The directive, which was supposed to have been implemented in May, has now been submitted to Sweden's Council on Legislation, the committee that scrutinises all bills before they go before parliament, to ensure that they are in line with the Swedish constitution and existing law.
It means that a work permit will no longer be tied to a certain employer and profession, plus that a worker who changes jobs or employers will no longer have to apply for a new work permit (but they do have to inform the Migration Agency of their change – failure to do this could lead to their work permit being withdrawn – and the new role will still have to meet all the requirements necessary for a work permit).
In addition, if a person has had a work permit for more than two years and is laid off, they will have six months to find a new job before their work permit expires, rather than the current three months. The Local has been calling on the government for years to increase the grace period awarded to laid-off work permit holders.
"I want Sweden to become the best in the EU when it comes to talent attraction and attracting international top talent. Therefore, we are working on several fronts to reduce red tape and bureaucracy. The new legislative proposals will make processes smoother and more predictable for companies and individuals," said Migration Minister Johan Forssell in a statement.
The legislative changes are proposed to enter into force on February 1st, 2027, more than eight months behind schedule.