Living and working in Sweden

Entry conditions, visas and residence permit

Your nationality will determine which entry requirements apply for you. You might need an entry visa, residence permit or a work permit. SLU will help you with the documents you need to submit with your application. You can read about the requirements for different nationalities below.

Necessary documentation

When you travel to Sweden, make sure you have all the necessary official documentation for you and your family with you. You will need your identity documents, any residence permit cards or other official documents from the Swedish Migration Agency.

Citizens of a Nordic country

If you are a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland, you do not need a residence permit to be able to live and work in Sweden. However, you will need to register with the Swedish Tax Agency. Here you can find more information about the Nordic Co-operation.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens

EU citizens have the right to live, work, and study in Sweden without needing a residence permit. The right of EU/EEA citizens to stay in Sweden without a residence permit is called right of residence. You have right of residence if you are employed, self-employed, a student or have sufficient means to support yourself. If you have right of residence in Sweden you do not need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency. You will need a valid passport or national ID card when you enter Sweden, in order to prove your nationality. If you will be staying in Sweden for one year or more you must register with the Swedish Tax Agency.

Citizens of Switzerland may move to Sweden to work, study, start your own business or, for example, live on a pension from your country of origin. If you wish to stay for longer than three months, you will need a residence permit. 

Non-EU citizens

For non-EU citizens the length of the assignment/employment and the extent of research included in the employment determine which kind of permit you should apply for. The department administrator will help you with your application to the Swedish Migration Agency.

If your employment is longer than 90 days and with more than 50% research (researchers and post-doc) you need to apply for a Residence permit for Researchers.

If your employment is shorter than 90 days and with more than 50% research (visiting researcher) you don’t need a residence permit. However, citizens of certain countries will need a visa. 

If your employment contains less than 50% research, regardless of length, (teacher, lecturer, research assistant and administrative staff) you need to apply for a work permit. 

If you are employed as a PhD student, you need to apply for a residence permit for doctoral studies. 

If this is your first permit in Sweden, you must apply for the permit from your home country or the country outside of Sweden where you are a resident. You must wait outside Sweden and can not start the position before your permit has been granted. When your permit is granted, a residence permit card will be issued. This card is proof of your right of residence. You will need to show your card along with a valid passport when you enter Sweden. Remember to make sure your passport is valid and extend it if it is about to expire. You cannot obtain a permit for a period longer than your passport’s validity. This also applies for members of your family who will be accompanying you.

Processing times at the Swedish Migration Agency vary and can take a long time.

Contact your department administrator for help with your application to the Swedish Migration Agency. You need to make sure that you send in all the documents required since the processing will take much longer time if the Swedish Migration Agency needs to request further information from you. SLU cannot influence the processing time for your permit, nor can SLU contact the Swedish Migration Agency and ask about your permit. You need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency yourself to get information about your case.

Your spouse/partner and your children can accompany you to Sweden for the duration of your stay. Depending on their nationality and length of stay, they may also need to apply for a visa and/or residence permit.

Visit the Swedish Migration Agency website for more information about permits, visas and the application forms for both you and your family.

Once you have decided to move to Sweden, you will need to find somewhere to live. Give yourself plenty of time to make all necessary arrangements before leaving your home country. Finding accommodation can take time, particularly around August/September, as this is the time all the students are moving. Using several channels when you start your search is a good approach. 

The availability and costs of accommodation vary considerably depending on where you will live. Usually, it is easier to find housing in smaller and middle-sized towns and cities. Demand is higher in the larger cities and the university cities of Lund and Uppsala.

There is no national system that processes accommodation requests for researchers, and there is no single national housing portal in Sweden. Sweden’s housing system includes both municipal and private housing companies, and both first-hand and second-hand rentals are common.

First-hand contracts are long-term agreements with a housing company or private landlord. These contracts can be found on various websites as well as through municipal housing queues, where it is common to register and wait for an apartment (this is known as “queuing”). Please note that waiting times for first-hand contracts can be very long, especially in larger cities.

