The Newbie Guide to Sweden

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Moving to Sweden? Here are 5 great posts to get you started

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Are you moving to Sweden? Or have you in fact already moved and are feeling a bit dazed and confused? Here are 5 great posts that will make your Swedish life so much easier.

Moving to Sweden is “fabulous, terrifying, the best thing I have ever done, the worst thing I have ever done, quiet, lonely, strange, peaceful, freeing, healthy, beautiful.” It has all been said and felt before, and regardless of if you’ve been in Sweden for 5 minutes, 5 months or 5 years – you are not alone in your feelings and confusions.

And that is why The Newbie Guide to Sweden exists! A platform especially for newcomers in Sweden, with almost a thousand pieces of content describing and explaining the wonders of Swedish culture, administration, language and practicalities to everyone who is planning to move or has already moved to Sweden. For instance:

  • How do you get a personal number?
  • Do you go halfsies on a date?
  • What is the right thing to bring when you are invited to your supervisors midsummer party?
  • What are the words to the Swedish birthday song?
  • Do I bring a cake to work when it is my birthday?
  • How long can I drive in Sweden using my current driving license?
  • Can I bring my pet and how the heck do I make sense of the bureaucracy?
  • And how do I avoid rental fraud?

As you can see, the questions are many and varied. So if you are planning to make Sweden your permanent home, or are you just here for a school term – no worries, there is advice and tips for you.

The Newbie Guide get that it is hard to know where to start when there is a thousand posts to chose from, so here to get you started, are their top 5 most read posts:

The step-by-step guide to a Swedish driving license

Our long country has a lot of beautiful places to visit and a driving license will make things easier. But do you know all the different steps to get a license in Sweden? They consist of:

  1. apply for a learning permit,
  2. start your driving practice,
  3. study the theory of driving,
  4. take the risk training – riskutbildning
  5. book a time for a driving test.

And most important of all, do you know where you can do all these things in English? Head over to the post and find out.

The step-by-step guide to a Swedish driving license

Write a great rental application

Finding accommodation in Sweden can be a real challenge, especially in the cities. Unless you have a fairy godmother than can hook you up with a fabulous place of course. But for those who lack a fairy godmother, one essential step in the process of getting hold of an apartment or room, is to write an outstanding rental application. But how is this done? How do you write an application that will make you stand out from all the other tenants? In their guide, they walk you trough the writing processes and give you the best tips and tricks that will make your application sparkle and shine.

How to write a great rental application

 

How to get an ID-card when moving to Sweden

Having a Swedish ID-Card – a so-called ID–kort – will make your life in Sweden a lot easier as you will need it all the time – when picking up packages from the post office or when you wish to open a Swedish bank account.. An ID-card and a personal number are simply staples in how to get by in Swedish society. You may not be entitled to either if you are just here for a short while but if you are planning to stay longer, make sure you are updated on when, how and where to get started.

How to get an ID-card

Common Swedish phrases you must know

Some of learn Swedish in a year and some us take a decade. And either one is fine. However, language is the key to all the cultural doors of society. Even a simple ‘hello’ said in the local language is enough to receive that smile of appreciation and friendliness.

Head on over to learn basic Swedish expressions and phrases that are used on a daily basis. They clarify how these common words are used in different contexts so you can get comfortable when dipping your toes in the Swedish language river.

Common Swedish phrases to know

 

Swedish parental leave and allowance

Swedish parental leave and allowance – the so called föräldraledigt and föräldrapenning, is one of the best (if not the best) in the world. It is paid out for  480 day (approximately 16 months) for each child. Parents are – because of gender equality aspects – encouraged to share the leave and allowance. That is why 90 days out of the total 480 days are reserved for each parent. So if you are planning to have a child in Sweden, head over to The Newbie Guide to Sweden and find out if you are entitled to parental allowance, what it is, what SGI stands for, what benefits EU citizens have the right to and what your child is entitled to if they are born outside of Sweden. 
Swedish parental leave and allowance

Don’t like research?

The Newbie Guide to Sweden has a huge amount of articles on all things Sweden, Swedes and Swedish. But if you do not like to do your own research or just want to make sure that you cross the T’s and dot the I’s in your Swedish journey, you can check out their online courses which take you through various topics step-by-step.

Find your online course

That’s it folks 

So, get your Swedish life started! Just pick one, start reading and remember, a lot of people have been where you are now. And if these five posts didn’t answer your specific question, you are more than welcome to visit The Newbie Guide to Sweden because most things newbie related, have been discussed and written about more than once over there. 

And if you are feeling a bit lonely, you can come join their newbie community, listen to their podcast and start making friends and a life here. Good luck and welcome to Sweden!

