Living in Sweden - A Guide for Newcomers

Welcome to Sweden! This comprehensive guide will help you navigate your new life in Sweden, covering everything from housing to healthcare.

Getting Started

Personal Number (Personnummer)

Your personal number is essential for most services in Sweden. You'll need it for:

Opening bank accounts
Accessing healthcare
Signing rental agreements
Getting a job

How to get it: Visit the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) with your passport and residence permit.

Bank Account

Required documents: Personal number, ID, proof of address
Major banks: Handelsbanken, SEB, Swedbank, Nordea
Tip: Book an appointment in advance

Housing

Types of Housing

Rental apartments (hyresrätt): Most common, especially for newcomers
Cooperative apartments (bostadsrätt): You buy a share in the cooperative
Houses: For families looking for more space

Finding Housing

Boplats: Official housing queue system
Private landlords: Check Blocket, Facebook groups
Student housing: If you're studying
Temporary housing: While searching for permanent housing

Housing Rights

Rent increases are regulated by law
Tenants have strong protection against eviction
You can sublet with landlord's permission

Healthcare

Healthcare System

Getting Healthcare

Health center (vårdcentral): For non-emergency care
Emergency room (akutmottagning): For emergencies only
1177: National health information and advice line

Cost

Doctor visits: Around 300 SEK
Medication: Subsidized after 2,300 SEK per year
Free for children under 18

Transportation

Public Transport

SL (Stockholm): Buses, metro, trains, and ferries
Monthly cards: Around 900 SEK for adults
Apps: SL app for tickets and journey planning

Biking

Sweden is very bike-friendly
Many cities have excellent bike lanes
Don't forget lights and helmet!

Driving

You may drive with your foreign license for one year
After that, you need a Swedish license
Theory and practical tests required

Work and Education

Working in Sweden

Arbetsförmedlingen: Public employment service
CV format: Different from many countries
Work culture: Flat hierarchy, work-life balance important
Language: Swedish helpful but English often sufficient

Learning Swedish

SFI (Svenska för invandrare): Free Swedish classes for immigrants
Komvux: Municipal adult education
Universities: Offer Swedish courses
Apps: Duolingo, Babbel for additional practice

Daily Life

Shopping

ICA, Coop, Willys: Major grocery chains
Opening hours: Many stores close early on Sundays
Systembolaget: Government monopoly for alcohol sales

Weather and Clothing

Winter: Very cold and dark, invest in warm clothes
Summer: Mild and bright, enjoy the midnight sun
Layers: Essential for changing weather

Cultural Tips

Fika: Coffee break culture is important
Allemansrätten: Right to roam in nature
Punctuality: Being on time is very important
Personal space: Swedes value personal space

Integration Support

Government Services

Migrationsverket: Migration agency
Försäkringskassan: Social insurance agency
Skatteverket: Tax agency

Community Resources

Libraries: Free internet, books, language exchange
Folkhögskolor: Folk high schools for adult education
Sports clubs: Great way to meet people and stay active

Language Exchange

Språkcafé: Informal language practice sessions
Conversation groups: Many libraries and community centers host these
Tandem partnerships: One-on-one language exchange

Emergency Information

Important Numbers

112: Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance)
1177: Healthcare advice
114 14: Police (non-emergency)

Useful Websites

krisinformation.se: Crisis information
1177.se: Healthcare information
migrationsverket.se: Migration information

Remember, integration takes time. Be patient with yourself and don't hesitate to ask for help. The Swedish system is designed to support newcomers, and there are many resources available to help you succeed.