Second-hand rentals are temporary sublets from someone who holds a first-hand contract or owns their home. These rentals are usually advertised on private websites. One of the largest platforms is Blocket, where people advertise apartments or rooms for rent. The website is only available in Swedish, but most people in Sweden speak English, so contacting advertisers is usually not a problem. Most advertisements receive a high number of applications, so if you are not among the first applicants, you may not receive a response.

If you are planning to buy a house or apartment, hemnet.se and booli.se are the main real estate websites. You can find listings and get information on open houses/showings.

The following websites contains information about how to look for housing in Sweden, practical tips and more:

Sweden.se – Housing in sweden

Informationsverige.se – Living in Sweden

Your employment contract describes your role, salary, working hours, notice period, and other employment conditions. In Sweden, many important terms are regulated through collective agreements negotiated between employers and trade unions. This means that benefits such as paid leave, occupational pensions, and insurance are often included as part of your employment. 

At SLU, employment is formally established through an official decision by the employer, not through a mutually signed contract. This means that you as an employee will not sign any employment contract, only SLU will sign it and send it to you. This is a standard and legally valid procedure in the Swedish public sector and applies to all government authorities. The employment becomes legally binding once the employer has made and documented the decision and the employee has accepted the position.

Linköping Science Park has created a guide called: The Insider’s Guide to Moving and Living in Sweden. It is produced in close collaboration with, among others, the Swedish Institute. The guide focuses on three areas:

Sweden essentials - An introduction to Sweden and the people with a DNA built by the freedom to roam and digitalisation. The numbers, the traditions and the food.

Swedish history - All you need to know about the sustainable identity of Sweden, the royal family, important years and a country heading towards a green and equal future.

Life in Sweden - How to find and make friends, find a job opportunity, apply for a job and where to start your Swedish bucket list.

You can download the guide here

To process your salary and register your employment in our systems, you will need a personal identity number or a coordination number.

If you plan to stay in Sweden for at least one year, you need apply for a personal identity number with the Swedish Tax Agency. If you plan to stay in Sweden for less than one year, you should apply for a coordination number.

Personal identity number

Before arriving in Sweden, you need to notify the Swedish Tax Agency of the move to Sweden and apply for a personal identity number. Use the Moving to Sweden e-service: Flytta till Sverige Portal | Skatteverket. The e-service is available in Swedish, English, Ukrainian, and Arabic. 

Once you arrive in Sweden you need to (as soon as possible) book an appointment for an identity check at the Swedish Service Centre, via online booking, to obtain your personal identity number. After that, you can book an appointment to apply for a Swedish ID card using the same service.

You will find more information at: Skatteverket - Personal identity numbers

Coordination number

If you plan to stay in Sweden for less than one year, you need to apply for a coordination number, at the Swedish tax agency e-service. To apply online you need to log in with Freja- ID. If you don’t have Freja-ID, please contact your department administrator who will help you.

Once you arrive in Sweden you need to (as soon as possible) book an appointment for an identity check at the Swedish Service Centre, via online booking, to obtain your coordination number. 

You will find more information at: Skatteverket - Coordination number

Please note that processing times for both Personal identity number and coordination number may vary.

Sweden has a social insurance system to provide financial security during different stages of life. It includes social insurance benefits for families with children, people with a disability or illness and the elderly. For example, compensation for sick leave or care of children (vab in Swedish). The system is publicly funded through taxes and dues.

The benefits someone is entitled to vary depending on whether the person is employed, studying, or only resident in Sweden. Social security is divided into residence-based and work-based benefits. More information is available on Försäkringskassan’s website.

Residence-based benefits are based on registration in the Swedish population register and include:

• parental benefits
• child allowance
• housing allowance.

Work-based benefits are based on employment with a Swedish employer and having a permanent address in Sweden. They include:

• parental benefits
• sickness benefits (sick leave from work)
• income-based old-age pension benefits.

Register with Försäkringskassan

To be eligible for social security benefits, you need to be register with Försäkringskassan. You can apply for registration as soon you arrived in Sweden and received your Swedish personal identity number or coordination number. The application will be received by Försäkringskassan but not processed until you apply for one of above benefits. If you don’t apply for registration you will instead be contacted by Försäkringkassan when you want to apply for one of above benefits. The process of payment can then be delayed since you need to send it additional information before a decision can be made.

