Moving to Sweden
Embarking on a new chapter in Sweden? Congratulations on your exciting journey! The key to a successful relocation is in the details. Our guide is your go-to resource for making your move to Sweden smooth, stress-free, and informed.
Unlocking Opportunities
Getting started in Sweden
Sweden’s vibrant economy and thriving job market make it an ideal destination for professionals seeking new horizons. From understanding eligibility criteria to navigating application procedures, we’ve got you covered, ensuring that your professional journey in Sweden starts on the right foot. Explore, learn, and embrace the opportunities that Sweden has to offer with confidence and ease. Welcome to Sweden!
Visa and Immigration
Citizens from outside the EU and the EEA require a valid Swedish Work Permit to work in Sweden.
You must have received an official offer of employment and signed an employment contract from a Swedish employer to obtain a work permit. Work permits usually need to be applied for (and approved!) before entering Sweden. Exceptions can be made in specific cases, contact us for further information.
Human Entrance can apply on behalf of your company directly. Using our services will ensure that you submit a complete and correct application from the start to avoid any delays in processing times. We only work with companies directly to submit work permits so talk to your employer about using our services.
A crucial consideration for a work permit application is the salary level. Regulation on acceptable salary levels for obtaining a work permit is regulated in the Aliens Act which states that the salary level must correspond with current collective union agreement levels or what could be considered practice within your occupation. Although there is no requirement for a company to have such an agreement in place, salaries still need to correspond with these levels.
This is reviewed during the permit application process and a statement from the relevant labor union is obtained. Should the union decline to provide a statement of the applicable employment conditions, the Swedish Migration Agency has the right to assess the salary level, based on statistics from SCB – Statistics Sweden.
Current legislation also includes a condition which states that an employee with a work permit may not earn less than SEK per month. It is important to note, however, that this minimum amount is still applicable for employees who, for example, do not work full-time. This salary level is currently under scrutiny and expected to be raised considerably in the near future.
Swedish companies have a long tradition of working with collective agreements as opposed to minimum wages, which is common in many other countries. This can potentially become a hurdle for companies employing foreign labor, as it might be difficult to get clear information on appropriate salary levels.
After you have had a valid work permit at least 48 months, you meet the basic prerequisite to qualify for a permanent resident permit. The permanent residence permit can only be granted in connection with an application for an extended residence permit.
Requirements for obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit as a previous work permit holder:
- Must fulfill the requirements for a continued work and residence permit
- Be financially independent
- Lead a law abiding life in Sweden
There are special requirements for obtaining permanent residency on a dependent permit.
A Swedish work permit is different from a business travel visa- otherwise known as a Schengen visa. The Schengen visa is required for citizens of countries not on the visa free list to enter Sweden for up to 90 days. Visa free nationals can enter Sweden for up to 90 days without the need for a Schengen “business” visa.
To find out if you need a visa, please consult this list of foreign citizens who require a visa to enter Sweden: List of Foreign Citizens who Require Visa for Entry into Sweden
Visa requiring individuals need to apply for a Schengen visa through your local embassy. As embassies have different processes, please contact the Swedish embassy in your country/region for more information. For contact details, see Sweden Abroad.
You will be asked to submit biometrics to receive a Swedish Residence Permit Card (otherwise known as your UT card). This includes submitting your fingerprints and having your photograph taken. Typically, this needs to be done at the embassy in your home country, however visa free nationals can enter Sweden and submit their biometrics in Sweden.
Your UT card (Uppehållstillstånd) is not the same as the Swedish Identity Card. You will obtain a Swedish Identity Card at a later stage after you have relocated to Sweden. Read more about the Swedish Identity Card and obtaining a Swedish Personal Number below.
Personnummer – the Swedish Social Security Number
For an assignment of 12 months or longer, you (and accompanying family, if any)are required to apply for Swedish personal identity numbers -“personnummer”. This can only be done when you have officially moved to Sweden as you need a valid address in Sweden to apply. Also known as a “civil registration”, you need to inform the Swedish authorities that you are currently residing in Sweden, and it needs to be done within 7 days after arriving in the country.
All countries have some kind of personal id or social security number, the personnumer (also known as personal number) is your identity number in Sweden. You will only be issued one number and you will have the same number for the rest of your life. It is written as the year you were born, your birth month and date, and finishes with 4 random digits at the end (YYYYMMDD-XXXX).
You will need the personal number to do almost everything in Sweden. From paying taxes and receiving a salary, to opening an internet or cell-phone subscription, to getting a gym card at your local gym. You will also need your personal number to access the same healthcare benefits as Swedish citizens. The process to get a personal number can take some time, but it is an integral part of settling into your life in Sweden.
You need to have a job contract for at least at least one year in Sweden to qualify for a Swedish personal number. For Non-EU and EEA citizens, you must also have a valid permit from the Swedish Migration Agency for one year minimum to qualify.
There are other rules for unemployed citizens moving to Sweden, however as Human Entrance only handles corporate clients, please consult Skatteverket’s website to find out what applies to you.
For those who have job contracts for less than 12 months, you will need to apply for a samordningsnummer (coordination number in English) instead.
You will need to visit the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket, in person to make the application.
While at Skatteverket, you will fill in a form called “Moving to Sweden”. A handler will collect copies of all your documents and your finished application then send them to Skatteveket’s head office in Stockholm. You will be assigned a case handler who will review your case and decide if you qualify for the Swedish Personal number. The average wait time to receive a personal number is anywhere between 2-18 weeks.
