Sweden launches digital passport checks for (some) work permit applicants
In a new scheme by the Migration Agency, applicants for a Swedish work or student permit will be able to verify their passport digitally instead of having to travel to a Swedish embassy – but so far only if they come from one of the 23 countries involved in the pilot.
"Some applicants will now be able to download an app, scan their passport and perform facial recognition to identify themselves for their residence permit applications for studies and work," said Fredrik Larsson, from the Migration Agency's foreign operations unit, in a statement.
Applicants who may be able to take part in the pilot scheme, including those who have already made an application in 2024 but haven't yet shown their passport, will receive an automated email a few days after applying, containing a link to an e-service that's valid for one week.
It means they won't have to make in some cases long and expensive journeys to a Swedish embassy to have their passport checked.
"The whole aim of the project has been to make it easier for applicants. Since it became a requirement to show your passport during a personal visit, more people have been forced to visit a mission abroad, which may be in another country," said Larsson.
Freja eID Group AB, which is one of the companies that provide digital IDs in Sweden, is responsible for carrying out the check.
The new scheme is expected to benefit around 19,000 work permit applicants and 5,000 students a year from the following countries: USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Georgia, Ukraine, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The countries involved are all ones where people don't need a visa to travel to Sweden, so some major work permit countries such as India are excluded. The Local has contacted the Migration Agency to ask if and when the pilot scheme might be rolled out to other countries.
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"Some applicants will now be able to download an app, scan their passport and perform facial recognition to identify themselves for their residence permit applications for studies and work," said Fredrik Larsson, from the Migration Agency's foreign operations unit, in a statement.
Applicants who may be able to take part in the pilot scheme, including those who have already made an application in 2024 but haven't yet shown their passport, will receive an automated email a few days after applying, containing a link to an e-service that's valid for one week.
It means they won't have to make in some cases long and expensive journeys to a Swedish embassy to have their passport checked.
"The whole aim of the project has been to make it easier for applicants. Since it became a requirement to show your passport during a personal visit, more people have been forced to visit a mission abroad, which may be in another country," said Larsson.
Freja eID Group AB, which is one of the companies that provide digital IDs in Sweden, is responsible for carrying out the check.
The new scheme is expected to benefit around 19,000 work permit applicants and 5,000 students a year from the following countries: USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Georgia, Ukraine, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The countries involved are all ones where people don't need a visa to travel to Sweden, so some major work permit countries such as India are excluded. The Local has contacted the Migration Agency to ask if and when the pilot scheme might be rolled out to other countries.
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