If you want to work in Sweden

If you have completed foreign higher education (at least two years), foreign higher vocational education (at least one year) or upper-secondary education, you can have it evaluated by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR). Use our Qualification Assessment Tool or apply for an evaluation and receive a recognition statement.

You can then use the evaluation when applying for work, to prove which foreign qualification you have. The evaluation briefly describes the Swedish qualification to which yours is equivalent.

UHR also assesses secondary vocational education that does not provide access to higher education studies. Specific to these educations is that they have more practical teaching within a professional area. For pure vocational educations, we do not assess any specific courses for eligibility because the education does not provide access to university and college.

Use the evaluation when you search for employment

The evaluation, either from our assessment tool or if you have received a statement, should be considered a complement to the education documents and CV when seeking employment.

The evaluation indicates that the qualification is equivalent to a Swedish upper secondary qualification, and also what specialisation it has. This can make it easier for an employer to understand the foreign education and what qualifications the job seeker has. If an employer has questions about the education or evaluation, they’re more than welcome to contact us at UHR.

Certain professions are regulated through Swedish legislation that defines what the requirements are for working the profession, e.g. a particular qualification or authorization, or other formal recognition. In order to work in such a profession, you must apply for recognition from that profession’s competent authority. If you are an EU/EEA citizen, special rules apply in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC. There are also other directives that regulate professions.

Working in another EU/EEA country

About regulated professions

If you have questions about working in a regulated profession, you are welcome to contact Assistance Center for Professional Qualifications.

Some professions have requirements that regulate that specific sector.

Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish Public Employment Service ) has a list of professions with information about the necessary qualifications and requirements.

About different professions on Arbetsförmedlingen's website

Tillväxtverket (The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) provides help with finding the right sector organisation.

About sector organisations, in Swedish: Branschorganisationer på Tillväxtverket's website

Contacts and networks can be important when looking for work. There are several organisations that arrange meetings and mentorship programs for people with foreign education who have not yet established themselves on the labor market in Sweden. you can for example meet a person in the same profession as you, or get an internship.

In some regions and municipalities, shorter regional vocational training is organised combined with vocationally oriented Swedish. Get in touch with a guidance counselor in your municipality or contact Arbetsförmedlingen and ask if there are vocational training courses where you live. Vocational training might increase your possibility to obtain an employment.

Swedish for professionals in Stockholm

A collaboration between all municipalities in Stockholm County, the municipalities’ membership organisation Storsthlm, Region Stockholm, and the County Administrative Board in Stockholm. Swedish for professionals is Swedish teaching with a focus on the professional language for those who have previously worked in the profession in question. The aim is to shorten the time to work or entrepreneurship. At present, there are courses for the professional areas: entrepreneurs, engineers, architects, truck drivers, medical personnel, educators, economists, lawyers, social scientists, and programmers. The courses are free for the student and are paid for by the home municipality.

Sfx in Stockholm county, sfx.se

Swedish for professionals in Uppsala county

If a person has professional competence from another country and quickly wants to learn Swedish and start working, they can read Swedish for professionals, sfx, in Uppsala County. The courses start from different levels. Both sfi (Swedish for immigrants) and sva (elementary and high school Swedish) are included in the courses. In addition to Swedish, one also reads orientation courses with a focus on their profession.

Currently, education is provided for medical personnel, educators, and entrepreneurs.

Swedish for Trained Professionals, sfx in Uppsala county

Vocational SFI in Skåne county

A collaboration between municipalities in Skåne. Swedish for professionals is Swedish teaching with a focus on the professional language. The goal is to shorten the path towards work and self-sufficiency. At present, there are courses in charcuterie and delicatessen, restaurant, serving/bar/barista, child carer, nursing assistant, and bus driver. The courses are free for the student and are paid for by the home municipality.

Yrkes-SFI i Skåne, skr.se

Many professional areas are linked to a sector organisation (branschorganisation). They have information about specific professions and can give advice on professional requirements in Sweden. Some organisations can carry out so-called sector validations. Validation means that you get your skills and knowledge assessed. This applies to both knowledge you have acquired through studies, in working life and in everyday life. Contact Arbetsförmedlingen to find out more.

About sector organisations, in Swedish: Branschorganisationer på Tillväxtverket's website (The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth)

Arbetsförmedlingen's website

A trade union is an organisation where employees in a certain profession or a certain workplace come together for their working situation and rights at work. There are trade unions in many different professions, and they have information about your profession and the labor market. They can give you advice and guidance on matters relating to your profession.

You may need to take some supplementary courses to facilitate employment in Sweden. For more information, contact a guidance counselor.

• Higher education: Information about studying in Sweden at Studera.nu
• Higher Vocational Education: Information about Higher Vocational Education in Sweden at Yrkeshogskolan.se (in Swedish)
• Municipal adult education or learning center: contact a study counselor in the municipality where you live.

Many professions are unregulated in Sweden. This means that the employer determines the requirements for a recruitment. some professions in Sweden are regulated and require authorization.

Regulated professions in Sweden