Despite efforts from the Swedish Migration Board to shorten the processing times for work permit applications, the applicant and his or her employer may find themselves waiting for several months or almost up to one year before the Swedish Migration Board takes a decision. As qualified and skilled employees are crucial for many businesses, the general recommendation is to submit the work permit application through a company that is certified by the Migration Board (such as Elmzell). A complete application will then normally be processed within ten to 20 days.