How to Immigrate and Work in Sweden as a Nurse?

Getting a license for nurses from EU/EEA member states.

No matter where you get your degree. If you get it from a foreign country and not in Sweden, you must send it for recognition to the National Board of Health and Welfare. It’s responsible for recognition and approval that you can work as a nurse in Sweden.

One of the requirements to immigrate to Sweden as a nurse is to have language fluency skills. You can be fluent in the following languages and immigrate to Sweden as a nurse:

• Swedish,
• Danish,
• or Norwegian

You must have language fluency, and it doesn’t matter that you are from the countries where the above languages are spoken. You must know language fluency. If you are beginning your journey and want to begin learning a language, you’d better learn Swedish.

You need

• Swedish Level C1 CEFR
• Swedish, level 3

You can submit another document to prove your language fluency.

You can apply online and offline to Swedish officials. You must submit an online application form and the scanned form of documents in the online application form. In the paper application form you must download the paper application form, complete it and post the documents to the postal address.

First, you must gather the supporting documents, and this is the list of them:

1, A certificate, image, or screenshot that you have paid for the application fee.

2, A copy of your ID document.

3, If you have changed your name, a copy of the certificate showing the name change is needed.

4, A copy of your language fluency skills.

5, Your degree or diploma.

6, A Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Current Professional Status that shows you have the right to work as a nurse and have not been prohibited. It can not be older than 3 months ago at the time of application.

7, A certificate that verifies you fulfill the requirements of the EU directive 2005/36/EC (pdf) and the following articles:

• 23
• 31
• 33
• 33a

8, A document from the medical school, university, or college where you got your degree that shows the courses you have studied, duration, and content.

• Paper application form if you apply offline and through the application form.
• Paper application form to apply for a specialist if you apply offline and through the application form.

If you can not get your certificates from the competent authority that issued them, you can submit the following items:

9, A certificate that verifies that your education level under the Article 11 of
EU directive 2005/36/EC (pdf)

10, A document from the school or university you attended that verifies the courses you studied, duration, and content.

Specialist nurse requirements

If you want to send an application for the specialist nurse, you must send these documents:

1, The screenshot or image of the paid application fee. The fee for the general application is different than the specialist nurse application, and you must pay two separate fees.

2, A certified copy plus the translation of your specialist training.

3, A certified copy plus the translation of a certificate that indicates your education level is under Article 11 of EU directive 2005/36/EC (pdf).

4, A certified copy plus the translation of a document from the school or university that indicates the courses of your specialist training, the content, and the duration.

Translation.

If your documents are not in the following languages, you must have them translated into one of them:

• Swedish,
• Norwegian,
• Danish
• English

You can have them translated into any of the above languages and in any country. But a verified translation office must complete them. You can find a list of authorized translators with the Kammarkollegiet (The Legal, Financial, and Administrative Services Agency).

You must pay a fee of SEK 870 for the processing of your application. You must pay the fee to Bankgiro 790-3750 and submit the receipt with your application.

If you want to pay the fee with a foreign currency, pay it with this Swift code:

IBAN: SE3612000000012810104980, SWIFT: DABASESX.

Application form

After you gather the documents, you must complete the online application form. Choose “nurse responsible for general care” from the option. Then continue the steps to submit your application.

If you apply through the application form or use the offline format, you must send your application to this postal address:

Socialstyrelsen

Behörighet

106 30 Stockholm

European Professional Card – EPC

You can also apply through the European Professional Card – EPC if you are eligible.

Assessment of your application

You should include your email address in the application, as the officials will contact you. After the National Board of Health and Welfare receives your application, they will email you a confirmation.

If they need more documents or one part is missing, they will inform you to send the document and complete your application. Then, they will process your application in order.

If you are eligible, the National Board of Health and Welfare will check your Swedish police records in the final step. If you have committed a serious crime or been in jail, Swedish officials will contact you.

It takes about 4 weeks for your application to get processed. But it might take longer.

Receiving the results.

After the Swedish officials process your application and decide about it, they email you the result. Receiving an email doesn’t mean that you are eligible to work as a nurse in Sweden and receive a license. You might get a negative response which indicates you may not work in Sweden as a nurse.

A positive response means you may work in Sweden as a nurse, and you will be registered in the National Board of Health and Welfare’s (Socialstyrelsens) register of licensed healthcare professionals, HOSP. Clinics or hospitals can see your information on this platform.

The National Board of Health and Welfare might instruct you to take an aptitude test or adaptation training period in Sweden. It’s a prerequisite to recognize your degree. They will provide further information to take the test or training period in Sweden. After you pass these stages successfully, they will grant you a license to work as a nurse in Sweden.

If you receive a negative answer and disagree with it, you may appeal to the National Board of Health and Welfare. You should write a letter to them within 3 weeks of receiving the negative decision. At the top of your letter, write this:

“To Förvaltningsrätten in Stockholm.”

Then, write a body and explain which you are appealing for which application. You should write why you think the decision is unfair and provide the documents you have. After you are done writing the letter, send it to this address:

Socialstyrelsen

Enheten för behörighet

106 30 Stockholm

Getting a license for nurses from non-EU/EEA countries.

If you are a non-EU/EEA national or got your degree from one of these countries, you need a license to work as a nurse in Sweden. The procedure you must follow is different than EE/EEA nationals. You can read about the way EU/EEA applicants must follow from the above section. This part tells the procedure that non-EU nationals must follow.