Buying a house in Sweden as a foreigner

If you are reading this blog, the chances are you have an interest in finding out more about how Sweden’s property market works or you are thinking about buying a house in Sweden as a foreigner. House hunting is often fraught with anxiety and apprehension, especially when buying abroad. Anticipating dealings with agents and all the ensuing legalities that come with buying a home is daunting enough. Navigating all of this in another language can feel like an absolute deal breaker. Hopefully; I can alleviate some of your fears and you can profit from my experiences of buying a home in rural Sweden.

 To buy a nice home is to buy a better way of life. To choose a better way of life is to work toward well-being and isn’t well-being what is paramount?

Let the adventure begin…..

Is this your gateway to a new Scandi life? Living and working in the UK in my early 20’s, I was encouraged to jump on the property ladder as a matter of urgency. Probably the best piece of advice that I actually listened to, at that time! Thanks Dad! So actually; I talk to you, as someone who has been well accustomed to the lengthy, arduous and costly process of buying and selling in the UK over the years. The refreshing news is, in Sweden, things are done differently.

If buying here is something you are considering right now, I imagine you will be feeling both apprehensive and uncertain about some aspects of investing abroad whilst excited and optimistic about embarking upon a new way of life. Firstly, you must overcome those irritating, limiting beliefs that attempt to hold us all back from actualising our dreams

Is it……..

  • realistic and affordable?
  • the right time and place?
  • too risky?
  • achievable?  need I continue?

When and if you start to feel brave and committed, I promise you, it will be easy enough to purchase your new home. Just a warning though, here in Sweden it can happen fast!

Home is where your story begins. A place to fulfil your love, hopes and dreams.

Location Location Location

Let’s think logistics, personality, preference and price. Lakeside; coastal; city; forest; village or island setting? Renovation project or key ready? North, South, East or West? All of which offer stark contrasts in both climate, lifestyle and cost.houses in sweden

You decide: Hop onto Hemnet and I guarantee you’ll be hooked! Hemnet is Sweden’s go-to place for property buyers and sellers. English translation is also an option that makes it super easy to navigate. Both modern and traditional homes spanning the length and breadth of this beautiful country are showcased here. There is most definitely something for everyone and every budget. Although Sweden is often regarded as a country with high living costs, you will find that the properties here, especially in the rural areas are exceptionally cheap.

What do our Swedish kronor buy us?

I can only speak from my own experience of buying a house in Sweden as a foreigner and my comparisons to buying in the UK. For the price of a small terrace house in Northern England you can easily get your hands on a detached Swedish countryside dwelling. Alternatively, if you are looking for city life or indeed a luxury life out in Göteborg or Stockholm’s archipelagos for example, then be warned, you will need an astronomical bank balance or a lottery win!!

Let’s talk about the countryside option. At the time of writing my opinion is, that although prices here are creeping up it is still possible to bag a bargain! Head away from the cities or even up North. I know of a number of Brits who have made Lapland their home, primarily due to unbelievably cheap property prices there. I live in Västra Götaland, where a 50 minute drive will take you to Sweden’s second city, Göteborg or the coastal resorts of Falkenberg or Varberg. It’s great to feel that these towns are easily accessible whilst living a simpler life in the hinterlands.

Wherever you buy in this country, it’s probably close to a lake. In rural Sweden you are never far from a lake!  Along with your purchase you can often expect to acquire a decent sized plot of land. Maybe even some outbuildings or forest will also be included in the price! A substantial number of these homes come complete with a basement. I now wonder how I ever lived without one! Our house was an exception but it’s a tradition here to have a sauna in most homes, considered as somewhat of a luxury back home. All the kitchen and utility basics, fridge, cooker, dishwasher, washing machine/dryer are normally part of the package too! We were lucky enough to inherit a garage full of gardening equipment and tools. Given the renovation work that was to ensue these were an absolute godsend. Country living- Oh what’s not to love!!!!

It’s the one!!!

That moment when nothing else in the world matters apart from getting your hands on those keys. Here are a few interesting tips about what happens next once you’ve set your heart on that perfect property.

  • The agent holds ‘open house’ style viewings not the home owner. So, when you go to view the house you will be doing so at the same time as your competition. It’s also worth noting, agents can also arrange online viewings.
  • The agents are university educated and are responsible for arranging all your legal paperwork. The seller pays the agent and you do not need a conveyancing lawyer.
  • An inspector can be appointed by either party to investigate the property but ultimately you, the buyer must be satisfied prior to purchase. There is no come back afterwards!
  • This is the nail-biting part whereby interested buyers enter a ‘bidding process’ this usually takes place via your mobile phone and can take anything from a few hours to several days until the seller agrees to accept an offer (Ohhhhh so stressful)
  • At this stage you will need a deposit of fifteen percent only then will the agent draw up a contract which details exactly what’s included in the property.
  • You will find there is usually no time wasted between signing and taking possession. The agent, buyer, seller and the bank set a meeting on the completion date to check the final paperwork and hand over the keys.
  • They say it takes an average of 14 days from start to finish! I told you it was fast!