Please observe that if you have children coming to Sweden with you who are younger than 16 years old, you need to apply for registration as soon as possible in order to get child allowance.

To apply, use the form "Information when moving to or working in Sweden", which you will find here along with more information: Försäkringskassan’s website.

If you have questions about the social insurance system in Sweden, contact Försäkringskassan.

Health care

If you or someone in your family needs medical care, you can usually get help at a healthcare centre (vårdcentral, VC ). You can go to any VC you like, but it usually makes sense to go to the one that is closest to where you live.  It may also be called a health centre (hälsocentral), a GP surgery (husläkarmottagning) or a doctor’s office (familjeläkarmottagning). 

Most things will be treated at the VC. If you have small children you have to register them at a Barnvårdscentral (BVC) where you have your yearly check-ups of your child. Most BVCs are located in the same building as the VC.

Dentist You will have to pay a small amount for medical visits and pay for your own prescription drugs. If the sum of medical visits and prescription drugs reaches a specific high amount you can receive a free-card that will allow you to receive free medical care and prescription drugs until the end of the year. 

SLU will refund you all costs of medical visits and prescription drugs, as long as they are part of the högkostnadsskydd, this will be written on your receipt if it is the case (this only apply for employees and not stipend-holders).

Dentist

The dentist is not covered by the Försäkringskassan or SLU. You can go to any dentist. The public is called Folktandvården, but there are also private ones. An appointment at a dentist can be expensive. There is a state dental care support, but it only covers a small part of the cost (it will be automatically deducted from the amount at the dentist).  If you are prone to have problems it may be good to get an extra insurance. 

1177

You can call 1177 helpline if you or someone in your family is ill. They can give you advice from a nurse in English or Swedish and you can call any time of day. Read more on their website.

They also have an online portal where you can follow up on your health journal, check your prescriptions, book appointments and register at the different health care centres. To login you need your personal number and a BankID (see below).

Emergency (akuten)

The emergency unit is at the hospital. It is called; Akutmottagning. Although it is only for emergencies (serious injuries like broken bones). If you are feeling unwell and think it could be an emergency but are not 100% sure, call 1177 first. They will give advice over the phone and if necessary, send you to the hospital/doctor. In case of an acute emergency, call 112.

Healthcare system

In Sweden, the healthcare system is decentralised, which means that it is managed and run either by the regions, local authority or municipality. Health, medical and dental care is divided into public and private sectors. Patient fees are set by each region and vary across the country, but is subsidized by the Swedish healthcare system. See more on which medical insurance cover you have based on length of stay and citizenship below under Insurance.

Helpful resources:

• Swedish Healthcare System - About the Swedish healthcare system - Socialstyrelsen
• How the Healthcare works - Så fungerar vården i Sverige – How healthcare works in Sweden - 1177
• If you come from another country - Vård i Sverige om du kommer från ett annat land - Healthcare in Sweden if you come from another country - 1177
• How to buy medicines in Sweden - Så köper du läkemedel i Sverige - How to buy medicines in Sweden - 1177

It can be difficult to open a bank account for someone who has recently been registered in the Swedish population register, but a bank account is an essential part of settling in Sweden. It simplifies salary payments and means that you can avoid transaction fees that would apply if you use an international bank account on an everyday basis. 

You have the right to open a bank account without delay in accordance with the Payment Services Directive, however Swedish bank can set their own routines and rules for opening an account. Note that opening a bank account can be difficult and a lot of the responsibility is up to you.

You can freely choose the bank of your choice. Contact your chosen bank to book an appointment to open an account. At the appointment the bank will ask many questions to find out if you are a secure customer. The reason for this it that European bank have strict requirements to identify all form of money laundering, bribery or similar. Examples of questions:

• What is the purpose of the account?
• What is your main source of income?
• What is your monthly income before tax?
• Will you make transactions to other countries?
• What is your citizenship?

To the first meeting at the bank it is important that you bring requested document, such as:

• Passport or ID-card
• Employment contract (or corresponding document)
• Copies of residence permit
• If you have a Swedish personal identity number, bring documentation 
• If you have a permanent residence, bring a contract confirming the address.