There are two ways to apply for a nursing license in Sweden. It’s up to you to pick one or use both to apply for a license. Either option you use, you must apply for a license after finishing the procedure.

Apply directly to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. (Way 1)

The first way is to apply directly through the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.

Gathering the documents for recognition.

You must gather this list of supporting documents and send it to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare for recognition.

1. Application form. You must complete and send this application form that is for non-EU/EEA applicants
2. A copy of the first page of your passport. If you have a Swedish ID card, submit a copy of it.

To submit the below list, you must submit it in the original language and the translation into English or Swedish. A verified translation office must translate your documents into English or Swedish. It must be on the office’s letterhead, with stamp, address, and contact details.

3. A copy of your diploma or degree plus translation.
4. A copy of a certificate that lists the duration and the courses you have passed.
5. A certificate of name change if you have ever changed your name.

If you do not have one of the above documents, you must submit the documents you have and write a cover letter explaining why you do not have the document.

Attention: You do not need to submit a Swedish language proficiency certificate at this stage, but you must get it for the final stage and be fluent in Swedish to pass the other steps.

Sending the documents.

You must post the physical documents to this postal address or email them to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare:

Socialstyrelsen
Behörighet
106 30 Stockholm

[email protected]

After the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare receives your application, they will email you a confirmation. After getting the email, you must wait for processing. In the meantime, you must wait but can practice Swedish or work in professions that do not need a license, like:

• assistant nurse,
• dental nurse,
• pharmaceutical technician.

Take the language proficiency test.

After the Swedish officials assess your application, you must take a Swedish language test. You must pass it to become eligible to pass the next stages. You must be fluent in Swedish to pass this exam, so you’d better work hard on your language proficiency skills.

The University of Gothenburg is responsible for conducting the test. They will send the result to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.

There are two parts to the test: a theoretical part and a practical part. You must pass the theoretical part then you can pass the practical part. The University of Gothenburg emails the results to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.

You must sign up for the test at the University of Gothenburg website. Then, you must take it on the website. After passing the first part, you can take the next one.

You only have 5 attempts to pass the theoretical part and only 3 attempts to pass the practical test. If you can not pass the test on your first attempt, you have 5 years to pass it. If you need further information about the test and to prepare for it, you can find the information you need on the university website.

The University will send the results to the Swedish official.

Take the Swedish laws and regulations course.

After you pass the test and the university sends the result to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, they will email you to confirm it.

Now you must take a course in Swedish laws and regulations. It is to get familiar with the Swedish healthcare system, and you do not have to pay for it as it’s free. You must register for the course at the Umeå University website. The university will inform you of the available dates to take the course.

You can only take the course after the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare confirms you have passed the language test. If you do not pass the course, you may not continue the rest of the stages.

Take clinical training

You must take training in Sweden to prove you have enough knowledge, skills, and appropriate skills to work as a nurse. Also, you will get familiar with the Swedish healthcare system.

It’s your responsibility to find a clinic or hospital to take your training with them. You will not receive a salary for your training, and the duration is 3 months. So you must have enough funds to cover yourself during your clinical training. There is no way to skip the clinical training, and you must pass it. You need the clinical training certificate signed by the employer to apply for a nursing license. You must take the training with one center, and you may not take it with more than one center.

You can reach medical centers to know whether they accept you as a trainer. If you need a visa to enter Sweden, you must apply for it to Swedish immigration officials.

After you complete your training.

After you complete the training, your supervisor or employer will complete a certificate for your clinical training. Now you can apply for a nursing license, but you must submit the clinical training certificate.

If you have questions, contact:

Telephone: 075-247 30 00

Telephone hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9–10

E-mail: [email protected]

Applying for a nursing license.

After you have completed all of the above stages, you may apply for a nursing license. You must gather the supporting documents and send them to the Swedish officials:

1. Application form.
2. Receipt of paid application fee. SEK 870, deposited to the bank giro account 790-3750
3. A copy of the first page of your passport.
4. A copy of your Swedish language proficiency certificate
5. A certificate that you have finished clinical training

You must mail your application to this address:

Socialstyrelsen

Behörighet

106 30 Stockholm

After you receive your license, you can work as a nurse in Sweden.

Apply for a nursing license after additional training (Way 2)

The second way to immigrate to Sweden as a nurse is to pass training before you apply for a license. You must apply to a university that offers additional training and get admission.

These are some of the universities that offer additional training for nurses who got a degree outside of Sweden;

• Karolinska Institute:
• University of Gothenburg: 
• Luleå University:
• University Gävle:

Visit their website to find more information and the requirements. You need a Swedish language fluency certificate to get admission to these centers.

After you get admission, you must apply for a Sweden student visa. You must gather the visa supporting documents and apply to the Swedish embassy/consulate in your home country. 

After you complete your additional studies in Sweden, you must apply to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and submit the required documents:

1. Application form.
2. Receipt of paid application fee of SEK 870 to the bank giro account 790-3750. You can pay with an international currency but check it with the bank.
3. A copy of the first page of your passport.
4. A certificate of your additional training.

You must mail your application to the following address and wait for the results:

Socialstyrelsen

Behörighet

106 30 Stockholm

After you receive your license, you can work as a nurse in Sweden. But you need a work permit. So you must look for a job offer with a Swedish employer. After finding the job, the employer applies for your work permit.