It is no surprise that Sweden is one of the top immigration destinations in Europe. The beautiful Scandinavian country welcomes approximately 100,000 expats every year.
The breathtaking scenery, kind people, welfare, and living standards are just some of the reasons why people choose to move to Sweden.
The transition from one country to another can be a piece of cake for some people, however, there are some that might find it more challenging.
Here is an overview of how you can plan your move to Sweden:
The first thing you need to do is get a residence permit. Usually, Sweden requires to obtain a permit before entering the country. You can apply for a residence permit through the website of the Swedish Migration Agency. A residence permit can be obtained for work, family reunion, or study purposes. So, you need to make sure that you have found employment or qualify for a family visa to move to Sweden.
It is important to look for an accommodation place as soon as possible. It is recommended to look for an apartment before moving to Sweden because there is a lack of rental apartments in most cities. Especially if you are thinking about moving to Stockholm, Gothenburg, or Malmo.
If you can enter the country visa-free, you need to use that time to enter the country and find accommodation. If you can’t, you should contact a real estate agent/agency before moving there to have some options to look into. You need to consider long-term placements such as Airbnb and hostels during this time.
For rentals, you can rent ‘first-hand,’ which means you sign an agreement with the owner of the building, or ‘second-hand,’ you sign an agreement with someone who owns the flat. You can find second-hand rentals on many Swedish websites.
After you register and get an ID card, you can proceed with opening a bank account. The Swedish Bank requires an ID card, a Swedish personal identity number, and a valid passport to open an account. The bank will help you obtain the necessary credit/debit cards and banking services you need. Download the BankID app to your smartphone to help you with identification. You can also download the ” Swish ” app to make payments with the BankID.
You need to find out whether you can open a bank account without an address and whether you can find a rental without a bank account. This is usually a “catch-22” with moving to a new country. But, there are several ways to open a bank account before moving to the country. For example, you can check with your local bank if they deal with international transactions until you settle down and obtain an address, or you can register with a digital bank catering to expats.
As a new resident in Sweden, you have to register with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). The registration process adds you into the system for tax collection, personal identification, marital status monitoring, mailing address information, and insurance purposes.
After registering, you will receive a unique personal identification number ‘personnummer,’ which is needed to receive healthcare services, open a bank account, for an online purchase, or receive your salary.
The next step after getting your personal identification number (personnummer) is obtaining a Swedish identity card (ID-kort). The identity card will be a primary form of identification around the country. The card is used to open a bank account, use credit cards, pick up packages, attend doctor’s appointments, etc. You can get the identity card from the Swedish Tax Agency.
The social welfare system of Sweden is funded by taxes. Therefore, you will be required to pay taxes if you want to finance it. The taxes vary from your income; e.g., if you are employed by a company, taxes are automatically deducted from your salary every month by the Swedish Tax Agency. If you’re self-employed, you need to calculate your taxes on your own and pay them to the Swedish tax authorities.
If you own a driving license, you need to check if Sweden allows you to use it or if you need a new one. You should also learn the Swedish road rules, signs, and parking regulations. After residing in Sweden for a year, you will be required to obtain a Swedish driving license by the Swedish Transport Administration.
If you want to move to Sweden, it is obvious you need to know the language. Although the Swedish language is not an easy language to learn, it is better to start with the language lessons early. A basic understanding of the language will make your experience in Sweden easier and help you blend in with the people. You can sign up for free Swedish courses arranged by the government program ‘Swedish for immigrants (SFI) after you get your personal identity number.
Expats with children should look for available options to get in touch with the city council to begin their children’s enrollment procedure. The local council will inform you about schooling arrangements.
The process of moving to Sweden is not difficult for citizens of the EU/EEA.
Citizens of the EU/EEA have the right to work, study, start a business and live in Sweden. After arriving in Sweden, they need to contact the Swedish Tax Agency to register in the national register and get a personal ID number. To get a residence, they need to have or will earn enough income to support themselves.
For foreign nationals, the process of moving to Sweden is more complicated. You need to apply for a Sweden work permit or any other visa that leads to a residence permit in Sweden (family, investment, etc.), which can be obtained only if you have a job offer from an employer in Sweden.
There are a few things you need to consider before moving to Sweden to help you decide whether this is the right place for you:
ProsYes, you can get dual citizenship. If you become a Swedish citizen, you can keep your foreign citizenship if the other country allows it. If your other country does not allow dual citizenship, you must choose the nationality you want to keep.