• Sweden
• Moving to
• Living in
• Leaving
• Resources
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

Moving to : Sweden

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Sweden, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Sweden 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Sweden 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Swedish culture is defined in many ways. From their famous meat balls to their long winters and white summer nights. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Wikipedia article on Swedish Culture
Visit Sweden - Culture
Geographia - Swedish Culture
Earthy Family - Culture

Each area of Sweden will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Sweden you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Sweden you are investigating.

As an EU national you do not need a work permit to work in Sweden. However it is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go. You are able to enter the country as a tourist and to look for a job once you arrive.

As an EU Citizen, you are entitled to stay freely in Sweden for 3 months, however if you plan on working or staying longer than 3 months, you must apply for a residence certificate (uppehållstillstånd).

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Sweden.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad
4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs
Jobs in Stockholm

You will need your employment contract in order to apply for residency and anything else that requires proof of income or a credit agreement.

A work contract is non negotiable. It is proof that you will be able to support yourself. You will need to show them a copy when making the application for residency. Before signing your contract, make sure you understand it fully. If it is in Swedish, ask if it can be translated into English so you there is no question in your mind what you are signing. If they can't do this, then spend the money and take it to a translator. Always better to be safe than sorry. Check things like disciplinary procedures, performance indicators, how they intend to pay you and how often.  In addition make sure they will take care of your tax and social security payments.

In order to work you will need a "Födelsesnummer" (Swedish population registery number).  Everything about you is recorded via this number.  Tax payments, social security etc.  Applications must be made via the Skatteverket.  You need to take your passport, residence permit, and all family birth certificates as well as all documents pertaining to any marriages/divorces you may have had.  You'll then be given your number.  Without this number, you will be working illegally!

More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities).

If you are planning on going to Sweden and starting your own business, this site may be of use to you: Doing Business

Swedish Consulate General - Starting your own business

If you're going to study in Sweden, you will need information regarding courses.

Study in Sweden
Consulate General of Sweden - Students in Sweden
Open University - Sweden
Study Abroad - Sweden

Sweden has a very advanced childcare system.  Speak with your local commune who can help you find daycare places.  Information regarding childcare for preschool children can be found here:

Skolverket - Childcare in Sweden

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school between the ages of 6 and 7 depending on their date of birth. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Swedish school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

Consulate General of Sweden - Education
Wikipedia - Education in Sweden
Ministry of Education
Swedish Tourism - Education
Consulate General of Sweden - International Schools in Sweden
British International Primary School - Stockholm

If you are considering retiring to Sweden, then the following sites should be useful:

Direct Gov - Preparing to move or retire abroad 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Sweden can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Swedish Association of Real Estate Agents
The Local - Property
Sweden Off Plan Property - Buying Information
Right Move - Property Website

Rental is the most popular form of accommodation in Sweden with most natives opting to rent. Due to this, renting in large cities can be a problem with a lack of available properties and overpriced rents.  First hand contracts (those taken with the owner of the property) are few and far between.  Second hand contracts (sublets) can be both illegal and dangerous, so be very careful if agreeing to one of these.

Renting is often not what you know, but who you know. Talk to people, ask around, post your own ad in a paper asking for a first hand rental and leave yourself plenty of time to find somewhere to live!

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Swedish nationals.

NHS Guide   
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance 

For longer term general health care, you will need a födelsesnummer number.  You will need to show this the first time you visit a doctor and they in turn will give you a Patientkort.  This must then be shown at every visit to the Doctor/Dentist or hospitals.

Most Doctors and Dentists are English speaking. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For a really good English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.

Before taking any medication into Sweden make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn't know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

At your first visit to an "Apoteket" (Pharmacy) with a prescription, you can apply for a free "Apotek-kort".  If you show this each time you collect a prescription, the costs of your medication will decrease over the year.  For more information, speak with your pharmacist.

Private medical insurance is a personal choice. Although not necessary as the public healthcare in Sweden is adequate, it can act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account can be a challenge!  Most banking is done online in Sweden and via direct debit so it's vital that you have an account.  To open an account you'll need proof of residency and your födelsesnummer number.  Many banks now offer an English interface and English correspondence, it's well worth investigating this.  Research is certainly the key when it comes to opening a bank account!

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.

Telia has the monopoly when it comes to phones/internet etc.  The Swedish internet industry is HUGE with massive pipes which pump connection speeds at rates unheard of in the rest of Europe!

Telia
Bahnhoff Internet
Bredbandsbolaget
Com Hem
Glocalnet

All of the above sites are in Swedish, so you will need a native speaker with you to look around.  The only portal we were able to find in English is:

Teliasonera

As with most companies, like in the UK, you can select "packages" eg, internet, telephone and cable etc. Foreign TV shows are rarely dubbed (unless aimed specifically at children) so most of the Swedish channels will have English speaking tv/films on with Swedish subtitles. 

Like anything, research your options first.  Talk to neighbours/colleagues and other locals and see who they use etc. Ensure that regardless of who you go with, purchase a tv licence!

Wikipedia - TV Licensing in Sweden

To find out where to pay this, speak with your local post office or neighbours. 

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

These sites may help you decide which carrier is best for you and how the system works.

Most of the companies in the section above also do mobile phones, however in addition, the following sites may also help.  Make sure you look into both contract and pay as you go options and work out which is best for you.  Unfortunately, all the sites below are in Swedish, so make sure you have a native person with you, or alternatively, pop into a local shop to discuss your options in person.

Tele2
Telenor (this company used to be Vodafone)
Nordisk
TDC

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

Vägverket - Importing vehicles into Sweden

If you decide to import your vehicle permanently, contact your local commune or customs office who can point you in the direction of the vehicle registration office.  They will be able to give you information regarding all the procedures which will need to be followed to ensure your car is legally registered in Sweden.

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Sweden.

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Sweden:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting