023 or early 2024.