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Residence permit

Extend your residence permit for higher education

If you have a residence permit for higher education, and you need to extend it to complete your master's degree, you must apply for an extension of residence permit before your current permit expires. 

The Swedish Migration Agency applies the rules and regulations related to the extension process very strictly and there is no guarantee that your application will be approved. Please contact your international coordinator to discuss this situation in time before your current permit expires.

If the extension is related to your delayed degree project work, remember that you need a written statement from your supervisor, stating the reason for the delay and how much of the work that is finalised. The supervisor will also set a final date for completion of your degree work. To make this process easier you will receive a form from your international coordinator that you should use for this purpose. The international coordinator also needs to sign this form.

Remember that it is always your own responsibility to complete your application on time. Make sure to contact both your international coordinator and supervisor well in advance before your current residence expires.

Extend resident permit for higher education (Swedish Migration Agency's website)

Resi­dence permit for work after studies

If you have a residence permit for higher education in Sweden, and have completed your Master’s degree, you can apply for a one-year residence permit to seek employment or explore the possibilities of starting your own business here. The application needs to be sent in before your current residence expires.

Residence permit for work after studies (Swedish Migration Agency's website)

General information

Residence permit at Lund University's website

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Below you find some examples of questions we frequently receive. Please note that these are general answers and that your specific case might be different. Contact your international coordinator if you have any questions. 

FAQ at the Swedish Migration Agency

Yes, you can not apply for this permit unless you have finished all the courses within your degree. You need to submit a transcript of records to prove this. 

You need to get a statement from your supervisor, who will confirm the amount of work left, the reason for the delay, and when the degree project is estimated to be completed. This will be stated and confirmed in a form that will be sent to you by your international coordinator, who also needs to sign the form.

It is easier to get an extension based on a delayed degree project than a single re-exam. Therefore you should always priorities to finish your courses rather than the project if you need to choose between them. Please contact your international coordinator to discuss this situation. Remember to apply for the extension of the residence permit before your current residence permit expires.

Plan your process of extension in good time! 

Make sure to read the information on the Swedish Migration Agency's website.

Extend residence permit for higher education (Swedish Migration Agency's website)

Page Manager: cecilia.nilsson@lth.lu.se | 2023-10-25