Pension and work: what the Swedish framework says
Sweden allows people to work while receiving their public pension. According to the Pensions Agency (Pensionsmyndigheten), the minimum age for starting to draw the national pension was 63, with a gradual increase planned from 2026 in line with life expectancy. The guarantee pension, intended for people with low entitlements, was set at 66 and is also changing.
You can draw all of the pension or part of it: a quarter, a half or three quarters, which lets you reduce your working hours gradually. The agency also states that the right to remain at work runs to age 69, with the possibility of extending it by agreement with the employer.
These markers concern the Swedish pension. Someone who receives a UK, Irish or Canadian retirement pension must ask their own scheme separately.
Where to find vacancies: Platsbanken and advert sites
The reference portal is Platsbanken, the vacancy database of the public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen). It gathers adverts from public and private employers, which you can filter by occupation, municipality and contract type.
Recruitment and temping agencies such as Randstad also publish vacancies, let you create a profile, upload a CV and receive alerts. They sometimes offer guides to preparing for an interview or a covering letter.
- Search with the Swedish job titles of the occupations, which sometimes differ from the English terms.
- Read carefully the section on required qualifications and languages.
- Check whether the advert states an activity rate, a cover post or a limited-term contract.
Specialist agencies for pensioners
Sweden has temporary-work companies aimed explicitly at retirees. Veteranpoolen is a well-known example: it presents itself as an employer of pensioners and offers assignments for private individuals (home help, gardening, small jobs) and for companies (cover, extra hands).
According to its information, you must be a pensioner or about to become one. The candidate is employed by the agency, with an hourly wage depending on the assignment and pay delivered monthly. It is preferable to be able to offer at least a few hours a month to start. These conditions may change; confirm them with the agency.
This kind of arrangement suits anyone who wants a flexible activity, but the assignments available depend on the locality and on current needs. No volume of work is assured.
Showing what you bring to the group
An experienced application gains by showing how it makes a team's work easier: preparing materials, ensuring administrative continuity, passing on a proven method, training a replacement. Swedish working culture values cooperation, discussion and reliability.
A clear application file consists of:
- a short CV, with the most relevant posts of the last ten to fifteen years;
- two or three precise examples of achievements, with the context and the result;
- useful certificates or diplomas, translated if necessary;
- a letter that answers the tasks in the advert and states your availability.
Avoid the exhaustive list of duties from the start of your career: it makes the discussion less useful than a small number of well-chosen examples.
Language: Swedish, English and special cases
In most adverts, Swedish is required, especially in education, health care, public services and retail. International companies, start-ups and some technical sectors work in English, but informal exchanges, meetings and local documents remain in Swedish.
For a project lasting more than a few months, regular study changes daily life and eases integration. Adult courses exist in many municipalities; access conditions vary with residence status.
State your language levels on your CV without inflating them. If a qualification in the advert seems ambiguous, ask the recruiter in which language meetings are held and reports are written.
Contract, hours and part-time work
If you wish to reduce your activity while drawing a pension, ask the employer for a precise schedule of hours. Part-time work in Sweden is often expressed as a percentage of full time; check how it fits with days off, cover for colleagues and any on-call duty.
Most jobs fall under a collective agreement, which sets minimum wages, supplements and leave. Amounts vary by sector and region; no figure is given here.
Also ask these questions:
- Is the contract fixed-term or permanent, and how long is the probation period?
- Do the hours include evenings, weekends or travel?
- Is the workplace reachable by public transport in winter?
Treating contract, pension and residence separately
Three topics are checked with different bodies. The contract is discussed with the employer. The Swedish public pension is prepared with the Pensions Agency, and other pensions, occupational or foreign, are checked with their administrators. Residence and the right to work are the business of the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).
For a citizen of the European Union or the European Economic Area, work is in principle possible without a permit, with formalities to complete for a long stay, such as registration in the population register. Other nationalities should consult the residence and work rules before leaving.
A job offer and a pension do not answer the same administrative questions. One never leads automatically to the other.
An example of a two-month path
By way of illustration, a former special-needs educator might proceed like this.
- First half of month 1: read ten adverts on Platsbanken, noting the tasks, languages and diplomas required, and start a Swedish course.
- Second half of month 1: prepare a file with two examples of achievements, then contact an agency and an employer.
- Month 2: ask the pension provider in writing about the effect of Swedish income, and check the residence formalities.
This scenario promises neither an interview nor a job; it is a reminder that a search abroad moves forward best in verifiable stages, without premature commitment.
Common mistakes and pitfalls
Several pitfalls turn up among candidates coming from abroad:
- assuming that a pension is enough to open a right of residence or work;
- underestimating the importance of Swedish in relations with colleagues;
- accepting an assignment without asking about the volume of hours and travel costs;
- forgetting to declare income received in Sweden to your home scheme;
- paying money to an intermediary who promises a post, which should always raise alarm.
If in doubt, favour public sources and identifiable employers, and keep every important reply in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you work in Sweden while drawing a pension?
Yes for the Swedish public pension: the Pensions Agency states that you can work and receive it at the same time, in full or in part. For a foreign pension, the rules of the original scheme apply. The question must therefore be put to each administrator separately.
At what age can you claim the Swedish pension?
According to the Pensions Agency, the minimum age was 63, with a gradual increase planned from 2026. The guarantee pension was set at 66. These markers concern people covered by the Swedish scheme and may change; consult the up-to-date official page.
Until what age do you have the right to stay in employment?
The Pensions Agency indicates a right to work until age 69, with the possibility of continuing beyond that if employer and employee agree. This general marker does not replace reading the contract or the applicable collective agreement. Confirm it with the employer.
Are there agencies for retirees in Sweden?
Yes, some temporary-work companies employ pensioners for assignments with private individuals or companies. Conditions, volumes of hours and areas covered vary by agency and locality. No assignment is guaranteed, hence the value of contacting them directly.
Do I need to speak Swedish to find a post?
For most posts, yes, at least at a working level. A few international or technical employers operate in English. Each advert in principle states the language expected. Even then, Swedish remains very useful for everyday exchanges with colleagues.
Where do I check residence and work rules?
With the Swedish Migration Agency, the reference body. EU citizens face lighter formalities, but these exist for a long stay. Other nationalities should examine their situation before leaving, since a job offer is not enough on its own.