Islamic Republic of Pakistan vs Kingdom of Sweden
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan uses the Pakistan Online Visa System for major entry routes, including tourist/visit, business, work, investor, student and family-visit visas. Work cases are employer-led and the official work route points applicants to the Board of Investment for further requirements, while business and investor categories depend heavily on invitation, recommendation or investment evidence.
- Official portal
- Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- Currency
- Pakistani rupee
Kingdom of Sweden
Sweden's work and residence permits are administered by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). The work permit system requires an employer offer meeting minimum salary and insurance conditions. The EU Blue Card (Sweden) targets highly qualified workers. Self-employment, researcher, and student permits round out the system. Sweden offers permanent residence after 4 years of continuous residence on a work permit.
- Official portal
- Migrationsverket
- Languages
- Swedish
- Currency
- Swedish krona
How Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Kingdom of Sweden differ
| Dimension | Islamic Republic of Pakistan | Kingdom of Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 6 | 4 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 1 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 0 | 3 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | Work permit -> permanent residence after 4 qualifying work years in the past 7 -> citizenship under the 8-year main residence rule. |
| Dominant skilled visa | Work - General Visa | Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | SEK 34,470/month |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | The Swedish Migration Agency reports that complete highly qualified work-permit applications are mostly decided within 1 month; incomplete cases can take around 3 months. |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | A Swedish employee work-permit application costs SEK 2,200 for the principal applicant. |
| Official languages | Urdu, English | Swedish |
| Currency | Pakistani rupee | Swedish krona |
| Primary regulator | PBC | Advokatsamfundet |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Work - General Visa
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Kingdom of Sweden
Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd)
- Salary minimum
- SEK 34,470/month
- Government fees
- A Swedish employee work-permit application costs SEK 2,200 for the principal applicant.
- Processing time
- The Swedish Migration Agency reports that complete highly qualified work-permit applications are mostly decided within 1 month; incomplete cases can take around 3 months.
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Routes unique to Kingdom of Sweden
Visa routes side by side
Islamic Republic of Pakistan (6)
Tourist/Visit Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry visas can be single-entry for up to 3 months; extensions can be multiple-entry up to 6 months or greater than 6 months where eligible.
Business Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A business visa may be granted for up to 5 years and is valid for multiple entries.
Business Investor Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short-term entry can be 1 year or 3 years multiple-entry; long-term entry can be 5 years multiple-entry; investor extension can be 2 years multiple-entry.
Work - General Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry and extension can be granted for 2 years with multiple entries.
Student Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · The official page says a study visa is granted for 2 years.
Family Visit Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · First-time visa valid up to 5 years with up to 1 year stay on each entry; Pakistan-origin extensions can be up to 2 years, while other extensions are yearly or as relevant rules/policy allow.
Kingdom of Sweden (4)
Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · 2 years initially; renewable for another 2 years.
EU Blue Card (Sweden)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · At least 9 months and up to 4 years; renewable.
Self-Employment Permit (Eget företag)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · 2 years initially; renewable.
Student Residence Permit (Uppehållstillstånd för studier)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 1 or 2 years depending on the institution and programme; never longer than the studies or passport validity.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Islamic Republic of Pakistan or Kingdom of Sweden?+
Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s Work - General Visa is the dominant skilled route; Kingdom of Sweden’s Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd) requires SEK 34,470/month. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Islamic Republic of Pakistan or Kingdom of Sweden have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Islamic Republic of Pakistan has more: 3 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 1 for Kingdom of Sweden. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.