We all have to get started somewhere – and this is our tried and tested top 10 list to get you up and running
What to do when arriving in Sweden is one of the first questions every newcomer asks. If you are feeling confused about what to do and how to do it, you have come to the right place.
What are the top ten things to do when arriving in Sweden? If you are feeling confused about what to do and how to do it – you have come to the right place. Here we offer you our tried-and-tested top ten list with things to get you started. Try to work your way through the list in chronological order as some of these steps build on each other.
Get a visa or a residence permit in Sweden
Depending on the purpose and the duration of your visit, you should either apply for a visiting visa, a residence permit or read up on rules for EU-citizens moving to Sweden. Note: this is a step that needs to be taken before you come to Sweden.
Find a home in Sweden
Your next step is to find a place to stay and this task can be challenging. There is a housing shortage in Sweden, especially in the cities, which makes it hard – for Newbies and Oldbies to find a place to stay.
Talk to family and friends, register on different housing sites – so called bostadsköer, such as Stockholms rental housing site and look for second-hand contracts – so-called andrahandskontrakt on for instance Blocket.se, a site for buying, selling and renting.
This step is important on two accounts. One, because you naturally want to have somewhere to stay the moment you arrive in Sweden. Two, because you need to have an address in Sweden in order to get for instance a personal number or a bank account in Sweden.
Get a personnummer by registering with the Tax Agency – Skatteverket
Next, you must register with the Swedish Tax Agency – Skatteverket. This step is of great importance. From now on you will be part of the Swedish Tax System, assigned with a unique personal identification number – a personnummer. This number – consisting of your birth date + four numbers – is the key to your whole legal existence – from opening a bank account to visiting the doctor.
Sign up for benefits at the Social Insurance Agency -Försäkringskassan
Next, you must register with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency – Försäkringskassan. We recommend you do this immediately after registering with Skatteverket. This helps you with certain benefits such as basic healthcare, parental benefits, child allowances, disability coverage and other insurance payments.
Get a Swedish ID-card in Sweden
A Swedish identification card is important to get as soon as possible. For instance, you need a Swedish ID-card to open a Swedish bank account. And having a Swedish bankcard is a necessity as nearly everything is paid for by credit/debit cards. The most common way to apply for an ID-card is at Skatteverket.
Get a bank account in Sweden
It’s time to open a bank account. In order to do so you usually need your Swedish ID-card and personnummer (see step 2). When you have that cleared, you visit any Swedish bank of your choice and proceed.
Learn Swedish
Nothing will improve your time in Sweden as much as learning Swedish. You have many different teaching alternatives to choose from and it’s important that you choose a method that suits you. You can learn by yourself, register with SFI or SAS, enroll in a Swedish course at the university or opt for a private teaching alternative. Regardless of what you choose, remember that practice makes the master!
If you want to get started on learning Swedish even before you arrive in Sweden, you can start with the online course Swedish for beginners, which you can take from anywhere and at any time and pace.
Find a job in Sweden
While some Newbies come to Sweden with a signed job contract others have to start from scratch. So what can you do to find a job? Read our tips here. Sweden has an extensive social security system. If you find yourself in a difficult financial situation, the National Board of Health and Welfare is a place to turn. They have limited information in English so contact your local office or call.
We can also recommend that you take the online course Network your way to a job in Sweden. You can take it anywhere and at any time so you can start networking before you even arrive in Sweden.
Make friends
Friends are important, especially in a new country. But how to make new friends? Go clubbing, join clubs, sign up for Swedish school, take up sports, join dating sites, join a choir, go to a cooking class, volunteer and visit language cafés and groups for foreigners in Sweden. The probability that you will find e.g. work through friends is significantly bigger than finding a job through a work agency. So get out there. Meet people and make it possible for others to meet you.
If you are already here and having a bit of a hard time settling and feeling at home, you should know you are not alone.
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Travel
Try to travel around as much as you can. Take the bus, the train, the bike and discover this remarkable country. Sweden has wonderful woods, lakes and mountains. Be curious. Make this country your own. Sweden and Swedes are a little stiff at first but are good friends once you get under the surface. Enjoy it – Sweden is a great country to live in.
E-learning course: Preparing your move to Sweden
Are you already feeling a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff you need to figure out how to move to Sweden? We’ve got you covered. Over the years we’ve been repeatedly told just how stressful this process can be so we created a digital course with all the information you need to move. Here you will learn about:
- Short (and long facts) about Sweden.
- The history and background of Sweden in regards to democracy, religious freedom, gender equality, social security, child welfare and LGBTQIA+.
- The types of visas and residence permits that are available plus the requirements.
- Important Swedish agencies, and trust us, you DO need to know about these ones.
- How to find a place to stay and how to avoid rental fraud.
- How to pack for your move depending on the season.
- And there will be some quizzes to make sure you are paying attention and not falling asleep at your screen.
After finishing this course, you will have a greater understanding of what has made Sweden what it is today, how you best prepare for a move here and to get your stay here started in the best manner.
Written by
The Career Sweden Team brings together experts in recruitment, communication, and relocation, all working toward one goal: helping international talents find their place in Sweden. We create clear, reliable guides and articles about Sweden’s job market, recruitment, and work culture — as well as practical, fact-based resources on everything that shapes life and career here.