See Guidance to opening a Swedish bank account for detailed information. We also recommend that you bring this guide with you to the appointment.

At the Swedish Banker´s Association you can also find more information about becoming a bank customer.

Once you have opened your Swedish bank account, you will be sent a bank card as well as information about online and telephone banking services. Note that if you have opened a bank account without a Swedish personal identity number the account will have limited features. As part of anti-money laundering legislation, customers will undergo thorough background checks.

You can use your international bank/credit card in Sweden to make payments in shops, banks, or withdraw cash from ATMs. Many banks, shops and restaurants in Sweden no longer handle cash or accept cash payments.

If you will be staying in Sweden for less than six months, it can be easiest to simply use your bank account from your home country, even if you will incur additional charges and currency conversion fees. You can also continue to use your online banking service. We strongly recommend that you have a Visa or MasterCard as card is the most common way to pay in Sweden.

The right to an bank account

You have the right open a bank account without a Swedish personal identity number or coordination number. However many banks can still be reluctant and request a Swedish personal identity number and Swedish ID-card. You can refer to your rights according to the Payment Service Act 4 a kap. Betalkonto.

If the bank denies you an account, you have the right to receive written information about where you can turn with a complaint and how you can appeal the decision. Turn to the National Board for Con­sumer Disputes (ARN*) if you are uncertain.

BankID is an important app in Sweden. It is a Swedish electronic identification system that allows you to securely verify your identity online. It is widely used in Sweden and functions as a digital ID for accessing both public and private services. BankID is used to:

• Log in to government agencies such as the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)
• Access your Swedish bank account and approve transactions
• Sign documents digitally
• Identify yourself when contacting customer services
• Use private services such as insurance companies or housing providers
• Make mobile payments with Swish
• Most digital services in Sweden require BankID

You need to have a Swedish personal identity number and a Swedish bank account to apply for BankID. BankID is voluntary but essential for everyday life in Sweden.

Sweden uses a pay-as-you-earn tax system, meaning your tax is withheld on your income payment. There are some exceptions – such as tax relief for skilled workers from abroad and a special income tax for non-residents (SINK) if your stay in Sweden is less than six months.

Please note, if your time in Sweden will be funded by a tax-free scholarship, you will not be entitled to the same social security benefits from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency as tax payers.

You can read more about tax in Sweden at Skatteverket.

Less than six months

If you reside in another country and will be coming to work in Sweden for less than six months, you will normally pay Swedish income tax. In most cases you will need to apply for special income tax for non-residents (SINK). However, this will depend on the length of your stay in Sweden.

If you will pay SINK, you will also have to pay tax on any remuneration you have received for your expenses.

Contact the payroll unit for more information about SINK.

More than six months

You must register for income tax if you will be living and working in Sweden for a continuous period of six months or more. You must register with the Swedish population register if you will be staying in Sweden for 12 months or more. You will then be allocated a personal identity number.

If you will be living in Sweden for six months or more, for tax purposes, you will be classed as a resident. Therefore, you will be taxed in Sweden for all of your income, regardless of which country it is earned. You must also submit an income tax return. The deadline for submission is usually the first week of May.

Tax relief for foreign skilled workers

Skilled workers such as executives, scientists and researchers may be entitled to tax relief where tax is only paid on 75 per cent of their income. This tax reduction applies to both salaries and benefits such as an employer’s contribution to housing and living costs. Foreign skilled workers may reside in Sweden for up to five years, however the tax relief is only available for the first three years of this period. Swedish citizens are not entitled to tax relief.

Contact your department to find out more about tax relief and how to apply. An application must be made within three months of starting the employment.

Read more on Forskarskattenämnden.

You must have comprehensive insurance cover for the duration of your time in Sweden. This also applies for anyone who will be accompanying you. They will also need to take out healthcare insurance.

SLU have a group insurance for foreign visitors with Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency). The insurance covers emergency medical care, emergency dental care and part of personal private property for most foreign visitors. However, the policy does not cover planned care.

