How long can I stay and work in Sweden after completing my master's degree?

The one year job search window is not automatic just for finishing any Swedish course. You specifically need to have completed the entire higher education program, at least two full semesters, before you qualify for this post study permit.

The Two Stage Path From Graduation To Working In Sweden

Once you graduate, you apply for a residence permit to look for work or explore starting a business, valid for up to 1 year, and you must apply before your existing student residence permit expires. During that year, the permit is specifically for job searching or business exploration, and you need to show at least SEK 10,656 a month in funds to support yourself for 2026 applications. Once you find qualifying employment, you apply for a separate Swedish work permit, which can generally be granted for up to 2 years at a time depending on your employment contract, and it is renewable if you remain employed.

A Rule Change That Now Also Affects Students Who Graduate Later

Students whose study residence permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026 face a 15 hour per week work limit during semesters while still studying, with exceptions and unrestricted work allowed during June through August. This does not change the post study job search permit itself, but it does mean students under the newer rules have less part time income to fall back on while finishing their degree and building savings for the job search year ahead.

This Information Is Also Available On

• Swedish Migration Agency, post study job search and work permit guidance

My Advice

Start applying for jobs before graduation rather than after, since the 1 year search permit clock starts once your student permit would otherwise expire, and interview and hiring cycles in Sweden can take longer than students expect. Make sure your program genuinely completes both required semesters before your final term, since an incomplete program does not qualify you for the post study search permit regardless of how close you are to finishing.