Stricter labour immigration regulations to end abuse and strengthen controls

“Labour immigration to Sweden must be fair and orderly. For this reason, the Government is now implementing extensive reforms to end abuse and strengthen controls. With stricter regulations, new criminal provisions and clearer responsibility, we’re building a system that protects highly-skilled workers and benefits serious employers,” says Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.

“It’s crucial that labour immigration to Sweden is designed in a way that minimises fraud and work-related crime. With these new stricter regulations, we’re putting Sweden’s best interests first by combating wage dumping and making sure that unscrupulous actors aren’t allowed to exploit the system,” says Ludvig Aspling, migration policy spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats.

“Labour immigration is necessary to ensure a secure supply of labour and welcome new skills to Sweden, but this must take place in an orderly manner. The Government is now implementing much-needed reforms to ensure more stringent conditions and counter abuse. The possibility to make exceptions to the salary requirement where really necessary is also important, to address the labour shortages in certain professional groups,” says Ingemar Kihlström, migration policy spokesperson for the Christian Democrats. 

“Labour immigration must be orderly and predictable. When the system is abused, it impacts not only workers but serious employers. With these proposals, we’re countering abuse of the regulations and exploitation of labour immigrants, and creating better conditions for a fair and effective system,” says Minister for Employment Johan Britz.

The bill proposes legislative amendments to make the requirements imposed on labour immigration more stringent, and new criminal provisions to enable more criminal prosecutions. The Government also proposes certain improvements to the regulations on highly-skilled labour immigrants. 

The Government’s proposals include the following:

• A wage requirement of 90 per cent of the median wage will be introduced as a condition for receiving a work permit. Nonetheless, exceptions to the wage requirement will be possible for certain professional groups, if there is a particularly strong need. 
• It will be possible to exclude professions where there is serious abuse of the labour immigration regulations from being granted work permits. It is proposed that the professions to be excluded be regulated by the Government in an ordinance.
• Two new offences will be introduced – exploitation of foreign labour and trading in work permits.
• A clarifying provision will be introduced whereby work permits may be refused if the employer has been issued certain sanctions or is suspected of/has been convicted of certain offences.
• The special charge imposed on employers who employ an alien who is not entitled to stay or work in Sweden will be doubled.
• The permit periods for EU Blue Cards and permits for seasonal labour will be extended.
• The possibility for certain highly-skilled aliens to apply for a residence permit from within Sweden will be expanded.

These proposals are based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats.

It is proposed that the legislative amendments enter into force on 1 June 2026.