How long may a fixed-term employment last?
A special fixed-term contract converts to permanent employment once it has lasted more than twelve months in total over a five-year period. A substitute contract converts after more than two years.
What the source says
- Section 5 a: a special fixed-term contract converts to permanent employment after more than twelve months in total.
- Section 5 a: a substitute contract converts after more than two years in total over five years.
- Section 2: the rules are semi-mandatory, a collective agreement may set other periods.
Source rows
- Employment Protection Act (SFS 1982:80)SFS 1982:80 · Labour Court decides disputes · Read 2026-08-20 · Content hash c09acdb6cbc7a227Official source
- Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditionsCELEX 32019L1152 · European Commission, implemented nationally · Read 2026-08-20 · Content hash 7a18dd4553e0f824Official source
For the employer · How the employer puts the question
Count total time across all contracts, not per contract, and check any deviating periods in the collective agreement before extending.
For the employee · How the employee puts the question
Check how many days have actually been counted, the conversion happens automatically once the limit is passed.
Next step
Read the conversion rule together with the transparent and predictable working conditions directive.
The rows reproduce what the source says. They are not legal advice, and applying them to a specific case is the reader's or their counsel's decision.
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