The Swedish Migration Agency recently announced a new initiative to dramatically speed up work permit processing times for highly skilled workers coming to Sweden.

In the past, work permit processing could take many months, creating major headaches for employers trying to fill talent shortages in today’s tight labour market. But under the agency’s new model, qualified foreign nationals will be able to obtain a Swedish work permit in just 30 days.

This change comes as part of the Swedish government’s push to make it easier for companies to recruit abroad and fill key roles. With many industries facing talent shortages in areas like tech, engineering, finance, and life sciences, the ability to hire qualified foreign workers quickly is becoming increasingly important for Sweden’s global competitiveness.

The 30-day processing time will apply to highly skilled occupations like managers, professionals, and associate professionals. These roles tend to require advanced university degrees or extensive experience equivalent to higher education. The faster process will replace Sweden’s old certification system for these types of high-level jobs.

For employers, the streamlined work permit system should make it much simpler to attract and hire the foreign talent they need to innovate and grow. No longer will they face months-long waits as applications inch through the bureaucracy. This accelerated timeline will aid industries ranging from technology and engineering to finance and life sciences.

While the 30-day policy focuses on higher-skilled roles, the Migration Agency is also looking to improve processing for other types of work permits. The goal is faster and more transparent processing overall, to ensure Sweden remains an attractive place for foreign professionals at all levels.

The agency plans to have the new 30-day work permit system up and running by the end of 2023. This will help cement Sweden’s position as a top global destination for highly skilled foreign professionals. For employers struggling with today’s extremely tight labour market, it’s a very welcome development.

With this streamlined new work permit process, Sweden is taking a proactive step to build its talent pipeline and fuel its innovation economy. The 30-day policy demonstrates Sweden’s commitment to attracting the top international experts who can help Swedish companies stay competitive. It’s a smart strategy that other countries would do well to emulate.