2026-06-12: This week, new migration regulations for students and researchers come into force. Let us hope they strengthen Sweden’s attractiveness in the competition for international talent.
The intentions behind the new rules are positive. For example, doctoral students will be able to obtain permanent residence permits after three years instead of four. Researchers whose children are born in Sweden will no longer be required to travel to their home country to apply for a residence permit for the child. A longer residence permit – up to 18 months rather than the current 12 months – may also be granted to allow individuals to seek employment after completing their doctoral studies or research.
The aim is to simplify and improve the situation for international researchers and doctoral students at Swedish higher education institutions, as well as to facilitate the transition from academia to the Swedish labour market.
At the same time, restrictions are being introduced on international students’ ability to work alongside their studies – restrictions that are more stringent than those applying to Swedish students who take on part-time work while receiving student financial support. This has already attracted criticism from some quarters. The government justifies the change on the grounds that residence permits for study purposes have, in some cases, been misused.
It is difficult to assess in advance the full impact of these reforms, but this is an area that must be carefully monitored and evaluated going forward.
This is important on many levels. For Chalmers and the university sector, it concerns the practical ability to build and sustain academic environments of international calibre over the long term. Sweden needs higher education institutions of the highest standard in order to maintain and strengthen the country’s capacity for innovation. This also benefits private investment in research and development.
At the student level, too, the contribution of talented individuals is invaluable. Our own follow-up studies show that many Chalmers graduates remain in the region after completing their studies. All indications suggest that many become part of the West Swedish industrial cluster of which Chalmers is an integral component. We hope this trend will continue and, if possible, increase in the future. Recruitment needs within STEM professions continue to grow.
Ultimately, this is about Sweden’s competitiveness. Let us therefore hope that the new rules support continued progress towards making Sweden an attractive destination for leading expertise and top talent.
Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology
Under the headline "President’s perspective" the President and CEO for Chalmers University of Technology, shares his reflections on current topics that concern education, research and utilisation.