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Applying in Sweden

How to apply for jobs in Sweden

A Swedish application is short and personal: a CV of one or two pages and a personligt brev, a one-page letter about why you and this job fit. Most vacancies are reported to the public employment service, state agencies publish theirs on a shared portal, and anyone from outside the EU/EEA needs an employer willing to go through the work permit process. This guide walks through each stage with the official pages behind it.

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How do you apply for a job in Sweden?

Find the vacancy on Platsbanken, a job site, LinkedIn or the employer's own page, then send a CV of one to two pages and a personal letter of at most one A4 page, both adapted to the advert. Interviews follow, often in more than one round. A new job may start with a probationary period of up to six months, and non-EU/EEA citizens need a work permit.[2][5][6][9][12]

Swedish applications at a glance

Usual practice for job applications in Sweden
TopicUsual in Sweden
The documentsA CV and a personligt brev (personal letter) that complement each other rather than repeat the same facts.
CV lengthOne to two pages, adapted to the job you are applying for.
PhotoOptional; if you add one, choose a professional picture.
Personal letterAt most one A4 page, with concrete examples instead of stock phrases.
Where jobs are postedPlatsbanken, Indeed, LinkedIn, JobbSafari, staffing firms such as Academic Work, Jobba statligt for state agencies, employers' own pages.
DiscriminationSeven protected grounds, and the ban covers people applying for work, not only employees.
ProbationProvanställning of at most six months; it turns into permanent employment unless notice is given in time.
Non-EU/EEA applicantsA work permit based on a job offer; the salary must reach 90 per cent of the national median.

[2][5][6][9][11][13]

Where Swedish vacancies are advertised

Arbetsförmedlingen's job bank is the obvious first stop, but private boards, LinkedIn, staffing firms and the state's own portal each carry roles you will not see elsewhere. Arbetsförmedlingen itself recommends combining several methods, including your network and direct contact with employers. Here is what each site is for.

Job sites used in Sweden and what each is for
SiteTypeWhat it is for
PlatsbankenPublic employment serviceArbetsförmedlingen's job bank, where employers report their vacancies, summer jobs included. The search runs in Swedish; the agency's English pages explain the service.
Arbetsförmedlingen skills profilePublic employment serviceA profile listing your skills and experience so employers can find and contact you. You can publish one without registering as a jobseeker.
IndeedInternational job siteRuns a Swedish site; useful as a second sweep next to Platsbanken, especially for private-sector roles.
LinkedInWhite-collar and corporateProfessional, technical and management roles, international employers and recruiter contact. Keep the profile in line with your CV.
JobbSafariGeneral job boardA Swedish career and job site, part of Duunitori Group, that describes itself as a guide through working life built to match people with openings.
Academic WorkStaffing and recruitmentA staffing and recruitment firm that places people with organisations in Sweden and across six European markets; its site also lists open roles for job seekers.
Jobba statligtPublic sector (state)Open positions at state agencies, run as an initiative of the roughly 250 members of Arbetsgivarverket. Filter by county, occupation or authority.
Municipalities and regionsLocal public employersCheck the job pages of the municipality and region where you want to work. Upper-secondary pupils can ask their municipality and region about summer jobs.
Employers' own pages and your networkDirect applicationsRead the careers page, then contact the employer or a former colleague who works there; Arbetsförmedlingen names both as ways to find a job.

Note the reference number of every advert and the closing date, then log the application in the job tracker so you can see which employers owe you an answer.

[1][2][3][4][18][19][20][21][22]

The CV and the personligt brev

Arbetsförmedlingen's advice is short: one to two pages are enough for a CV, the structure depends on the job you want, and you should adapt the document to every application. Contact details mean phone, email and postal address, with a LinkedIn profile or website if you have one. A photo is optional; if you include it, make sure it looks professional. The Swedish CV format guide covers layout and what else to put in.

The personligt brev is where you explain why you are right for this particular job. Keep it to one A4 page, open with the role you are applying for, and show your qualities through examples from work, studies or leisure instead of claims such as "I work well under pressure". Write in a professional but not stiff tone and make sure the letter and the CV complement each other. Arbetsförmedlingen notes that AI can help with ideas and proofreading as long as you make the text your own; Ruubu's cover letter builder gives you a first draft from your CV to edit for the advert.[5][6]

Discrimination rules that protect applicants

The Discrimination Act (2008:567) names seven grounds: sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age. Its ban on discrimination in working life covers people enquiring about or applying for work, not only those already employed. Questions on these points have no place in a selection process.