You can find more detailed information about buying a house in Sweden as a foreigner on Fastighetsbyrån and also on Hemnet as I mentioned earlier. Information on both sites is available in English. The majority of agents speak excellent English. Interpreters can be arranged for you in other languages.

swedish house in autumn

Braving the bidding process

Be prepared! Ensure you have written mortgage commitment from the bank and then you are good to go. Just so you know, your bids, unlike our Nordic neighbours Denmark and Norway are not legally binding. There’s nothing to hold you back or in fact stop you bidding on a number of properties at any one time. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it!

Let’s suppose you make the first offer. The agent will talk you through how to follow the bids and watch for counter offers on your mobile phone. This really does take place via sms!! Will you be cool, calm and collected when you see a counter offer? Is it advisable to sit it out for a few hours or days before upping your bid or offer more immediately to show you mean business? In the words of poet Rudyard Kipling “Can you keep your head when all around are losing theirs?”

The Swedes, are renowned the world over for their lagom (somewhat laid back approach) to most aspects of living. Let me tell you, there is nothing lagom about this process. It is understood that so called ‘ghost bidders’ pushing up prices, do exist and as far as I know, there are no regulations in place to stop this. The only way to avoid a bidding war is to request a private, early viewing and you may be able to make an offer direct to the seller before the bidding begins. This is perfectly legal. In such cases you may see this written next to a listed property “Borrtagen förre visning” Removed before viewing. The seller can decide at any time to close the bidding and accept an offer. Usually but not always, the highest bidder wins.

Why buy in Sweden?

Owning a house in Sweden and creating a SwEnglish home has been one of the most exciting periods of my life. I mentioned earlier in this blog that to create a nice home was a step towards a healthier lifestyle. It certainly was for me. In recent years, we have all become a little more mindful of the importance of self care, reducing stress and replenishing our energy levels by doing more of what we love. Well-being, actually is paramount and to choose to live a simpler life, close to nature is a liberating step in a direction that we all know we need. I like to think we’ve not only renovated a home but created a sanctuary and with it a compatible lifestyle.

Sweden is regarded world over as having that perfect work/life balance. A country consistently ranking in the top ten of various ‘happiness’ polls. This country has, without doubt one of the world’s most wonderful and varied landscapes but is Sweden for you? You will of course, have so many questions about cost of living, education, healthcare, rights as a foreigner to live and work here etc etc. There are so many factors that contribute massively when making a decision to buy a house in Sweden as a foreigner but you are not alone. If you can navigate our website, then you can find all the help you need.

If you are looking for some more specific information about buying an apartment in Stockholm, we have a full series about it. You can read Part 1 here.

I hope you’ve found this an enjoyable and informative read, a starting point that will enable you to move forward with pursuing your Scandi dream. You can read more about my Swedish journey in this post: A one way ticket to Sverige!! Daring to live a life I’d only dreamed of…

I look forward to reading your comments and hearing about your experiences below. All photographs in this post are my own, if you would like a sneak peek into my Swedish life you can follow me on instagram @suzygreaves1

Disclaimer:

The information presented on this blog is shared for entertainment purposes ONLY.  Information contained here should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation to invest. The Author in no way guarantees any specific outcome or profit. You should consult your financial advisor before making an investment decision.

Written by Suzy Greaves

Hej!! Jag heter Suzy! I’m a Brit who moved to Sweden in 2017 for love!
Travelled, cultured and passionate about health, food, photography and lifestyle. I’m living the Scandi dream!
I’m a freelance writer with a zest for life and new adventures. Follow my Swedish journey on Instagram @suzygreaves1

6 essential suggestions when you are new in Sweden

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Written by Chia May

Hej Hej! So you’re new in Sweden and probably already have a checklist on what you’ll have to do.  These are my top 6 essential suggestions that I wished I knew when I first move to Stockholm.

This list does not mention housing, but there are super helpful articles here to help you navigate housing in Sweden!

Essential Suggestions 1: Personal number

To be honest, I initially thought having a personal number and Swedish ID are the same thing!  They are in fact 2 entirely different things. The flow is as such: Register yourself at the nearest Skatterverket to receive your personal number first.  It took me about 2-3 weeks to receive my personal number.  The time estimation that it takes to get your personal number (personnummer) varies, hence the tip here is to register yourself as soon as you arrived in Sweden.  

Have a look at our section “Register for a personal identity number” to have more infomration. Please note that the requirements differ based on where you are from ( EEA / non EEA, and more).  Click here to check what you’ll have to bring based on where you’re from, under the “ Moving to Sweden” category.     

