Working in Sweden from Togo: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Is Sweden realistic for a Togolese tradesperson?

Sweden has no embassy in Togo and no recruitment agreement with Togo, and almost nothing in the Swedish system runs in French. On top of that, Sweden has sharply raised the minimum salary a foreign worker's job offer must meet in recent reforms, specifically to cut low-wage labour migration, which closes off many of the manual-trade jobs that used to be realistic. France's larger Togolese community and shared language make it the far more practical option to compare seriously before you commit time here.

If you already have a genuine Swedish job offer that clears the current salary threshold, the route exists, but go in knowing the logistics will be harder than for applicants from countries where Sweden keeps a staffed embassy.

A few trades are worth knowing specifically. Sweden has a persistent, well-documented shortage of heavy-goods and bus drivers, and transport companies do sponsor non-EU work permits for qualified drivers whose offer clears the salary floor. Construction trades, especially carpentry and concrete work, see regular non-EU hiring when local supply cannot keep up with demand. Seasonal agricultural work, including the well-known summer berry harvest, is another route, though it has a documented history of underpayment, so scrutinise any seasonal contract closely. None of this guarantees a specific job - it only shows where real demand currently exists.

The permit route that applies to you

Sweden's main non-EU route is the work permit (arbetstillstånd), issued by Migrationsverket, the Swedish Migration Agency. The employer's job offer must meet Sweden's current minimum salary threshold, a figure that has risen substantially in recent reform rounds - always verify this year's exact number with Migrationsverket rather than an old figure. The EU Blue Card also exists for higher-education roles at a qualifying salary, though it rarely applies to manual trades.

• Who applies first: the employer offers a job meeting the salary floor; you then file the permit application yourself, usually online.
• Salary threshold: verify the current figure directly, since it has been raised specifically to screen out low-wage roles.
• EU Blue Card: only relevant with a relevant degree and a qualifying salary level.

Documents and where you apply

You will need the signed employment contract with salary, hours and insurance terms, a valid passport, a police clearance (extrait de casier judiciaire) from Togo, proof of trade qualifications or experience, and often proof of health insurance. Togo is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so Togolese documents require full consular legalisation rather than a simple apostille - plan for an extra step at the relevant ministry in Lomé before Swedish authorities will accept the paperwork.

With no Swedish embassy in Togo, submit your application and biometrics at the nearest Swedish embassy or visa centre serving Togo, which will likely mean travel to a regional post - confirm the exact current location with Migrationsverket or the Swedish foreign ministry rather than guessing, since representation for West Africa shifts.

One more practical point: Swedish work permits are tied to your specific employer for the first two years, after which changing employer within the same field becomes easier, and continuous legal work over several years can eventually lead to permanent residence eligibility. Confirm the exact current rules with Migrationsverket, since these conditions have been revised more than once in recent reform rounds.

What it costs - fees and your own costs

Migrationsverket's application fee is revised periodically; check the current figure on its website. Processing has run from a couple of months to longer for more complex cases, so plan for real delay.

• Police clearance in Togo: roughly 2,000-6,000 XOF (around 3-9 EUR, since the CFA franc is pegged to the euro).
• Medical exam, if required: roughly 15,000-35,000 XOF (around 23-53 EUR).
• Consular legalisation and certified translation into Swedish or English: roughly 25,000-60,000 XOF (around 38-91 EUR), more than an apostille would cost.
• Flight to the regional visa post and onward to Sweden: typically the single biggest cost on this route - get a real quote before committing.

Swedish rules place recruitment costs on the employer, not you, and a genuine job never carries an upfront price. Watch for agents in Lomé offering guaranteed European construction or hospitality jobs for a fee paid before a real, named employer and signed contract exist - this pattern has repeatedly targeted Togolese jobseekers hoping for Gulf and European placements.

A word on currency and timing: because the CFA franc is pegged to the euro, the euro figures above are more stable than for some other origin countries on this list, which makes budgeting a little easier. It is still worth asking your employer, in writing, whether Migrationsverket will expect proof that you can support yourself in your first weeks before your first Swedish paycheck lands, since this evidence requirement catches many first-time applicants off guard.

It is also worth noting that Migrationsverket's e-service runs in Swedish and English, not French, so having someone check your application form before submission can save you a rejection on a technicality rather than on the substance of your case.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: Francophone ties to Europe mean Sweden will be easier than it looks. Fact: Togo has no special arrangement with Sweden at all, and almost nothing in the process runs in French.
• Myth: Any job offer from Sweden qualifies for a work permit. Fact: Sweden's sharply raised minimum salary threshold means many manual-trade offers no longer clear the bar - check the current figure.
• Myth: Togolese documents can be apostilled quickly like a Hague country's. Fact: Togo is not in the Apostille Convention, so full consular legalisation is required, which takes longer.
• Myth: An agent who already has your deposit will get your case prioritized. Fact: Migrationsverket processes on the real application, not on money paid to a recruiter.
• Myth: Approval means your family can join right away. Fact: family reunification is a separate application with its own income requirement, so check it before making promises at home.

Before you sign

• Does the written contract state salary, hours and insurance, and does it clear this year's threshold?
• Have your Togolese documents gone through proper consular legalisation?
• Has anyone asked for money before a real contract existed?
• Do you know the current Migrationsverket fee and a realistic processing time?
• Have you confirmed the current Swedish representation point for Togo?
• Do you know whether your permit will be tied to this employer for the first two years?

Put this on your Workuro profile

State the Swedish work-permit route on your profile, the minimum salary your trade would need to meet, and your documents' legalisation status. List your trade and English level clearly, since that is what Swedish employers will actually screen on first. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.