The Equality Ombudsman gives examples that matter in recruitment: an applicant who meets the advert's requirements but is not invited to interview while an equally qualified person is, for a reason linked to one of the grounds; or an instruction that only applicants with Swedish names should be interviewed. A language requirement is acceptable when the job genuinely needs it, as for a Swedish teacher, but not as a blanket filter.[10][11]

Applying for a job in Sweden, step by step

Read the advert for its last application date and the documents it asks for, and send the application as soon as it is ready.

  1. 01

    Search and save

    Run the same search on Platsbanken, one private board and LinkedIn, and save the adverts that fit with their reference numbers.

  2. 02

    Adapt the CV

    Cut it to one or two pages, lead with the experience the advert asks for, and check your resume to see how a screening system reads it.

  3. 03

    Write the personligt brev

    One page: the role, why this employer, two or three examples that prove you meet the requirements, and a positive closing line.

  4. 04

    Send it the way the advert asks

    Use the online form or email address it names. Upload PDFs and answer every screening question in full.

  5. 05

    Prepare for interview

    Read about the employer, prepare examples of your skills and questions about the next step. Practise with the interview prep kit.

  6. 06

    Read the offer

    Check whether the job is permanent or starts with provanställning, and confirm salary, hours and start date in writing.

What Swedish interviews are like

  • Arrive on time with copies of your CV and letter, a pen and a notepad; check the route the day before.
  • Switch off your phone before you go in.
  • Saying you are a little nervous is fine. Address your answers to everyone in the room, not only the person who asked.
  • Before you leave, make sure you have made the points you planned and ask what the next step is.
  • If you have not heard back by the agreed time you can call, and if you do not get the job you can ask for feedback.

[7]

Travel costs, salary and the provanställning

If the interview is far from home, Arbetsförmedlingen can pay up to SEK 3,600 towards travel and accommodation. You must be at least 20, unemployed or at risk of unemployment and registered as a jobseeker, and the return journey must take more than three hours. Apply before the trip: at least three working days ahead within Sweden, five for another EU/EEA country.

Salaries are discussed as a monthly gross amount; even the Migration Agency's work permit threshold is set per month. Have a researched figure ready for the question "what salary do you expect?" and ask which collective agreement, if any, applies to the job.

The Employment Protection Act makes permanent employment the main rule. An employer may agree a probationary period (provanställning) of at most six months, and it turns into permanent employment unless either side says otherwise by the end of the period. An employer who wants to end it early or not continue must tell you at least two weeks in advance. Once employed, the minimum notice period is one month, longer for the employer after several years of service.[8][9][12]

Work permits and foreign qualifications

EU/EEA citizens have free movement and do not need a work permit to work in Sweden. Everyone else needs a job offer first. Under the rules in force since 1 June 2026, the salary must be at least 90 per cent of the median salary in Sweden when you apply; after the June 2026 update that means at least SEK 34,470 a month. The terms must be at least on par with Swedish collective agreements or what is usual in the occupation, and people staying up to a year need comprehensive health insurance.

For new recruitment, the employer must advertise the vacancy in Sweden and within the EU/EEA and Switzerland for at least ten days, usually on Platsbanken, whose adverts also appear on the European EURES portal. Advertising only on LinkedIn is usually not enough, so ask an employer abroad how and where the role was published before you start the permit application.

The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) evaluates foreign qualifications: its online tool shows what your education corresponds to in Sweden and produces a PDF you can send to employers, or you can apply for an individual recognition statement. Regulated professions need permission from the competent authority, such as the National Board of Health and Welfare for health care or the National Agency for Education for teachers. If your CV is in another language, translate your resume into Swedish or English before you apply.[12][13][14][15][16][17]

Mistakes that cost interviews in Sweden

  • A three-page CV listing every duty instead of one or two pages built around the advert.
  • A personal letter that repeats the CV line by line or leans on clichés with no examples.
  • One generic letter sent to every employer instead of a version for each job.
  • Travelling to a distant interview and only then asking Arbetsförmedlingen about travel money: it must be applied for in advance.
  • Accepting an offer from abroad without checking that the salary meets the work permit threshold and the role was advertised as required.

Prepare this application with Ruubu

Each tool works on the resume you already have. Start with the free check, then fit the resume and letter to one posting.

Ruubu on job sites in Sweden

Built from the lists Ruubu actually runs, so this block only names sites Ruubu works with today.