Essential Suggestions 2: Swedish ID

Soon you’ll receive a letter from Skatterverket with your personal number! The format is basically as such: YYYYMMDD-XXXX ( your birth date and year plus a 4 unique digit code at the end).  You’re now part of the Swedish population yay! 

As soon as you receive that letter, click here to book a time for your Swedish ID card.

There is a payment of SEK 400 and bring along the proof of payment, together with your residence permit card and passport. How soon you can get your Swedish ID seems to be a tricky question.  My Swedish ID was ready for collection in 2 weeks.  However, I also have friends who waited for more than 2 months just to get their Swedish ID.  Thus the urgency to register yourself as soon as you arrive! 

Here is the link from Skatterverket on the conditions to apply for your Swedish ID.  

3. Validate your University education 

This is the easiest essential suggestion on my list.  It is a fairly simple process that you can start before arriving in Sweden.  You can upload your transcript and higher education certificate to their website here. You’re can apply for recognition without any Swedish personal number or ID.  However, they have a long processing time.  Mine took almost 3 months,  hence the suggestion to submit your documents before you arrive in Sweden.  While they are looking into your certificates you’ll have a case number, which will allow you to register for SIFA classes.

4. Start learning Swedish

I can’t stress this enough! Despite Swedes being able to speak in English, it is still best to learn Swedish.  Learning Swedish is definitely an essential suggestion if you intend to stay here for the long term.  There are 2 available Swedish language courses, SFI or SIFA. I am currently enrolled in the SIFA program – in SFINX specifically for engineers and architects.  SIFA is an intensive Swedish program for people with academic backgrounds.  Each course is 9 weeks long and you’ll have a national test at the end of each course.  The classes are structured and intense, and I enjoy being able to learn Swedish at this pace. It is fun to see my progress in Swedish now that I’m 18 weeks into the program! 

You can find the schedule for SIFA classes (in Stockholm) and their required documents for enrollment from this link. 

5. Bank ID

I’ve found registering for a bank here in Sweden the most perplexing, especially because I was unemployed and not a student.  Most major banks will not allow you to register for a bank account, citing that you have no use for a bank account if you’re not working or studying! Ah the frustration because if you have no bank account, you’ll have no bank ID.  If you live here in Sweden, you’ll soon find out that you’ll need a Bank ID for everyday things! 

I manage to open a bank account with Handelsbanken, and I highly recommend them based on my experience when I opened my bank account.  Remember to make an appointment via email to the Handelsbanken branch near you, and bring along your Swedish ID.  

6. Register yourself for healthcare

The last, and certainly not the least essential suggestion that I have for you is to register yourself on 1177.se!  It took me almost 5 months after moving to Stockholm to realize that I needed to register myself on the website.  The healthcare system in Sweden is very different compared to where I’m from.  I was used to going to the nearest clinic directly when I am sick ! 

You’ll need a Bank ID to register yourself on 1177.se.  You can pick your health provider which can be a clinic or a hospital, depending on where you stay.  If you are feeling unwell, you’ll have to make an appointment on the website before you see the doctor.  You’ll then receive a call from the clinic / or you will receive an SMS notification from the clinic at the website to confirm your visit.  

The list in the essential suggestions is not exhaustive, but I hope it is a helpful one for you! Welcome to Sweden and I hope you’re having a great time navigating through Swedish life and culture 🙂

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 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.

 

Sign up to your course here

 

About the Author

Hi! I’m Chia May. Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I moved to Sweden at the end of 2020. My background is in Architecture, and my passions are exploring new cities and literally looking at it’s building, people watching, trying out new restaurants, listening to a good story shared by a stranger and petting all the cats and dogs that I can while taking a walk. Since I’m new in this city I can’t wait to share my perspective as a Newbie! I hope you’ll enjoy my post.

A one way ticket to Sverige!! Daring to live a life I’d only dreamed of…

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Written by Suzy Greaves

 

“The world is too big to stay in one place. Life is too short to do just one thing.”

I love to hear about people’s journeys, their life choices, the paths they take and the stories they make. Well; I’m Suzy, welcome to my story and my Swedish life. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to write for The Newbie Guide to Sweden. An opportunity to share with you all my experiences, observations and adventures. An honest and hopefully inspiring insight into life as a Brit living in Sweden.

And so it began……

Globally our population is Circa 8 billion. What are the chances of two people, from different worlds meeting and connecting in the same place at the same time?  You guessed it, in the words of Sweden’s Per Gessle (Roxette) “It must have been love”. It all began in a music bar in Liverpool back in 2016. The rest as they say is history!

