finding work as an asylum seeker

If you have applied for asylum, you do not automatically have the right to work.

Your right to work is linked to AT-UND — an exemption from the normal requirement to have a work permit.

And the rules changed on 1 October 2026.

the new 6-month rule

Under the new rules, an asylum seeker may generally be granted access to the labour market if Migrationsverket has not made a decision on their asylum application within 6 months of the application being registered.

The delay must not be the applicant's fault, and the other conditions for access to the labour market must also be met.

If you already had AT-UND when the new rules came into force, you will generally keep it, although there are exceptions.

The easiest way to know whether you have the right to work is to check your application card.

Your card has a QR code that shows whether you have the right to work and, where applicable, how long that right is valid.

AT-UND is the Swedish term for an exemption from the requirement to have a work permit.

If you have AT-UND, you can work without first obtaining a normal Swedish work permit.

Your employer can check your right to work by scanning the QR code on your application card.

You should show the employer your card and make sure the employer knows how to verify your status.

If you don't have AT-UND, you cannot simply start working because an employer has offered you a job.

Check your status with Migrationsverket first.

If your asylum application has been approved and you have received a residence permit on the grounds of protection, the situation is much simpler.

If you are at least 16, you are allowed to work in Sweden.

When applying for jobs, you should be able to show documents proving that you have the right to live and work in Sweden, such as your residence permit card and your decision from Migrationsverket.

You may also be eligible for the etableringsprogrammet, Sweden's introduction programme for certain newly arrived people with protection status.

The etableringsprogrammet is run by Arbetsförmedlingen and is designed to help certain newly arrived people learn Swedish, find work and become financially self-sufficient.

You may be eligible if you are aged 20–67 and have recently received a residence permit as a refugee, a person in need of protection, or as a family member of someone with that status.

The programme is individually planned.

Depending on your situation, it can include:

• Swedish language training, including SFI
• work-related activities
• education or vocational training
• work experience
• job-search support
• validation of your existing skills
• other activities designed to help you enter the labour market

You work with an employment officer to create a plan based on your experience, education and goals. An interpreter can also be available if you need one.

don't wait to contact arbetsförmedlingen

Once you receive your residence permit, contact Arbetsförmedlingen as soon as possible.

Bring:

• your Migrationsverket decision
• documents proving your identity
• your residence permit card, if you have it
• certificates and diplomas
• evidence of previous employment
• anything else that helps explain your professional background

The more information you can provide about what you've already done, the easier it is to build a realistic route forward.

Your previous experience counts.

This is one of the biggest things we think newcomers should know.

You might need to explain it differently in Sweden, validate it, or add some Swedish training — but don't assume that arriving in Sweden means starting your career from the beginning.

For example, you might have:

• worked as an engineer
• run a restaurant
• taught at a university
• worked as a mechanic
• managed a business
• worked in healthcare
• been a construction worker
• worked in IT
• run your own company
• worked in sales or customer service

The challenge is translating that experience into something Swedish employers understand.

If you have a foreign qualification, the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) can assess what it corresponds to in the Swedish education system.

UHR has a digital Qualifications Assessment Tool covering more than 1,000 qualifications from 93 countries.

You can download the result as a PDF and use it when applying for jobs. If your qualification isn't included, you can apply for an individual recognition statement. The assessment is free.

This can be particularly useful if your degree or qualification has a name that Swedish employers won't immediately recognise.

but recognition isn't the same as permission to work

Some professions are regulated in Sweden.

Healthcare professionals, teachers and some other occupations may need additional authorisation or certification before you can work in that profession.

So having a foreign degree doesn't automatically mean you can start working in the equivalent Swedish profession.

Check the requirements for your specific occupation before assuming your qualification is enough.

This is where validation can help.

Validation means having your knowledge and professional skills assessed.

That knowledge doesn't necessarily have to come from a university or formal course. It can come from previous employment, vocational experience or other practical experience.

Arbetsförmedlingen can assess whether validation could improve your chances of finding work.

Depending on the occupation, the process can involve practical or theoretical assessment and can result in documentation of the skills you've demonstrated.

in other words: not having a Swedish certificate doesn't necessarily mean no Swedish career.

Try several routes at the same time.

arbetsförmedlingen

Register with Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden's Public Employment Service.

You can get help finding vacancies, identifying suitable training and understanding the Swedish labour market. If you're eligible for the establishment programme, it can also become part of your formal route into work.

employers directly

Don't underestimate direct contact.

If you find a company where your experience fits, check its careers page and apply directly.

For smaller companies, a short message introducing yourself can sometimes work better than waiting for the perfect vacancy.

people you know

Swedish recruitment can be surprisingly network-driven.

Tell people what you can do.

Your SFI (Swedish language school) class, sports club, community organisation, former colleagues, neighbours or someone you meet at a professional event may know about an opportunity.

You don't have to ask everyone for a job.

Just make sure people know what kind of work you're looking for.

recruitment companies

Recruitment and staffing agencies can be useful, particularly if you're open to temporary or entry-level work while building Swedish experience.

Government services aren't the only source of help.

Community organisations can sometimes provide the practical, human support that is harder to get from a formal system — especially if you need help understanding how things work in Sweden.

support group network (s.g.n.)

Support Group Network (SGN) is a refugee-led organisation working on social inclusion and labour-market inclusion.

Its labour-market work includes helping job seekers understand what they need to enter the Swedish labour market, supporting people with questions around skills and education, and supporting entrepreneurs who want to start or develop a business.

SGN has also worked specifically with refugees and asylum seekers, and its work includes education, employment and social inclusion.

This can make it a useful organisation to know about if you're looking for a more community-based route into work.

Check with SGN directly about current programmes and availability, as projects and services change over time.

Being new to Sweden can make you vulnerable to employers who take advantage of uncertainty.

Be cautious if someone offers you:

• work without a proper employment arrangement
• unusually low pay
• excessive working hours
• cash payments with no documentation
• a job in exchange for money
• work that requires you to hand over important personal documents
• a job where your immigration status is used to threaten or pressure you

Migrationsverket specifically warns that asylum seekers can be exposed to exploitation in the labour market, including very low wages, unreasonable working hours and poor working conditions.

If something feels wrong, ask for help before agreeing to anything.

A job offer should not require you to give up your rights.

Don't automatically assume they're right.

For asylum seekers, the employer needs to verify whether you have the right to work.

For people with protection status, the employer may need to see documentation confirming the right to work.

The rules can be complicated, and employers sometimes misunderstand the position of people who are new to Sweden.

Ask the employer what documentation they need and, if necessary, check the requirements with Migrationsverket or Arbetsförmedlingen.

Employment isn't the only route.

If you already have entrepreneurial experience, you may eventually want to start a business in Sweden. 

But having the right to work and having the right residence status for self-employment are not necessarily the same thing.

If you're an asylum seeker, don't assume that having AT-UND automatically means you can simply switch to running a business.

Business and immigration rules overlap here, so get advice about your specific situation before making the jump.

For a broader look at setting up a company in Sweden, see our guide to starting a business in Sweden as an international.