Are you a care assistant or healthcare worker who wants a better job in Sweden? Sweden needs many people like you because the country has many old people and a good healthcare system. Right now, Care Assistant Jobs in Sweden for Foreigners are easy to find with visa sponsorship. This simple guide will show you step by step how to move to Sweden and work there legally in 2025-2026.
We use only the newest rules from Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency) so you can trust this information.
Understand the Labour Demand and Role Types
Sweden has a big shortage of workers in healthcare. Care assistant jobs are on the official Shortage Occupations List (Bristyrken), so employers can hire people from other countries easily.
The Shortage and Key Roles
The most common jobs you can get are:
- Undersköterska (Certified Nurse Assistant) – This is the main job in hospitals and nursing homes. From 2025, this title is protected. You need certification to use this name, but many employers still hire you while you study for it.
- Personal Assistant (Personlig Assistent) – You help people with disabilities live at home. Good job if you like one-to-one work.
- Elderly Care and Home Care (Äldreomsorg & Hemtjänst) – You help old people in nursing homes or in their own houses. Most jobs are in big cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala.
Average salary in 2025: around 32,000–34,000 SEK per month before tax for normal care assistants. This is good money for this work.
Master the Critical Visa Sponsorship Requirements
To get a work permit, your job offer must follow strict rules. If the offer is correct, you almost always get the permit.
The Sweden Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd) Checkpoints
Your employer must give you three important things:
- Real Employment Contract – A full written contract from a Swedish company.
- Correct Salary (Very Important!) From June 17, 2025, the salary must be at least 29,680 SEK per month (gross – before tax). This is the new minimum salary rule (80% of median salary). The salary must also follow the Swedish collective agreement for care workers (usually 29,000–35,000 SEK).
- Job Advertised for 10 Days – The employer must put the job advert in Sweden and EU/EEA for minimum 10 days to prove no local person wanted the job.
Good news: The employer does most of the paperwork first. You only fill your part online later.
Financial and Legal Compliance
Sweden protects workers very well.
Salary and Worker Rights
| What you need to know | Details | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary (June 2025) | 29,680 SEK gross per month | Migrationsverket |
| Normal care assistant salary | 29,000 – 35,300 SEK per month | Collective agreement |
| Tax and social fees | About 30–32% is taken for tax and insurance | Skatteverket |
| Health insurance | Employer pays until you get personnummer | Försäkringskassan |
If an employer offers less than 29,680 SEK, the work permit will be refused 100%. Never accept lower salary.
You also get 25–35 days paid holiday per year, paid sick leave, and pension – much better than many countries.
Your Action Plan: Finding a Sponsor & Applying
Where to Search for Care Assistant Jobs Sweden
- City and Region Websites – Stockholm Stad, Göteborgs Stad, Malmö Stad, Region Uppsala, etc. They have English pages and many jobs.
- Big Private Companies – Humana, Attendo, Föreningen Vardaga, Olivia Personlig Assistans – they often sponsor foreign workers.
- Job Websites
- Arbetsförmedlingen Platsbanken (official)
- Ledigajobb.se
- Indeed.se (search “undersköterska engelsk” or “visa sponsorship”)
- Facebook groups: “Jobs in Sweden for foreigners”, “Undersköterska jobb med sponsring”
Look for job adverts that say “vi hjälper med arbetstillstånd” or “visa sponsorship available”.
The Language Advantage
Many employers accept English at the beginning, but you need basic Swedish very fast for daily work with patients. Start learning Swedish today (Duolingo, SFI courses are free when you arrive). If you speak a little Swedish, you get the job much faster.
Completing the Immigration Pathway
When you have the job offer:
- Employer starts the application online on Migrationsverket website.
- You get email with your part – fill it online.
- Send or upload:
- Passport copy (valid minimum 18 months)
- Signed contract
- Your CV and certificates
- Pay the fee (around 2,200 SEK)
- Go to Swedish embassy in your country for photo and fingerprints (only non-EU people).
Processing time: 1–4 months (usually fast for shortage jobs).
When approved, you get residence permit card and can fly to Sweden and start work immediately.
Ready to Start Your Swedish Healthcare Dream?
Sweden really needs care assistants right now. Jobs are stable, salary is good, holidays are long, and people respect healthcare workers.
If you find a real employer who offers at least 29,680 SEK per month and helps with the work permit, your chance to move to Sweden is very high.
Start today:
- Update your CV in English (and simple Swedish if possible)
- Apply to 10–20 jobs every week
- Learn basic Swedish greetings
- Join Facebook groups for foreign care workers in Sweden
Good luck! Many people from Philippines, India, Poland, Arab countries, and Africa already work happily in Swedish elderly care. You can be next!
Disclaimer:
This information is for help only. Always check the latest rules on www.migrationsverket.se and talk directly to the employer before you sign anything.