Care Assistant Jobs in Sweden with Visa Sponsorship 2026
Care assistant jobs in Sweden can provide opportunities for overseas workers who want to work in elderly care, home care, disability support, and other care services. For people outside the EU/EEA, the employer must meet Swedish immigration requirements and the worker normally needs a Swedish work permit before starting employment.
Sweden has also introduced new work permit rules. From 1 June 2026, care assistants are among the occupational groups exempt from the general 90 percent median-salary requirement. For these exempt occupations, the salary must instead reach at least 75 percent of the Swedish median salary at the time of application. The employment must still meet other work permit requirements.
What Does a Care Assistant Do in Sweden?
Care assistants support people who need help with daily activities. The exact duties depend on the employer, workplace, and position.
Common workplaces can include elderly care services, residential care, home care, and services supporting people with disabilities. Typical duties may include:
- Helping clients with personal daily routines
- Supporting elderly people with everyday activities
- Preparing or assisting with meals
- Helping with mobility and basic care needs
- Keeping living areas clean and organised
- Reporting changes in a client’s condition to the appropriate staff
- Providing social support and companionship
- Following workplace health and safety procedures
Applicants should carefully read each vacancy because responsibilities and qualification requirements can differ between employers.
Who Can Apply for Care Assistant Jobs?
Care assistant positions are not all the same. Some vacancies may be suitable for people with limited formal experience, while other care jobs require relevant education or previous work experience.
Employers can set their own requirements. Depending on the position, they may ask for:
- Previous experience in care or support work
- Basic knowledge of elderly care
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work shifts
- Physical ability to perform care duties
- Swedish language skills
- Relevant care or nursing education
It is important not to confuse a general care assistant position with the Swedish occupation undersköterska, commonly translated as assistant nurse.
Protected Assistant Nurse Title in Sweden
Since 1 July 2023, undersköterska has been a protected professional title in Sweden. A person generally needs a certificate from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) to use this title in healthcare and social care.
People educated outside Sweden can apply for the protected professional title. Socialstyrelsen states that applicants educated outside the EU/EEA need to provide education documents and evidence of language skills. Depending on the applicant’s background and Swedish work experience, clinical training may also be required.
Therefore, overseas applicants should check the exact job title before applying. A vacancy for a care assistant is not automatically the same as a vacancy for an assistant nurse.
Visa Sponsorship and the Swedish Work Permit
Sweden does not normally use the phrase “visa sponsorship” in the same way as some other countries. For a non-EU/EEA worker, the important process is obtaining a Swedish work permit based on employment.
According to the Swedish Migration Agency, a person from outside the EU/EEA will in most cases need a work permit to work in Sweden. The applicant must have a valid passport and a signed employment contract. The job must also offer terms and conditions that are at least equal to Swedish collective agreements or normal practice in the occupation or industry.
The employer must also provide required insurance coverage, including health insurance, life insurance, occupational injury insurance, and occupational pension insurance by the time the employee starts work.
Key work permit requirements
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Employment contract | The worker and employer must have a signed contract |
| Valid passport | The applicant needs a valid passport |
| Proper salary | The salary must meet the applicable Swedish immigration threshold |
| Proper employment terms | Conditions must meet Swedish requirements |
| Employer insurance | Required insurance must be provided |
| Work permit | Required for most workers from outside the EU/EEA |
Salary Rules for Care Assistants
The salary requirement is especially important for overseas applicants. From 1 June 2026, Sweden introduced a general work permit salary requirement of at least 90 percent of the median salary. However, care assistants are specifically included in the occupational groups exempt from that general threshold. For these occupations, the applicable minimum is 75 percent of the Swedish median salary at the time of application.
This does not mean every care assistant vacancy automatically qualifies for a work permit. The employer must identify the occupation correctly, and the employment must satisfy the other immigration rules.
Where to Find Care Assistant Jobs
Job seekers should search for vacancies through legitimate employers and recognised Swedish employment services. Useful search terms include:
- Care assistant
- Care worker
- Elderly care worker
- Home care worker
- Support worker
- Healthcare assistant
- Assistant nurse
- Äldreomsorg
- Vårdbiträde
- Undersköterska
Always check whether the employer is genuinely offering employment and whether the advertised position can support a work permit.
How to Apply for Jobs
A simple application process can help overseas applicants avoid mistakes.
- Prepare a CV: Clearly list your education, work experience, care duties, language skills, and contact information.
- Collect documents: Keep copies of certificates, employment records, and other documents requested by the employer.
- Search for genuine vacancies: Apply directly through trusted job portals, employers, municipalities, and care organisations.
- Check the job title: Confirm whether the vacancy is for a care assistant, assistant nurse, or another care occupation.
- Discuss work permit support: If selected, ask the employer whether they will complete the employer part of the Swedish work permit process.
- Apply for the permit: Follow the Swedish Migration Agency’s instructions after receiving a valid employment offer.
Do not pay an unknown person simply because they promise a guaranteed Swedish job or work permit. A genuine employment process should include a real employer, a real job, and a proper employment contract.
Skills That Can Help Applicants
People with little formal education should focus on genuine skills they already have rather than adding qualifications they do not possess.
Useful skills for care work can include patience, reliability, communication, personal care experience, basic housekeeping, meal assistance, and the ability to follow instructions.
Swedish language ability can also be important because care workers communicate directly with clients, colleagues, and other professionals. The exact language requirement depends on the employer and position.
Final Points for Overseas Job Seekers
Care assistant jobs can be relevant to foreign workers looking for employment in Sweden, but applicants should understand the difference between a job advertisement and an approved immigration route. Care assistants are currently listed among the occupations receiving an exemption from Sweden’s general work permit salary threshold, but all other applicable work permit conditions still need to be satisfied.
Applicants should use genuine job vacancies, prepare an accurate CV, check the exact occupation, and review the latest requirements from the Swedish Migration Agency before accepting an offer. Those applying for positions using the protected title undersköterska should also check Socialstyrelsen’s requirements for the protected professional title.