I’ve always lived quite intuitively. I firmly believe our ever changing dreams, aspirations and ambitions allow us to attract what we need from life. So, what followed my chance meeting was a year or so of travelling. Meeting up with my new partner for weekends in various European destinations. Then, decision day arrived. My path, it seemed was inevitably heading North and leading to an unknown Nordic world, A Scandi life, in Sweden.

person standing on a rock in the water
Here it’s me in Sweden!

This is me……

I was 46 years old when I decided to rent out my UK home. Finally, I was moving to Sweden! I applied for a pet passport and moved myself and my cocker spaniel to Västra Götaland 4 years ago. My two fabulous and fiercly independant adult children had themselves moved and embarked upon their own life journeys. Instead of waiting for the so called ’empty nest’ syndrome to kick in, I was the one that fled the nest!

Back then, I was founder & director of a business creating and delivering food education workshops to primary schools UK wide. I wrote and styled fun interactive lessons linking to and supporting the countries National Curriculumn. I forged collaborations with National supermarket chains, celebrity chefs, local fire service and housing partnerships. A large part of my time was running and organising teams visits into schools daily. Although rewarding, infact awarding me recognition as a finalist of Cheshire Woman of the year 2008, the work became 24/7!  After a hugely sucessful 14 years, the hours, demands and the lifestyle I’d built for myself were actually unsustainable. My mind, body and soul on reflection were crying out for a new way of living.

That was then and this is now…..

In my 20’s and 30’s it was always a little dream of mine to own a house abroad.  Perhaps, a little apartment in a quaint Spanish village or a beachside villa in Portugal but no, it wasn’t to be.

This is where I advise you to be careful what you wish for….. Today I write to you from our newly renovated Swedish home! Contrary to popular belief and in comparison to the UK, house prices here in the Swedish countryside are jaw droppingly cheap. The house we chose to become our home lacked a lot of kerb appeal and at best could of been described as ‘charming’ or ‘traditional’.

The reality meant that my sambo (Swedish name for a couple that live together) and I had to join forces, roll our sleeves up and with the help of some professionals become amateur carpenters almost overnight. A full refurbishment inside and out. Our efforts became such a joint mission that I would suggest it firmly cemented our new found relationship. What a project we had undertaken! As a result, what remains now is a real sense of pride in the place we live and a plethora of newly discovered practical skills.

Back to school…..

Since moving to Sweden, I have secured work here as a supply teacher (Vikarie) in three local schools. One day I can be the English teacher, another a pre school assistant and occasionally I work in the after school club. In other words, `flexibility’ has become my middle name.

The school systems, values and curriculum couldn’t be more different to the UK. The pro’s and cons I know are widely debated amongst expat parents striving for the perfect balanced education for their little ones. I feel the children that I work with here are as eager, enthusiastic and hungry to learn as world over, which makes for rewarding work. These young Swedes also hold a really impressive grasp of the English language from a suprisingly early age. My own language learning however, has not actually been so sucessful yet. It’s one of the biggest challenges I’m facing right now, just so you know though, I’m not a quitter!!

The good life……

So, Is life here all meatballs and lingonberry jam? Not only moving to Sweden but relocating to any new country can be peppered with complications that try and test our resolve. I’m looking forward to sharing, in future blogs what I have learnt along the way.  Living with a Swede and within a Swedish family network has immersed me in the culture, cuisine, traditions and values of the Swedish people. Both similarities and differences to my own British culture I’ve found both facinating and suprising in equal measures.

I mentioned earlier that I believe in creating a life you need and love. Above all, I feel like moving to Sweden has brought out the best in me, renewing old passions such as a focus on health, creative cookery and exercise. Lifestyle choices which are facilitated by the environment here. Sweden’s nature is the perfect therapy and has restored the creative energy that was begining to dwindle with having the wrong work/life balance back in the UK.

I’ve discovered running, cross country skiing, sailing, fishing, foraging and hiking. Now tell me that’s not a healthy bag of interests! Additionally, during the past couple of years, whilst the world has had its travel plans curtailed, we have also been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to  travel and explore this beautiful country. Some people say the key to learning about the culture is through the language; couple this with travel and you will unveil the real Sweden.

person with skis on the snow
One of the activities I’ve discovered in Sweden

Sweden through my lens……

Sweden is a country of stark contrasts. A country with light and shade, four distinct seasons and stunning yet varied landscapes. Ask any Swede where is their ‘smultronställe’ ( A Swedes favourite place) and no answer will be the same. I’ve travelled from North to South and revel in planning our next road trip. From the fjällen in Vemdalen to both Stockholm and the West coast’s archipelago’s. I’ve explored Skåne and even been as far south as it gets in Smygehuk and Ven.

It’s hardly suprising that my biggest passion right now was born in this beautiful country. Photography. I share my pictures on instagram Feel free to follow and see for yourself how this wonderful country has won my heart.

