Wednesday, January 14 | 2026
Wednesday, January 14 | 2026
Work in Sweden as a refugee – is it possible? Keeping yourself occupied while waiting for a decision from the Swedish Migration Agency is not just a way to contribute to the Swedish society, it’s also good for your well being. Working, doing an internship or engaging in volunteer activities will increase your knowledge of Sweden and give you opportunities to practice your Swedish.
There are three options for you who wish to fill your time:
Not all asylum seekers in Sweden are allowed to work in Sweden. You are – as an asylum seeker in Sweden – allowed to work if you have an AT-UND certificate. However, your right to work in Sweden should be stated in your LMA-card.
You are generally entitled to an AT-UND certificate if:
Having a so-called A-tax document might ease your job search. You can apply for a co-ordination number (called samordningsnummer in Swedish) once you get your LMA-card. You apply by registering with the Swedish Public Employment Service – Arbetsförmedlingen. A co-ordination number works as a temporary personal number and will enable you to pay taxes in Sweden.
You might be offered a “cash-in-hand” work (also called svartjobb in Swedish). This means that you will work without a signed contract that clarifies your rights. We strongly recommend you do not accept a “cash-in-hand” job offer. Firstly, because it is illegal to work “cash-in-hand”, secondly because you have nothing to legally fall back on if any problems would occur (concerning e.g. payment or working hours). Last, but not least: working cash-in-hand means that you pay no taxes on your income, which means that others will pay for the social benefits you may enjoy.
Finding a job position might be difficult and not everyone is granted an AT-UND certificate. One option is to do an internship – called praktik in Swedish at a company or organisation. This won’t secure you an income but it does have many other benefits:
Read more here (information in English).
Another option is to engage in volunteer work. The following organisations and websites might be interesting for you:
You are, as an asylum seeker, entitled to a daily allowance if you have not brought any money or are able to support yourself in another way (e.g. thru work). The daily allowance is low considering the prices in Sweden. The allowance is just intended to cover your most important expenses.
The sum you get varies a bit, depending on your personal situation. Learn more at the Swedish Migrations Agency´s website. The information is mainly in Swedish, so we recommend you use the Google-Translate service to translate the information into your language.
Missing something? Or does something feel unclear? Contact us and help us improve.
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