Sweden Issued Over 47,700 Residence Permits to Foreign Nationals in the First Half of 2024
Key Takeaways
1. Over 47,700 individuals received residence permits in Sweden from January to June 2024.
2. Employment was the leading reason for granting permits during this period.
3. Sweden granted citizenship to 32,890 people, with 92,125 applications still pending.
Sweden issued 47,711 residence permits in the first half of 2024, according to the Migration Agency, marking a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2023, when 45,138 permits were issued. The majority of these permits were for employment, family reunification, studies, and asylum.
Employment as the Main Reason for Permits in Early 2024
Employment was the predominant reason for issuing permits, with 14,615 work permits granted. These permits were primarily issued to IT architects, system developers, test leaders, berry pickers and planters, engineers and technicians, and those in civil engineering roles, reflecting Sweden's demand for foreign workers.
Sweden faces labor shortages in 39 occupations, as highlighted by the 2023 EURES report, with healthcare and education being among the most affected sectors. The country’s Labor Minister, Johan Pehrson, has emphasized the urgent need for staff in certain regions, even as unemployment rises.
In response, Sweden has introduced a new processing system to reduce waiting times for highly qualified workers. The Swedish Migration Agency reports that the average resolution time for cases under this system has been less than 30 days.
Nearly 12,400 Permits Issued for Family Reunification
During the first half of 2024, 12,372 permits were issued for family reunification, a 4% decrease from the previous year. Despite this slight drop, Sweden has announced plans to tighten family reunification rules, considering current regulations to be "more generous" than those under EU law.
In addition to work and family reunification, significant numbers of permits were issued to students (8,341) and asylum seekers (7,992).
32,890 People Granted Swedish Citizenship
Sweden granted citizenship to 31,890 individuals in the first half of 2024, with over 4,600 of these in June alone. Meanwhile, 92,125 applications are still awaiting decisions.