Finally; If you are considering moving to Sweden then you came to the right place – The Newbie Guide to Sweden – is your one stop shop to actualising your new life. We are all here to help with your transition.

Remember, this inspiring quote from Naeem Callaway ” Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step in your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for my future blogs in the comments below. You can also check out our other newbie bloggers experiences in our blog page.

Thanks for reading and as we say in Sweden “Ha en jättebra dag!!”

About the Author

Hej!! Jag heter Suzy! I’m a Brit who moved to Sweden in 2017 for love!
Travelled, cultured and passionate about health, food, photography and lifestyle. I’m living the Scandi dream!
I’m a freelance writer with a zest for life and new adventures. Follow my Swedish journey on Instagram @suzygreaves1

3 ways to increase your job opportunities in Sweden and integrate into society

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Written by Chia May

Congratulations! So you’re moving to Sweden 🙂 and you have a million questions on your mind. Here 3 ways to increase your job opportunities in Sweden and integrate into the Swedish society.

After 2 years of discussing and planning, I finally received my residence permit card.  My mind went into a slight panic and anxious mode, on top of being super ecstatic and excited.  What should I do next? I had so many questions  and since information is so scattered, I didn’t know which information was the best to take.

So I was glad that I stumbled upon the courses offered by Newbie Learn. As a newcomer, these courses might interest you, as you prepare to start a new life in Sweden.  The Newbie Learn courses covers questions that you’ll have on personal life, work-life, and your pets as well!

Start planning for your move to Sweden!
Start planning for your move to Sweden! Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters from Unsplash.com

Here are the top 3 ways to find job opportunities in Sweden and to integrate yourself into Swedish society

  1. Options when learning the Swedish Language

Learning the language of the country where you are moving, is generally encouraged.  Not only does it help increase your job opportunities, it will also help you integrate into the new city that you’ll be living and working. You’ve probably heard about SFI (Swedish for Immigrants). But did you know that there are several options for you on your pathway to learning the Swedish language?

In the beginning,  I did not know about the options available and assumed that a most language classes are the same and for everyone.  It was a wrong assumption! In the course from Newbie Learn I learned about the different requirements you need to fulfill for different types of Swedish education. And that some professions such as doctors, architects or engineers have Swedish Language classes that are tailored for them!

It opened my eyes to the options that are available for me, as I would like to broaden and improve my Swedish to help me integrate for both my personal life and job opportunities in Sweden. Think about all the new adventures – and of course having the courage to speak a new language (embrace it! I know you’ll be doing great! ). Hopefully, from this course, you will be able to make an educated study choice.  Even though the course is not a language course per se, it tells you the steps and options that you have when it comes to HOW to best learn the Swedish language.

2. Understanding the Swedish working culture

I took this course out of curiosity. Every country has its own way of doing things and everyone’s culture is unique. Obviously, the Swedish culture is bigger than just the Fika culture (haha!), but I had no idea how the working culture is in Sweden. Usually one can have an idea of how this works from a TV show or in movies, perhaps, but I’ve never watched a Swedish TV show or movie before! You have to know that it’s fine that you are completely clueless ( like me! hi friend! ).

As I like to be prepared and do my research before starting something new, I thought this particular course was a lifesaver.  Personally, this has been great navigational advice in the workplace for newcomers like me. Taking this course from the perspective of a newcomer,  it was interesting to see the explanations of the Swedish ways. Cultural and behavioral insights are elaborated here, and also the formal workplace law and regulations.  I can’t wait to experience this all when I start my new job!

3. Getting the salary that you deserve

This was a rather interesting subject for me. To start with, I would definitely need a job, but second, how do I negotiate for the pay that I deserve? Especially when I’m new to Sweden?  It was a rather technical question and something that one should ponder before agreeing to the job and the salary that it offers.  I would recommend that you search for the median salary of your profession, and from there, you can use the course.  This course explains why and how negotiating your salary works in a Swedish workplace.  It was a great insight for me to understand the technicalities of how a company determines your increment as well.  Hopefully, that knowledge allows you to think ahead when you’re in the interview discussing your salary with your employer. 

Going through these courses has made me feel like I’ve learned something new about the country that I’ll be moving to.  I’ve had such an eye-opening experience reading and I can’t wait to experience all of these in real life!  I’m looking forward to my new Swedish life and I hope all of you are too!

 

About the Author

Hi! I’m Chia May. Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I moved to Sweden at the end of 2020. My background is in Architecture, and my passions are exploring new cities and literally looking at it’s building, people watching, trying out new restaurants, listening to a good story shared by a stranger and petting all the cats and dogs that I can while taking a walk. Since I’m new in this city I can’t wait to share my perspective as a Newbie! I hope you’ll enjoy my post.

