Sweden's Working Holiday programme allows young people from certain countries to live in Sweden for up to one year while working alongside their travels to support their stay. This article explains who can apply, what the permit allows, and what to consider before moving.
Sweden's Working Holiday residence permit
Sweden's Working Holiday programme allows eligible young people to live in Sweden for up to 12 months while working to support their stay. It is aimed at those who want to experience daily life in Sweden and travel around the country, rather than settle long-term.
The permit allows you to work without applying for a separate work permit and to travel in and out of Sweden during its validity. You may work for different employers, making it well-suited to short-term, seasonal, or casual jobs.
Eligibility and participating countries
To be eligible for the Working Holiday residence permit in Sweden, you must hold citizenship of one of the following countries at the time of application:
- Australia;
- Canada;
- Hong Kong;
- Japan;
- New Zealand;
- South Korea.
Important:
Residence alone is not sufficient. You must apply from your country of citizenship and meet all programme conditions at the time of application.
To qualify, you must be between 18 and 30 years old. Applications must be submitted before your 31st birthday.
A valid passport is required. Your passport must be valid for the entire intended stay in Sweden and should have sufficient blank pages for residence permit documentation. If your passport expires early, the permit will be limited accordingly.
Applicants must also prove that they have sufficient funds to support themselves at the start of their stay. The Swedish Migration Agency currently expects proof of at least 15,000 SEK, which does not include funds needed for a return journey. Bank statements or other official financial documentation are required.
You must have comprehensive health insurance covering your full stay in Sweden. This should include emergency care, hospital treatment, and repatriation. Proof of insurance is also mandatory and must be valid for the entire permit period.
Participation in Sweden's Working Holiday programme is limited to one time only. Having taken part in a Working Holiday programme in another country does not affect your eligibility.
Some partner countries are subject to annual quotas, meaning a limited number of permits are issued each year. Where quotas apply, applications may close once the limit is reached. Sweden itself does not have an annual quota.
A clean criminal record is required. Background checks may be requested as part of the application process.
Conditions of the permit
Sweden's Working Holiday residence permit is valid for up to 12 months and cannot be extended. It is intended for short-term stays, with travel as the main purpose and work as a way to support yourself.
You may work without a separate work permit and change employers freely, but the permit does not lead to permanent residence and cannot be converted into another permit from within Sweden. You are free to enter and leave Sweden during its validity.
The permit can only be used once, and dependants are not allowed to accompany you. As mentioned above, you must have valid health insurance and sufficient funds for the duration of your stay. When the permit expires, you are required to leave Sweden unless you qualify for another permit through a new application.
How to apply for Sweden's Working Holiday residence permit
Applications for Sweden's Working Holiday residence permit are submitted online through the Swedish Migration Agency. You must apply from outside Sweden, and you cannot enter the country until a decision has been made.
The process is straightforward. You complete the online application form, upload the required documents, and pay the application fee. Once your application is approved, you will be instructed to book an appointment at a Swedish embassy or consulate to have your photo and fingerprints taken for your residence permit card. This card must be collected before you travel to Sweden.
Processing times vary by country and season, but decisions are often issued within a few months.
General documentation required for online application are the following:
- A valid passport (must be valid for the entire intended stay) and copies of all relevant pages showing personal details and expiry.
- A completed online application submitted via the Swedish Migration Agency.
- The application fee.
- Proof of sufficient funds (evidence showing access to at least 15,000 SEK at the start of your stay).
- Return travel documentation (a return ticket, or proof of funds to purchase one).
- Comprehensive health insurance that must cover the entire stay and include emergency care and repatriation (not required for Australian citizens).
- In-person biometric appointment (photograph and fingerprints taken after approval at a Swedish embassy, consulate, or Migration Agency service centre).
Things to keep in mind before moving to Sweden
Cost of living
Sweden has a high cost of living, particularly in major cities. Rent, groceries, and transport will likely take up most of your budget, while dining out and alcohol are expensive by international standards. Working Holiday participants are expected to support themselves, especially at the beginning of their stay, so arriving with sufficient savings is important. Short-term or casual work can help offset costs, but it should not be relied on immediately.
Below is an overview of typical living costs in Sweden, based on data from Numbeo as of January 2026.
Currency: US Dollars (USD) | |
Rent | |
1-bedroom flat (in the city centre) | 987.28 |
1-bedroom flat (outside the city centre) | 771.93 |
3-bedroom flat (in the city centre) | 1,648.46 |
3-bedroom flat (outside the city centre) | 1,281.33 |
Utilities | |
Basic utilities for an 85 m2 apartment (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) | 133.43 |
Internet (60 Mbps or higher, unlimited data) | 40.88 |
Transportation | |
1 ticket (one way) for local transport | 4.02 |
Monthly pass for local transport | 93.50 |
Shopping/groceries | |
Rice (1 kg) | 3.91 |
Milk (1 L) | 1.76 |
12 eggs (normal size) | 4.61 |
Bread (500 g loaf) | 3.18 |
Chicken (1 kg) | 12.94 |
Red meat (1 kg) | 20.54 |
Oranges (1 kg) | 3.24 |
Bananas (1 kg) | 2.84 |
Apples (1 kg) | 3.37 |
Potatoes (1 kg) | 1.87 |
Onions (1 kg) | 1.81 |
Water (1.5 L) | 1.52 |
Wine (mid-range bottle) | 11.96 |
Local beer (0.5 L) | 2.16 |
Imported beer (0.33 L) | 2.32 |
Cigarettes (pack of 20) | 8.26 |
Leisure | |
Movie theatre - 1 seat | 17.40 |
Sports club - monthly cost for 1 person | 43.17 |
Finding accommodation
Housing is one of the biggest challenges in Sweden, especially in cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Uppsala. Long-term rental contracts are scarce and often tied to waiting lists that locals spend years on. Most Working Holiday participants rely on short-term solutions, such as sublets, shared flats, or furnished rooms. Platforms like Blocket, Facebook, and word of mouth are commonly used. Airbnb and hostels are often used at the start. Expect competition, short notice, and high prices.
Finding work
Work on a Working Holiday permit is typically casual, temporary, or seasonal. Common options include working at cafes, bars, retail, cleaning, warehouses, tourism, and seasonal outdoor work. English is widely spoken, but not speaking Swedish can limit job options outside major cities.
Large international platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn are used for online searching, but for short-term work opportunities like these, networking, visiting workplaces directly, and joining local Facebook groups are often more effective. Having a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) is not required for the permit itself, but some employers may prefer candidates who already have one, which can affect how quickly you find work.
Useful link:
Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) - Working Holiday residence permit
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