Sweden Mobility & Study Hub

A: Yes! Sweden is one of the very few countries worldwide with no statutory limit on the number of hours international students may work while holding a valid residence permit for higher education. However, students must dedicate at least 40 hours per week to full-time study and achieve at least 15 ECTS credits in their first year and 22.5 ECTS credits in subsequent semesters to be eligible for permit extensions.

A: For 2025/2026, the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) maintenance requirement is exactly 10,314 SEK per month. For a standard 10-month academic year, students must show at least 103,140 SEK (approx. $10,000 USD) in a bank account in their own name. Furthermore, the first tuition instalment must be registered as paid by the Swedish university before Migrationsverket will process the permit.

A: If your study program is 1 year (12 months) or longer, you are entitled to register in the Swedish Population Register (Folkbokförd) with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and receive a Swedish Personal Identity Number (Personnummer). This gives you the exact same access to Swedish subsidized public healthcare as Swedish citizens. If your program is less than 1 year, you must have comprehensive private health insurance covering all medical costs.

A: Graduates of Swedish higher education programs lasting at least two semesters (Bachelor, Master, or PhD) can apply for a 12-month residence permit to seek employment or explore starting a business (Uppehållstillstånd för att söka arbete). You must apply before your student permit expires and show maintenance funds of 10,314 SEK/month. When offered employment paying at least 80% of the Swedish median wage (~28,480 SEK/month), you can transition to a Swedish Work Permit.