Human Entrance works with corporate clients to ensure all applications to obtain a Swedish Personal Number are correct. Should there be a mistake on the application or with the documents, it can delay receiving the personal number by several months. Without the personal number, an individual does not have access to the same health care, utility subscriptions, housing alternatives, among other things, which can negatively affect their quality of life in Sweden.
- Passports of all applicants – valid for at least one year
- Swedish residence permit (if Non-EU or EEA citizen)
- Original marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Children’s birth certificates (if applicable)
- Original divorce papers (if applicable)
- If you are divorced, have a child/children and are bringing it/them to Sweden and have shared custody, you need a written approval from the other parent. The approval needs to contain following:
- Complete names and birth dates of you, the other parent and the child/children
- Your address in Sweden and the other parents’ current address
- A statement that the other parent approves you to move to Sweden with the child/children
- Signature of the other parent
It is important to remember to back these documents in your carry on luggage. If your check in bags or house hold goods removals are delayed or lost, you will be delayed to apply for your personal number!
If you need to use health services before you’ve been issued your personal number, the hospital or doctor may issue you what’s known as a temporary personal number to add you into the system. You will also be required to pay full price for your care.
When you’ve been issued a personal number, you will receive a letter in the mail to the address you listed on your application with the number. Should this letter get lost or you have moved, you can also call Skatteverket to find out if you’ve received the number yet. You should not call until at leastatleast 2 weeks have passed since you applied.
The number to Skatteverket is 0771-567 567 and their phone lines are open Monday – Thursday 8:00- 18:00, and on Fridays between 8:00 – 16:00.
After receiving the personnumer, you will need to send in your application for the Swedish Social Insurance (Försakringskassan), and apply for the Swedish ID card. You can read about applying for the Swedish ID card and book your appointment on Skatteverket’s website.
Once you have received your Swedish ID card, you have completed all of the steps to your civil registration. You are now eligible to open a bank account and receive Mobile Bank ID. For employees working in Sweden, there are exceptions to open a bank account: Read about opening a bank account in Sweden here.
How to open a bank account in Sweden
It is recommended to open a Swedish bank account to receive your salary, set aside savings etc. Opening a bank account in Sweden generally requires a Swedish ID card, (link to civil registration page) which can only be obtained after you have applied for and received the Swedish personal identity number-which can take several weeks.
The possibility and process of opening a basic bank account differs depending on your citizenship and tax residency. Sweden has many regulations to protect against money laundering and some countries are considered as “higher risk” which means the bank may require more information from you.
Some banks have walk-in hours when you don’t need to make an appointment to open an account. Other banks require booking an appointment. Please double check with your bank of choice what their opening hours are, as well as whether you are required to pre-book an appointment.
This is reviewed during the permit application process and a statement from the relevant labor union is obtained. Should the union decline to provide a statement of the applicable employment conditions, the Swedish Migration Agency has the right to assess the salary level, based on statistics from SCB – Statistics Sweden.
Current legislation also includes a condition which states that an employee with a work permit may not earn less than SEK per month. It is important to note, however, that this minimum amount is still applicable for employees who, for example, do not work full-time. This salary level is currently under scrutiny and expected to be raised considerably in the near future.
Swedish companies have a long tradition of working with collective agreements as opposed to minimum wages, which is common in many other countries. This can potentially become a hurdle for companies employing foreign labor, as it might be difficult to get clear information on appropriate salary levels.
- Bank application –with all required information filled in
- Signed employment contract in original
- Copy of your Swedish lease agreement
- Passport and Swedish ID-card-if the bank requires the ID-card
- Residence permit card-if applicable
- Information from your home country bank –if applicable. Other document may be required due to your circumstances
Requirements for obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit as a previous work permit holder:
- Must fulfill the requirements for a continued work and residence permit
- Be financially independent
- Lead a law abiding life in Sweden
There are special requirements for obtaining permanent residency on a dependent permit.
The main banks in Sweden are Handelsbanken, Swedbank, Nordea and SEB. There are likely several different office locations and may all have different service hours so be sure to consult the webpage for your specific branch before visiting. It is best practice to choose the branch closest to your home address to open the account, however you can visit any branch in Sweden for support.
If you have lived in another Nordic country and had an account at any of these banks, you cannot simply transfer your account. You still need to open a new account now that you are living in Sweden.
Recently, online banks have been a popular option as they are much easier to open an account. They can be a temporary solution when you first move to Sweden to transfer your funds, however, they are not recommended as a long-term solution. Most employers will not pay your salary to an online bank in Sweden.
Once you have received your Swedish ID-card, book a new appointment at the bank to set up the complete banking service, such as setting up E-ID.
E-ID is a form of E-identification that is connected to your mobile device, your email, bank account and Swedish personal number. Mobile BankID is the most popular option, but Telia and Freja also have options. E-ID is free to use. You will use BankID to identify yourself when paying bills, making online payments, among other things.
You will also need BankID to set up Swish, which is a popular app used to make quick money transfers in Sweden.
Due to cooperation between Human Entrance and some Swedish banks, we are sometimes able to assist you with opening a basic bank account prior to obtaining a Swedish ID card. This depends on which bank you have and in which city the bank has its office. Please note that we only work with corporate clients, so get in touch with your company if you need support to open a bank account when moving to Sweden.