In a bid to make Sweden more appealing to skilled professionals and retain talented workers, Swedish authorities have sped up the processing time for the EU Blue Card, drastically reducing it from 90 days to just 30 days, as reported by Monte OZ Travels.
This faster processing also applies to Intra-Corporate Transferee Permits and researchers. By streamlining the timeline, Sweden aims to benefit both international workers and the national job market. However, not everyone eligible will see this quick turnaround.
Authorities emphasized that the shortened processing time applies only to applications that are fully complete and error-free. For those with incomplete or inaccurate submissions, processing can still take up to four months. Additionally, professionals entering fields requiring further assessments under Sweden’s four-tier evaluation system won’t be eligible for the shorter timeframe.
This shift is intended to ease workforce shortages across Sweden by enabling qualified workers to join the labor market much faster. Businesses facing staffing gaps will benefit, and foreign professionals will no longer face long waiting periods before starting their new roles.
Sweden’s Efforts to Ease Salary Requirements for EU Blue Card
In another move to attract skilled international workers, Sweden plans to lower the salary threshold for the EU Blue Card. As announced in August, this change would reduce the monthly salary requirement by around €866, making Sweden a more accessible destination for foreign professionals.
Swedish Minister of Migration Maria Malmer Stenergard emphasized that this proposal to ease the salary requirements is a significant step toward supporting foreign professionals and addressing the demand for highly skilled workers.
Sweden isn’t alone in revisiting its EU Blue Card policies. Earlier this year, Estonia also revised its regulations to attract qualified talent, allowing applicants with five years of work experience to qualify for the EU Blue Card without needing formal educational credentials.