Au pairs from
Nordic countries ( Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway) do not need a
work permit or a residence permit to work in Sweden.
Au pairs from EU or EEA countries
Au pairs from
EU or EEA* countries do not need a work permit to work in Sweden. However,
if they are employed for more then 3 months, they have to apply for a
residence permit. Au pairs are allowed to start working for a family
straight away, without the residence permit and are allowed to apply for
it after entering Sweden. In order to apply for a resident permit, an au
pair has to provide a certificate of employment issued and signed by their
employer and a certificate of enrolment at a Swedish language course.
Au pairs from non EU countries
Au pairs from
countries that are not part of the EU have to have a work permit in their
passport before they enter Sweden to work. Au pairs should make sure that
their passport does not expire whilst they are in Sweden. It is essential
that the expiration date of their permit may not go beyond the expiration
date of their passport.
Au pairs from non-EU countries wishing to
stay in Sweden for longer then 3 months are required to also obtain a
residence permit. An au pair must apply for and receive a residence permit
before he/she enters Sweden. Au pairs can apply for residence permits
through a Swedish diplomatic mission in the au pair’s country of
residence.
Au pairs from Australia and New Zealand
Sweden
has a working holiday agreement with Australia and New Zealand that allows
au pairs from Australia and New Zealand to work in Sweden on a working
holiday visa for 12 months. (The same applies to Swedish au pairs wanting
to work in Australia or New Zealand).
Even though the main purpose
of a Working Holiday Makers stay is to take a holiday, with a working
holiday visa they are allowed to work in Sweden during their 12 month stay
in order to fund their trip. However, an au pair must apply for a work
permit to do so. Their application needs to include 2 copies of an offer
of employment from their host family.
*The EEA is defined as the European Economic
Area which is made up of the EU countries, plus Iceland, Norway and
Liechtenstein.