Citizens of Nordic countries

There is a Nordic agreement which means that citizens of Nordic countries have the right to the necessary medical care and healthcare and emergency dental care in Sweden on the same terms as people with Swedish citizenship. If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you only needs to show a valid identity document and provide a residential address in your Nordic country of residence.

EU/EEA citizens who will be remaining in Sweden for LESS than 1 year

• Medical care: If you are a EU/EEA citizen must apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card) in your home country. This card provides access to the same conditions and costs for medical care in Sweden as are applicable to Swedish citizens. The insurance for foreign visitors covers emergency medical and dental care when you are working/staying in Sweden for less than one year.
• Home insurance: The insurance for foreign visitors covers some personal belongings, but not all. We advise you to take out home insurance before entering Sweden so that you have full insurance cover for your personal belongings.
• Accident insurance: The insurance for foreign visitors partially covers accidents.

EU/EEA citizens who will be remaining in Sweden for MORE than 1 year

• Medical care: If you are a EU/EEA citizen who will be remaining in Sweden for more than one year you will normally be registered by the Swedish Tax Agency and assigned a personal identity number. This makes them eligible for care for a patient fee. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card) can be used before a personal identity number is assigned.
• Home insurance: We advise you to get a home insurance before entering Sweden so that you have adequate insurance cover for your personal belongings. If you are going to stay in Sweden for more than 1 year, you can also take out home insurance after entering Sweden.
• Accident insurance: Personal injury insurance does not apply if you are injured at home in your spare time. You need to take out private accident insurance if they are to be fully insured during your spare time.

Citizens from outside the EU/EEA who will be remaining in Sweden for LESS than 1 year

Medical care: The insurance for foreign visitors covers emergency medical and dental care when you are working/staying in Sweden for less than one year. However, the policy does not cover planned care.

Home insurance: The insurance for foreign visitors covers some personal belongings, but not all. We advise you to get a home insurance before entering Sweden so that you have adequate insurance cover for your personal belongings.

Accident insurance: The insurance for foreign visitors partially covers accidents.

Citizens from outside the EU/EEA who will be remaining in Sweden for MORE than 1 year

• Medical care: If you are from outside the EU/EEA and will be remaining in Sweden for more than one year, you will normally be registered by the Swedish Tax Agency and assigned a personal identity number. This makes you eligible for care for a patient fee.
• Home insurance: We advise you to get a home insurance before entering Sweden so that you have adequate insurance cover for your personal belongings. If you are going to stay in Sweden for more than 1 year, you can also take out home insurance after entering Sweden.
• Accident insurance: Personal injury insurance does not apply if you are injured at home in your spare time. You need to take out private accident insurance to be fully insured during your spare time.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card)

EU nationals, and others covered by a state social security scheme in an EU country, need to take their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them when travelling in the EU. You can read more about the EHIC here. For those covered by Swedish social insurance, the EHIC card can be ordered on the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s website. 

Planed healthcare and coordination number

A coordination number does not by itself give you access to subsidized patient fee when visiting a doctor. You need to have received your personal identity number or have an EHIC card to have subsidized planed health and medical care. (The insurance for foreign visitors, as above, only covers emergency medical care and not planed care.)

The Swedish Pensions Agency provides a national public pension that is based on your income in Sweden throughout your life. Employees at SLU will receive an additional government employee occupational pension. 

Find out more about pensions: visit the Swedish Pensions Agency website or the National Government Employee Pensions Board (SPV).

Before arrival

SLU uses English and Swedish in parallel, however Swedish is normally used for administrative matters at the university. Most Swedes speak good English, however Swedish skills will help you get to grips with your new life in Sweden and will also help you to integrate more easily.

You can start learning Swedish before arriving to Sweden. There are many online courses available that you can find by searching online. 

Here you can find more information about the Swedish language:

sweden.se – Swedish and other languages in Sweden

Information Sverige – Lär dig Svenska

Learning Swedish in Sweden

There are various options for learning Swedish if you have arrived in Sweden. SLU’s Division of Human Resources organises beginner and intermediate courses that you can apply for when you have started your employment. 

SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) is courses in Swedish provided by each municipality in Sweden for immigrants free of charge. The courses are given either part- or fulltime, and with different study pace.