 

Moving to Sweden? The ultimate list to get you started

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In collaboration with Beyondo

You are moving to Sweden! Well, obviously we don’t know this for sure but it is an educated guess since you are reading this article. Or perhaps you have moved already and are reading this to see if there is something you missed when you moved. 🙂

Anyway, the reasons for moving to Sweden are many. Perhaps you met a viking/vikingess or you WANT to meet a viking. Perhaps you got a job (in that case congratulations!) that is making you move, or have a thing for the Scandinoir TV-shows and want to see if they are based on reality?

Regardless of the reason, there are a lot of things you need to take care of for a successful move. We know that it can be mega scary especially as you often don’t know what it is that you need to know and you are researching frantically trying to figure that out. Right?

Well, here is a list to get you started.

Start looking for work

So this point obviously doesn’t apply for those of you lucky enough to already have a job but for the rest. This is definitely where you should get started. Moving to Sweden and finding a job in Sweden if you don’t speak Swedish is hard. We are not going to sugar coat it. It is common for newbies to spend many years looking for work and if you are in a creative job that require language skills, then that can take longer still. So if you don’t have a job lined up – start looking as soon as you can.

Most places where you can find work in Sweden, will require that you have a Swedish personal number. You find more information about that here. But there are some options available for you without a personal number and that is international recruitment agencies:

A word of warning. Most companies naturally want to get their new employee to start as soon as possible. This means that if you have a long time left before you land in Sweden, it may be difficult to get a company to invest in you if you are competing with someone who is already in Sweden or arriving soon. However, sign up with your CV and start looking anyway. It is better to be proactive for sure.

Start learning Swedish

The sad truth is that Sweden will remain a bit closed to you as long as you don’t speak Swedish. It is harder to find work, make friends and fully get incorporated in to Swedish society if you don’t speak Swedish. There are loads of options for you to start learning. Some you need to wait for until you get to Sweden but start by doing some proper research.

If you want a guide put together by a top Swedish study and career counselor then you should definitely get our digital course “Swedish learning options”.

If you prefer to do your own research, you can find a lot of information on our website.

Look for a place to live

Finding accommodation in Sweden can be quite easy or really hard, depending on where you are planning to live. If you are aiming for any of the larger cities like Stockholm, Malmö, Göteborg or Uppsala, then chances are that you are going to get frustrated. So our advice is to start looking for a place to live, like yesterday. You will probably end up having to do some short term rentals for a while but if you keep looking you should find a place to rent. Or you may even decide to buy a place which is actually not super complicated to do. But for the time being let’s focus on finding a rental.

In our guide, Preparing your move to Sweden we have a large section on how to find a place to stay and also how to make sure you stay away from getting tricked into renting a fake place. There are a number of major scams and we go through the top ones for you.

If you rather do your own research, get busy reading on our website, hit that Google search in general. Here are some websites to get you started:

Get a residence permit

This is actually probably where you should start. But as the residence permit varies depending on what you plan to do in Sweden, we moved it down a few steps.

In our guide, Preparing your move to Sweden we have a section on the different types of residence permits available, on permanent or temporary permits and a bit about waiting times. You can of course also do your own research on our website or on the Migration Agency website.

Check that your driving license is valid in Sweden

All driving licenses issued within the European Economic Area, the EEA, are valid in Sweden as long as they are valid in the country where they were issued – not matter how long you stay in Sweden.

Are you however driving in Sweden on a Non EU driving license? Watch out for the one-year-limit! Driving licenses from a non-EU country are generally valid in Sweden, if they are valid in the country where they were issued. There is, however, an important limit to this validity: a non-EU driving license is generally valid for just one year.

We have loads of information on our website about which licenses are valid and how long and how to exchange your license, so go check it out!

Are you bringing a pet? Start preparing in good time

Bringing your pet is not super straight forward and the rules vary a lot depending on where you are bringing your pet from.

We have a digital course that guides you through the whole process. Check it out and save yourself some time and headache.

Get a personal number

When moving to Sweden, you will start hearing about “the personal number”. The fact is that Sweden is hard to navigate without a personal number – personnummer. So make sure you sign up to get one as soon as you arrive.

You find some practical information on personal numbers on our website and also a couple of blog posts from other newbies on this topic:

Get the technology in order

You are going to want to get the communication set up as soon as possible. So make sure you do some research so that you can get a phone and broadband up and running as quickly as you can so moving to Sweden doesn’t plunge you into the dark ages.

We have loads of information on the website and a guide to common providers.

Get insurance

If you are coming with a visa, you will have to have insurance from your home country but if you arrive on a residence permit you need to sort out your insurance by yourself. Accidents do happen so make sure to take care of this as quickly as possible.

You find information about different types of insurances here and also a guide to common providers.

