Background & Purpose
Sweden wants to make it easier for highly educated people to stay, while also addressing concerns that some study permits are being used incorrectly to enter the country for other reasons.
The Decision
The parliament decided to simplify permit processes for researchers and doctoral students, while introducing stricter requirements for international students and a new law for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Does this affect you?
- International researchers and doctoral students: They gain more flexibility, including longer permits to search for jobs and easier access to permanent residency.
- International students: They face tougher rules regarding study progress and stricter conditions for switching to work permits.
- People from Ukraine: They are covered by a new specific law regarding their right to residency in Sweden.
In Practice
- Researchers and doctoral students get faster paths to permanent residency and more time to look for work after finishing their studies.
- It becomes easier for researchers and their families to apply for permits without leaving Sweden.
- International students face stricter requirements to prove they are actually studying and making progress.
- It becomes harder to switch from a study permit to a work permit.
- New rules allow for the withdrawal of family permits if the student does not meet the requirements.