Researcher residence permit

If you are invited by an approved research principal to conduct research in Sweden for a lengthy period, you must apply for a residence permit for research. You must also do so if you have a residence permit for research in another EU member state and are going to conduct part of your research in Sweden.

If you have been admitted to doctoral studies in Sweden or another country and have a hosting agreement with a research principal, you can apply for a residence permit for research.

You can be granted a residence permit as a researcher if you have a doctorate or are eligible to start a doctoral programme and are invited here by a research principal that has been approved by the Swedish Research Council.

Certificate or letter of admission

If you have been admitted to doctoral studies and are applying for a residence permit for research.

You must have a hosting agreement with a research principal

The research principal (the organisation that receives the research work) must be approved by the Swedish Research Council

A research principal can be a Swedish higher education institution, some other type of research institution, or a business.

This document must be sent to you by your research principal. It must be signed by both you and the research principal.

If you are granted a residence permit, you have the right to live and work as a researcher in Sweden as long as the permit is valid.

In order for you to be granted a residence permit as a researcher, at least half of your working hours must be devoted to research. Teaching or administrative work in the research group is not counted as research.

If any of your family members also want to apply for a residence permit, they can do so at the same time as you. “Family members” are considered to include spouses, registered partners, cohabiting partners, and children under the age of 18.

If your family is granted residence permits, your adult family members and children who will turn at least 16 during the current year are permitted to work.

You can be granted a permit for a maximum of four years at a time, but not for longer than the hosting agreement is valid. You can never be granted a permit for longer than your passport is valid.

Your residence permit can be extended.

You may also be eligible for a permanent residence permit if you have held a residence permit for research, research under long-term mobility schemes, doctoral studies, or an EU Blue Card issued by Sweden for at least three consecutive years.