Sweden is very welcoming towards students and trainees. Moving here offers the chance to gain experience working in an egalitarian work culture, work in an international hub of professionals, and work with advanced technology and modern tools. Non-EU and non-Nordic citizens must obtain a permit to intern in Sweden.
What you should know about internships in Sweden
If you are an EU or Nordic national, you do not require a visa or permit to do an internship in Sweden. You can live and work here under freedom of movement rules. However, if you stay longer than three months, you must register your move with the Swedish Tax Agency and show that you can support yourself financially. This registration allows you to reside in Sweden long-term and access basic services.
If your internship is unpaid and lasts longer than three months, you may need to prove that you are self-sufficient, meaning you have enough funds to support yourself during your stay. As a general guideline, this is roughly 150,000 SEK per year, though the exact amount may vary.
If you are a non-EU (third-country) national, internships in Sweden are most commonly arranged through international exchange programs or formal agreements. Organizations such as AIESEC, IAESTE, JUF, and SACCUSA, as well as bilateral agreements with countries like the US, Canada, and China, can sponsor internships and submit the application for the internship on your behalf. If you secure an independent internship, you will have to apply for a permit by yourself and pay the relevant fees. In these cases, the internship must meet Swedish regulations, and the approval is handled by the Swedish Migration Agency.
Useful link:
Migrationsverket: Permits for trainees
Finding an internship in Sweden
The easiest way to find an internship in Sweden is through your university if you are a student. Career services can help you find a placement that suits your qualifications, and many companies work directly with universities to recruit interns.
If you are not a student, you contact companies directly. Start by checking whether they offer internship programs on their websites. Feel free to send them unsolicited applications as well. Many Swedish companies are open to individual internships even if they are not advertised as part of a broader program.
Will you have access to healthcare as an intern in Sweden?
Healthcare in Sweden is of high quality but can be costly for people who are not covered by the public system. Access to Swedish healthcare is based on residency, not on whether you are paying taxes or earning a salary.
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you are entitled to necessary public healthcare in Sweden if you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by your home country. This covers necessary care during your stay under the same conditions as Swedish residents.
If you are a non-EU citizen and your internship lasts longer than one year, you are generally entitled to a full public health card once you have registered with the Swedish Tax Agency and received a personnummer. If your internship lasts longer than one year, you are not entitled to full public healthcare. Therefore, you need to take out comprehensive private health insurance that will cover your time in Sweden. This insurance is usually required for your residence permit.
In cases where the internship is arranged through a Swedish university, public institution, or approved exchange program, insurance may be provided by Kammarkollegiet and is limited to the duration of the hosting.
Good to know:
You can also submit an insurance claim through Kammarkollegiet as a foreign visitor.
Useful links:
Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)
Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket)
Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen)
Kammarkollegiet – Insurance for foreign visitors
European Health Insurance Card
International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC)
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
The International Federation of Medical Sbtudents Association (IFMSA)
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
