Veterinary student

Special permit for veterinary students

If you are studying veterinary medicine at a university in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you may apply for a special permit to practise as a veterinarian before completing your degree.

To be eligible, you must have completed at least five years of study, and all courses and examinations included in the veterinary programme must be passed, without exception. This also includes any elective courses. The only outstanding requirement may be your written final thesis.

When submitting your application, please attach a certificate from your university confirming that you have completed all courses and examinations required for the Degree of Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine, with the exception of the written final thesis.

In addition to having completed the required courses and examinations, you must also have sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language. This means that you should be able to communicate with animal owners, maintain veterinary records in Swedish, and understand the legislation relevant to the veterinary profession.

Knowledge of Danish or Norwegian is considered equivalent to knowledge of Swedish.

There are no specific requirements regarding the type of documentation that may be submitted as proof of sufficient Swedish language skills. Each application is assessed individually. Examples of documentation that may be accepted include:

• A copy of a certificate from Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) or an equivalent programme.
• A copy of a certificate confirming that you have studied in Swedish for at least one year. There are no requirements regarding the subject studied.
• A copy of a certificate confirming that you have sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language, such as a university degree taught in Swedish for University Studies (TISUS).
• Document showing at least one year of professional experience in Sweden where Swedish has been the working language.

A special permit to practise as a veterinarian is subject to certain limitations. You must work in an organisation or business where a veterinarian holding a Swedish veterinary licence has overall responsibility for the veterinary activities.

As a holder of a special permit, you are, in principle, formally authorised to carry out the same veterinary procedures and treatments as a licensed veterinarian. However, it is essential that you also have the necessary practical competence to perform the procedures you undertake.

Formal competence refers to the theoretical knowledge and qualifications obtained through your education, while practical competence refers to the skills and experience required to perform specific procedures safely and correctly. You are personally responsible for ensuring that you have the competence required for the treatments you provide and for how those treatments are carried out.

You may also be subject to disciplinary proceedings before the Veterinary Disciplinary Board for Animal Health Professionals (Ansvarsnämnden för djurens hälso- och sjukvård). Your personal responsibility applies regardless of whether a colleague or supervisor has instructed you to perform a particular treatment.

In addition, the same professional obligations apply as for licensed veterinarians, including requirements relating to record-keeping, the issuing of certificates, confidentiality, and mandatory reporting obligations.

Please note that a special permit to practise as a veterinarian does not qualify you to work as an Official Veterinarian.

How to apply for a special permit

You can apply for a special permit to practise as a veterinarian through our e‑service.

• E-service: Application for a special permit to practise as a veterinarian (available in Swedish)

The e-service is available only in Swedish.

Please note that the processing time is at least two weeks from the date we receive a complete application. You may not begin working as a veterinarian until you have received a decision granting the special permit.

However, you may be introduced to your future workplace and duties before the permit is granted, provided that you do not carry out any veterinary work.

A special permit is valid for 16 months and cannot be renewed.

Applications for a special permit should be submitted through our e-service. As part of the application process, you must upload digital copies of the required documents. You may either scan the documents or submit clear photographs of them.

All documents must be legible for us to assess your application. It is therefore important that the digital copies are clear and of sufficient quality. If the documents cannot be read, you will be asked to submit new copies, which may result in a longer processing time.

The application fee is paid at the end of the application process using Visa or Mastercard.

If you are unable to use the e-service, you should instead submit an application using the application form. Please note that it is important to include the order number on the application form so that your payment can be identified and matched to your application.

The application must include the following documents:

• A certificate from your university confirming that you are enrolled in a veterinary medicine programmet hat complies with the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. The certificate must also confirm that you have completed all courses and examinations required for the veterinary degree, with the exception of the written final thesis.
• Documentationdemonstrating sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language. Please see the information above regarding accepted forms of documentation,
• A copy of your passport if you are not registered in Sweden.

Practising veterinary medicine without authorisation in Sweden

If you do not hold the right to practise as a veterinarian in Sweden, you may not present yourself as a veterinarian when examining or treating animals for payment.

You must also not use any title or professional designation that could lead others to believe that you hold a Swedish veterinary licence or are otherwise authorised to practise the veterinary profession in Sweden.

Failure to comply with these rules may result in a fine.

Regulations