Move to Sweden - checklist

This is almost always step one when moving to Sweden. Sweden’s Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) handles issues relating to immigration, visas, permits and citizenship.

Maybe you already secured the necessary residence permit required to legally reside and work in Sweden before arriving – through a job, family, or for study purposes. But you may still want to locate your nearest Migration Agency field or head office in case you need to renew permits.

2. How will you provide for yourself? Are you an employee or maybe an entrepreneur?

For many people finding a job is one of the first steps before relocating. Jobs can be found in numerous places such as LinkedIn External link. but also at Blocket Jobb External link. or the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) External link.. At the Swedish Public Employment Service, you can also find useful information on how it is to work in Sweden.

This site can also give you a lot of tips and there is also a video worth watching. Also provided by the Swedish Public Employment Service. Follow this link to see more.
External link.

Entreprenur?

If you want to start your own company (eget företag), you will need to obtain an F-skatt (the ‘F’ stands för företagare – entrepreneur) status through the Tax Agency for tax purposes. You can also choose to register your company name through the Swedish Companies Registration Office External link. (Bolagsverket).

Verksamt.se External link. is a useful website if you want to start a business in Sweden.

3. Find your new home

There are different options when searching for a home in Sweden and Härnösand. If you are interested in renting an apartment there are both private and municipal landlords. You can find lists of landlords here.

• Blocket,se External link. lets you search for apartments. Although this site mostly lists apartments for sublease.
• If you prefer buying a house or a condominium Hemnet.se is a great tool, where pretty much everything for sale is listed. To buy an apartment you need to get in contact with one of the Swedish banks, but we will get to this later.

Good thing to know: The most common way of renting homes is unfurnished. IKEA as well as our many second hand shops will help you when it comes to keeping your costs down. In Sweden it is not uncommon to have a lot of second hand furniture.

4. What other authorities do I need to get in touch with?

The first thing you need to do, just like what we covered during step one, is to check if you need a work and residence permit before moving to Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency External link. handles all immigration, visas, work permits and citizenship. When you have arrived in Sweden your next step is to notify the Swedish Tax Agency External link. in ordered to be registered in the Swedish Population Register (folkbokförd).

Once this is done you can apply for a personal identity number (personnummer). The personal identity number will allow you to get an ID card, open a bank account, sign up for insurance and apply to be covered by Swedish Social Insurance System (at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency) External link.. External link. Please note you must intend to stay for more than one year to be registered in the Swedish Population Register.

Follow this link for a helpful movie on relocating to Sweden (Swedish Tax Agency). External link.
You can also get in touch with Statens Servicecenter Follow this link to learn more. External link.

5. Get and ID card

Once you’ve got your personal identity number, obtaining a Swedish identity card (identitetskort or ID-kort) from the Swedish Tax Agency External link. is a logical next step.

A Swedish ID card is your primary form of identification around the country. It is used for opening bank accounts, using credit cards, picking up packages from the post office, and at doctor's appointments – naming just four examples.

6. Banking & insurance

This one is quite simple: First, take care of steps one and four! Opening a Swedish bank account usually requires a Swedish ID card, or at least a Swedish personal identity number plus a valid passport.

The bank will help you obtain the necessary credit/debit cards and banking services you need. A bank account is very useful for bills and salaries, which are usually paid online.

Also, make sure to download the BankID app onto a smartphone and order a BankID from the Swedish bank you've chosen. The BankID is pretty much crucial to getting by in Sweden as plenty of online identification is built around it.

Once you have a BankID, we suggest you also dowload the Swish app, a service that is one of the most frequently used apps of them all. With Swish you can transfer money and pay in stores and on websites.

Terms you’ll find on your invoice (faktura):
Bankgiro/plusgiro

An identification number for the company sending the invoice

OCR

A number that identifies your payment

Förfallodatum

The date when your payment is due

Belopp/att betala

The amount you have to pay

Insurance

In Sweden is it important to make sure you are insured. There are different types of insurance to get. Most people in Sweden have a home insurance to protect their home and belongings, a personal insurance for accidents and sicknesses. If you have a car there it is the law to have a traffic insurance.

To learn more and get protection that is right for you, please contact an insurance company.

7. Finding schools and childcare for your children

Education is key in Sweden. It is tax-financed, and compulsory from the age of six.

In the Swedish school system, children go to school for at least ten years from the year they turn six, as mandated by the Swedish Education Act. Sweden's long focus on education is quoted as one of the explanations for the country's capacity for innovation. You apply for school here. External link.

If your child is under the age of six you have the right to have your child in Förskola (nursey school, or preschool). Förskola is provided by Swedish municipalities for children ages on to five. The amount of municipal subsidy for preschool depends on the child’s age and wether the parents work, study, are unemployed or on parental leave for other children. You apply for preschool here. External link.

8. Learn Swedish

Don’t wait until the previous steps are completed. Begin today!

A basic understanding of Swedish will make it easier for you to find your place in Swedish society. Once you have a Swedish personal identity number, you can sign up for free Swedish courses arranged by the government programme Swedish for immigrants (SFI).

SFI courses are offered through each local municipality’s adult continuing education programme (kommunal vuxenutbildning, or komvux) so you will need to contact your local municipality. You find SFI here. External link.

9. Pay taxes in Sweden

Sweden is well known for its developed social welfare system, and if you move here you will have to help finance it by paying taxes. The Swedish Tax Agency is responsible for collecting taxes, which vary upon income.

If you’re employed by a company, taxes are automatically deducted from your salary every month. The Swedish Tax Agency has an overview in English External link..

For the self-employed, the tax structure is slightly more complicated. If you plan on starting as a sole trader, you will need to register for F-skatt (the ‘F’ stands for företagare – entrepreneur). The Tax Agency has more information on taxes for businesses. External link.

Read more about Swedish social insurance at Försäkringskassan – the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. External link.

10. Get a Swedish driving license

If you’re planning to drive in Sweden, check up on whether you can use your current licence External link. (körkort) or if you’ll need a new one. Familiarize yourself with Swedish road rules, signs and parking regulations.

After one year as a resident, you are usually required to obtain a Swedish driving licence. For that, you contact the Swedish Transport Administration External link. (Trafikverket).