SFI in Uppsala

SFI in Malmö

SFI in Lund

SFI in Umeå

Parental leave  

You are entitled to parental benefit if you have social insurance in Sweden. To receive compensation based on your salary, you normally need to have worked for at least 240 days before the child is born and had an income that qualifies as SGI (sickness benefit–qualifying income). If you are planning to taking parental leave you need to notify your manager in advance (at least two months’ notice if it’s a longer parental leave).

You can read more about parental benefits in Sweden at: Parental benefits, Försäkringskassan. Here you can both se how many days you are entitled to, plan your parental leave and apply for parental benefits. 

If you already have children, check if you are entitled to parental benefit, as depending on the age of your children and where you are coming from you can be entitled to parental benefit in Sweden. Additionally, check with your home country/where you have lived before whether you can take any parental benefit with you. 

Day care 

You need to register your children in the queue for a day care as soon as possible. It is very helpful to have a BankID as you are recommended to do this online. The child also needs a personal identity number. You register at the municipality where you will be living.

According to the Swedish Education Act, the municipality must offer day care to children from the age of 1 and within a maximum of 4 months from the date the application was submitted. This is often referred to as a place guarantee (it doesn’t mean that you must be in the queue for 4 months, only that the municipality has up to 4 months to arrange a place after you apply). The best time to start day care is in August as the school year starts and there will be many free spots available. However, you need to apply before a certain date to be covered by the municipality’s placement guarantee. Contact the municipality where you will be living to register your child/children for day care. International preschools are available.

The amount you must pay for the care of your child/children depends on your combined income but there is a set amount it can’t be more then. Meals are included. If you or your partner is unemployed or on parental leave, the time your child is allowed to stay at day care depends on the municipality.

School 

In Sweden, school is compulsory for all children aged 6–16, regardless of nationality or citizenship. Education is publicly funded, and children have the right to start school as soon as they move to the country, even if the family’s residence permit process is still ongoing.

School enrolment is handled by the municipality where the child is or will be registered as living. Parents or guardians must contact the municipality to apply for a school place. Most municipalities have an online application process, but support is available if assistance is needed. Placement is usually offered close to the child’s home when possible. Children newly arrived in Sweden may be assessed to determine the most suitable class level and support needs. 

The Swedish school system includes:

• Preschool class (age 6)
• Compulsory school / Grundskola (ages 7–16)
• Upper secondary school / Gymnasium (ages 16–19, optional)

Important to know

• Public schools are free of charge, including teaching materials.
• School meals are free for all students.
• Attendance is mandatory once a child is enrolled.
• Parents are encouraged to communicate regularly with the school to support the child’s adjustment.
• From 2028 preschool class will be replaced by a new year 1 within compulsory school.

If your child is sick 

If your child is sick, you can apply for sick leave benefit so you can stay at home and take care of your child. Day cares sometimes have very strict rules in regard to sick children. For example, if your children have a fever they must spend one day without fever at home before being allowed at day care again. 

You apply for child sick leave benefit directly at Försäkringskassan. It is called VAB dagar. You can apply online. You also need to inform your manager about VAB and register these days at the system SLU is using called Primula. 

Nordic licences

A driving licence issued in a Nordic country is valid in Sweden. Permanent residents will need to apply to exchange their original licence for a Swedish one.

EU/EEA and Swiss licences

A driving licence issued in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland is valid in Sweden. Permanent residents will need to apply to exchange their original licence for a Swedish one.

Non-EU licences

Driving licences that were issued in a non-EU/EEA country (excluding Switzerland and Japan) are valid for a maximum of twelve months in Sweden.

A non-EU/EEA driving licence cannot be exchanged for a Swedish one. If you want to drive in Sweden you will need to take the risk awareness course as well as the theory and practical driving tests.

Swiss and Japanese licences can be exchanged for a Swedish one within one year of arrival in Sweden.

For more information about driving in Sweden and exchanging foreign licences, visit the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen).

Bringing your car to Sweden?

If you live in another EU country and want to bring your car to Sweden, you will need to register it and pay the relevant taxes.

The Swedish Transport Agency has a step-by-step guide on importing your car to Sweden. Please note that you cannot register your car until you have arrived.

