Golden opportunity for Pakistanis to go to Europe without a job offer

LAHORE: A new way has emerged for highly educated Pakistanis to find employment and business opportunities in Europe.

The Swedish government is providing a special residence permit (High Talent Visa) for talented and highly educated people from non-European Union countries, under which candidates can go to Sweden to find a job or explore the possibilities of their business.

The aim of this program is to provide an opportunity to such people who want to make a place in the Swedish labor market based on their educational qualifications and professional skills.

Under this permit, candidates can stay in Sweden for a maximum of 9 months, however, the period of the permit cannot exceed the remaining validity of the passport. The candidate must be outside Sweden at the time of submitting the application for this visa.

According to Swedish authorities, applicants for this program must have at least a higher education qualification that is equivalent to the Swedish Second Cycle education standard.

This includes a 60 or 120 credit Master’s degree, professional degree, MPhil, PhD or equivalent postgraduate degree. Pakistani educational qualifications can also be considered acceptable if they meet the required standards.

Academic qualifications alone are not enough to obtain this visa. The candidate must also prove that he or she has the financial capacity to cover his or her own expenses during his or her stay in Sweden.

For this purpose, at least 13,000 Swedish kronor must be available per month, while at least 117,000 Swedish kronor must be in the bank for a possible stay of 9 months. In addition, additional financial resources will be required for return travel expenses.

The applicant must also have comprehensive health insurance that is valid for the entire stay. This insurance must cover expenses such as emergency medical treatment, routine medical treatment, hospitalization costs, emergency dental treatment and repatriation on medical grounds.

According to the Swedish Migration Agency, the application fee for this program is set at 2,200 Swedish kronor. Approximately 75% of cases with complete and correct applications are decided within 7 months, while this period can be extended to 8 months for incomplete or additional verification applications.

The application requires a clear copy of the passport, degrees, educational certificates, transcripts, bank statements, health insurance documents and a consent form allowing the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) to verify the educational certificates.

If the documents are in a language other than English or Swedish, a certified translation must also be provided.

The application process is completely online. Candidates can submit an application on the Swedish Migration Agency website, upload all documents, select the relevant embassy or consulate and also submit biometrics if required.

Importantly, this visa does not allow immediate employment but is issued for job search or business planning. If the candidate finds a job in Sweden, he/she will have to apply for a regular work permit.

Similarly, those wishing to start a business will have to apply separately for a self-employed residence permit.

According to experts, this program can prove to be an important opportunity for Pakistanis who have higher education such as Masters, MPhil or PhD and want to explore career or business opportunities internationally.

However, the chances of success will be higher for candidates whose education, experience and skills match the current labor market needs in Sweden.