Job Matches searches
LinkedIn and Indeed
Ruubu for Chrome shows your match score on
LinkedIn and Indeed
Ruubu for Chrome fills application forms on
LinkedIn, Indeed, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, Ashby, SmartRecruiters, iCIMS, Taleo, SAP SuccessFactors, Jobvite, BambooHR, Workable, Teamtailor, Oracle Recruiting Cloud, Breezy HR, Rippling, Dover, Gem, Comeet, Eightfold, Avature, and Cornerstone

Job sites and hiring systems belong to their owners. Ruubu is independent and not affiliated with them. Every site and what Ruubu does there

Frequently asked questions

Should a Swedish CV have a photo?
It is optional. Arbetsförmedlingen says that if you include a photo it should look professional, and its templates come both with and without one. The Swedish CV format guide has more on layout.
What is a personligt brev?
The personal letter that goes with a Swedish CV. It should be at most one A4 page, explain why you suit the specific job with concrete examples, and complement the CV rather than repeat it.
How long can a provanställning last?
At most six months under section 6 of the Employment Protection Act. It becomes permanent employment unless either side gives notice by the end of the period, and an employer must give two weeks' warning to end it.
Do I need a work permit to work in Sweden?
Not if you are an EU/EEA citizen. Others need a job offer, a salary of at least 90 per cent of the Swedish median and terms in line with collective agreements, and the employer must have advertised the job in the EU/EEA first.
How do I get my foreign degree recognised?
Use UHR's online assessment tool or apply for an individual recognition statement. For a regulated profession, such as health care or teaching, you apply to the competent authority for permission to practise.

Sources

Statements about rules and official guidance rely on these pages. We opened and read each source ourselves on the date shown.

  1. [1]Arbetsförmedlingen in English · Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service)arbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska ·
  2. [2]Find your new job · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/find-your-new-job ·
  3. [3]Create a skills profile · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/find-your-new-job/create-a-skills-profile ·
  4. [4]Search for summer jobs · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/find-your-new-job/search-for-summer-jobs ·
  5. [5]Writing a CV · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/cv-application-and-interview/writing-a-cv ·
  6. [6]Writing a personal letter · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/cv-application-and-interview/writing-a-personal-letter ·
  7. [7]The job interview · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/cv-application-and-interview/the--job-interview ·
  8. [8]Compensation for travel expenses when attending a job interview · Arbetsförmedlingenarbetsformedlingen.se/other-languages/english-engelska/cv-application-and-interview/the--job-interview/compensation-for-travel-expenses-when-attending-a-job-interview ·
  9. [9]Employment Protection Act (lag (1982:80) om anställningsskydd), sections 4, 6, 11 and 31 · Sveriges riksdagwww.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-198280-om-anstallningsskydd_sfs-1982-80/ ·
  10. [10]What is discrimination? · Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen)www.do.se/choose-language/english/what-is-discrimination ·
  11. [11]Discrimination Act (2008:567), English translation · Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen)www.do.se/choose-language/english/discrimination-act-2008567 ·
  12. [12]Employee or self-employed · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/work/employee-or-self-employed.html ·
  13. [13]New rules for work permits come into force (1 June 2026) · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)www.migrationsverket.se/en/employers/news-archive-for-employers/news/2026-06-01-new-rules-for-work-permits-come-into-force.html ·
  14. [14]Employing someone from outside the EU/EEA: employment · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)www.migrationsverket.se/en/employers/you-want-to-employ/employing-someone-from-outside-the-eu-eea/employment/employment.html ·
  15. [15]Employing a person who is a citizen of an EU/EEA country · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)www.migrationsverket.se/en/employers/you-want-to-employ/employing-someone-from-an-eu-eea-country-or-switzerland/eu-eea-citizens.html ·
  16. [16]Recognition of foreign qualifications · Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR)www.uhr.se/en/start/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ ·
  17. [17]Regulated professions · Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR)www.uhr.se/en/start/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/how-to-use-the-assessment/if-you--want-to-work-in-sweden/regulated-professions/ ·
  18. [18]Jobba statligt: open positions with state employers · Arbetsgivarverket (Swedish Agency for Government Employers)www.jobbastatligt.se/ ·
  19. [19]JobbSafari: your guide through working life · JobbSafari (Duunitori Group)www.jobbsafari.se/ ·
  20. [20]Academic Work: staffing and recruitment · Academic Workwww.academicwork.se/ ·
  21. [21]About Indeed · Indeedwww.indeed.com/about ·
  22. [22]About LinkedIn · LinkedInabout.linkedin.com/ ·

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