Sweden To Lower Salary Requirement for EU Blue Card

Sweden's government has decided to reduce the minimum salary needed to qualify for an EU Blue Card by 10,000 kronor per month. This move aligns Swedish law with the EU's updated Blue Card Directive, aimed at attracting more high-skilled workers to the European Union.

Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden's Migration Minister, emphasised that this change is part of a broader effort to reform labour migration policies.

The proposal has been submitted to the Council on Legislation, the final step before it is presented to parliament.

The EU Blue Card is a combined residency and work permit for highly skilled non-EU workers, granting them some of the rights enjoyed by EU citizens.

In Sweden, the Blue Card has been less popular than in other EU countries like Germany, mainly because Sweden’s work permit system has historically been more lenient.

The Swedish government aims to implement the new law by January 1, 2025, over a year past the EU’s deadline. The delay is attributed to the government's focus on broader migration policy reforms.

Key Changes Under the New Rules

The salary threshold for an EU Blue Card in Sweden will drop from 59,850 kronor (€5,200) to 49,875 kronor (€4,300), or 1.25 times the average monthly salary.
This is more generous than the 1 to 1.6 times average salary range allowed by the EU, yet still higher than the current 28,480 kronor needed for a standard work permit.
It will be easier for current residents with other permits to switch to a Blue Card.
Blue Card holders can change jobs without reapplying and can work in Sweden for 90 out of every 180 days if they hold a Blue Card from another EU country.
The application process for those holding a Blue Card from another EU country for over a year will also be simplified.

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