Uppsala International Hub

Uppsala International Hub (UIH) is a guide to making Uppsala and Sweden your new home, whether you’re settling here for good or a short while, coming alone or with family. 

UIH can support you and your family in getting established and navi­gating everyday life in Sweden. They offer guidance on practical matters such as housing, banking, schools and childcare, as well as social activities and daily life in Uppsala. They also support accompanying partners with career guidance and help international talents build local networks. 

UIH is here to help you settle into life and work. You are welcome to contact them regardless which city you will be moving to in Sweden.

UIH is an initiative designed to attract and welcome skilled internationals to Sweden and help them to thrive here long-term. It is a collaboration between the business community, academia, our municipality and county and is run within the framework of a regional platform. 

You can find more information and how to contact UIH at: Uppsala International Hub

International Citizen Hub Lund

International Citizen Hub Lund provide helpful information to international employees and their families who will be living in Lund. They arrange relevant activities and offer a warm environment in which to meet. 

The City of Lund established International Citizen Hub Lund in 2015, acting as the principal financier and organizer. ICHL is supported by Region Skåne, enabling more internationals in the region to benefit from the services provided.

You can find more information and how to contact them at: International Citizen Hub - Lund

Unions

A trade union (fackförening) is an organization that represents employees and works to protect worker’s rights and interests in working life. Trade unions play an important role in Sweden and are a central part of the Swedish labour market model. In Sweden, many employment conditions are regulated through collective agreements rather than through detailed legislation. Trade unions negotiate these agreements with employers or employer organizations.

If you choose to join a trade union, you gain access to support and guidance related to your employment. This may include advice on employment terms and workplace issues, and support in case of disputes with your employer. Union membership is voluntary in Sweden, but it is very common. 

Three trade union confederations are represented at SLU: Saco, ST and Seko. You can find contact information to one of the union representatives when you have started your employment at SLU.

A-kassa

A-kassa (short for arbetslöshetskassa) is Sweden’s unemployment insurance system. Its purpose is to provide financial support if you lose your job and meet certain conditions. While working in Sweden, A-kassa can be an important part of your financial security.

A-kassa is voluntary, meaning it is not automatically included when you start a job. You must actively apply for membership in an unemployment insurance fund. Most funds are connected to specific professions or sectors, but there is also a general fund open to everyone.

How A-kassa works

If you become unemployed, A-kassa can provide compensation to replace part of your lost income while you are actively seeking new employment. To be eligible for benefits, you normally need to: Be a member of an A-kassa for at least 12 months, have worked a minimum amount of time before becoming unemployed, be registered with the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) and be actively applying for jobs.

The compensation is usually based on your previous income, up to a fixed maximum amount, and is paid for a limited period.

Joining an A-kassa

You can apply for membership online through the A-kassa that best matches your profession or employment area. Membership fees are paid monthly and are relatively low compared to the potential benefit.

It is recommended to join an A-kassa as soon as you start working in Sweden, as membership time matters if you later need to apply for benefits. 

Bringing your belongings

Check with Swedish Customs for information about the rules regarding bringing certain items into Sweden, especially foods, medicines, tobacco, alcohol, vehicles and high-value items.

Bringing a pet

Check the current regulations for bringing animals into Sweden to ensure your pet’s migration process goes as smoothly as your own.

Equality and Non-discrimination

Equality is a fundamental value in Swedish society and the workplace. Swedish law prohibits discrimination based on factors such as gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation. Employers are required to promote equal opportunities and a respectful working environment.

Recycling and Environmental Responsibilities

Environmental awareness is an important part of everyday life in Sweden. Residents are expected to sort household waste and recycle materials such as paper, plastic, metal, glass, and food waste. Recycling facilities are widely available, and following local recycling guidelines is considered a shared responsibility.

Municipal Services

Municipalities are responsible for many local services, including childcare, schools, healthcare services, elder care, waste management, and local infrastructure. Your municipality is an important point of contact for everyday services related to living in Sweden.

Sweden.se

Sweden.se is the official website of Sweden, providing reliable information about Swedish society, culture, work, study, and living in Sweden. It is run by public authorities and is intended for an international audience.