Sweden has set out the rules under which young foreigners can apply for a working holiday visa, and only inhabitants of six countries are eligible.
Sweden’s Migration Agency said the country has struck youth exchange agreements with Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Under these terms, nationals of certain nations aged 18 to 30 can spend up to a year on a working holiday in Sweden.
Who Qualifies for the Sweden Working Holiday Visa
- To obtain a residence permit, an applicant must have a valid passport.
- Be a citizen of one of the six nations included in the agreement.
- Only people aged 18 to 30 are eligible for the permit.
- Financial readiness is also a necessity. Applicants must show that they have at least SEK 15,000 available when they come to Sweden, which is designed to cover their first living expenses before settling in.
- They must also have a return ticket to their home nation or sufficient funds to purchase one.
- Health insurance is another required need. The policy must be valid throughout the stay and must cover urgent medical care, hospitalization, emergency dental treatment, and medical repatriation in the event that the holder needs to return home for medical reasons.
Australian Citizens Receive One Key Exemption
Australian citizens differ from the other six qualifying nations in one important regard.
Sweden’s Migration Agency has confirmed that the health insurance requirement does not apply to Australians, which means they are not required to have full health coverage as a condition of their residence permit.
All other conditions, such as proof of finances, a valid passport, and a return ticket, are the same for Australian applicants as they are for nationals of the other five nations.
Citizens of countries not participating in the youth exchange agreements, which include the great majority of African nations, are ineligible for the working holiday visa and must seek alternative visas to work or live in Sweden.
New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa Guidelines
Meanwhile, according to the official New Zealand Immigration website, all Working Holiday visa applications must be submitted online in English.
Applicants must first create an account on the online services page before uploading documents and paying any costs.