Let there be light

If you are renting second hand you won’t have to worry about setting up an electricity contract. But if you are renting a first hand contract, then you definitely will. And you want to take care of this as quickly as possible so you don’t have to spend a lot of days without electricity.

Find information and common providers on our website.

So, that is our ultimate Moving to Sweden list. We hope it was useful and that you get a smoother arrival in Sweden.

Also, we’d love to know more about why you want to move (or have already moved) to Sweden. Tell us in the comments! Let’s see ho many different reasons we can get:-)

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Moving to Sweden During a Pandemic

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Written by Bonnie Thornington

Moving overseas is an exciting time, where dreams and expectations collide, and where the planning and preparation is filled with giddy anticipation. Moving overseas during a pandemic throws in a lot more complications, but is no less exciting.

My family and I decided to move to Lund, Sweden, from Canada back in February 2020. My husband’s work contract was signed, the cargo ship voyage was confirmed, our kids had been accepted into the International School. The plan was to travel there in June, settle into our new place, enjoy the long, sun-filled days exploring the country and then start school and work along with the rest of the country.

Then COVID-19 hit. 

It spread like wildfire across the globe, changing every country’s ‘normal’ to deep uncertainty. Complete lockdown, toilet-paper hoarding and general chaos followed.

We were living on our 42-foot sailboat at the time and exploring the beautiful islands in the Bahamas. Our family’s year-long sailing journey was coming to an end and we were trying to relish every last dolphin-sighting and beautiful sunset before going back to land-life.

However, Coronavirus made us wake up and take notice.

Countries were shutting their borders. Citizens were told to stay home. Businesses were going bankrupt. People were losing their jobs. Those lucky enough to keep their jobs were working from home. Children were being educated online. People were dying, afraid and alone. And there was no end in sight.

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 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. 

 

Sign up to your course here

Decision

In mid-March, we literally made the decision overnight to sail back to Florida in the USA immediately where we could store our boat and rent a van to drive directly north to cross back into Canada. We felt it was the best thing to do in a time of such uncertainty.

The world was facing a dangerous, unknown virus and countries seemed to be making up new policies and rules by the minute. We did not want to get caught up in any travel restrictions or worse, risk being somewhere with no access to affordable healthcare or be a burden on another country’s health system. 

We made it back into Canada and quarantined for 2 weeks. We were the lucky ones; many people around the world were stuck on cruise ships or halfway around the world with very limited options on how to get back to their home country.

Photo credit @Bonnie Thornington

For a while, everything was up in the air. Even though our travel date was in mid-June, we were growing increasingly concerned that the virus was only beginning to wreak its havoc on the world. 

We moved in with my Dad temporarily while we deliberated our options. We were safe, healthy and suddenly found ourselves with a lot of free time on our hands, but the certainty of moving to Sweden was not so certain anymore.

Was the job in Sweden still secure? Would Sweden even let us in? What about travel insurance? If we did go, when would we see our family again?

The cargo ship had cancelled our voyage, so now we were looking at flying. However, not knowing which airlines were operating, we had to figure out which flight was the best to take and hope they wouldn’t go bankrupt in the meantime. 

Sweden

There were many unknowns but we made each decision as best as we could, based on the information we had at hand. We knew this could all change the next day, as it often did, but we were determined to make our way to Sweden one way or another and start our new life there.

We all know Sweden has been the exception in the world regarding how it has approached Coronavirus. Children 16 years and under were still attending school, gatherings could happen as long as they weren’t more than 50 people, shops and restaurants were still open, and the list goes on. Life in Sweden wasn’t exactly how it has always been, but it certainly wasn’t as drastically overturned like it was in the rest of the world. 

I have heard multiple times that Swedes are generally very good at abiding by rules to ensure a safe and harmonious society. So when citizens were recommended by their government to work from home, physical distance and wash their hands more frequently, they did. Still, statistics don’t lie and Sweden has one of the highest death-rates in Europe and the highest among Scandinavia.

Many well-meaning friends and family have warned us to be very careful when we arrive in Sweden, to be extra vigilant and to wear a mask at all times. I have chatted with a few people in the town we will be moving to (expats and locals) regarding the situation ‘on the ground’. It is difficult to know what to expect when all I know is what I read and hear from other people’s viewpoint. Like many things, there is a wide spectrum of responses and tolerance for what is deemed necessary, acceptable and safe.

We understand the risks and considered the pros and cons of moving now instead of delaying by a few months or even a year. To us, it was still worth going now if there was the opportunity.

When we finalized our flight date, everything else was set in motion. We could pack, organize and start to plan our new life in Sweden. It felt like we were on track again. We would be highly vigilant and cautious of course, but a concrete date gave us extra energy and excitement as we continued to prepare for our move.

Photo credit @Bonnie Thornington

Connecting

Networking and social connections play a big part in how integrated you are in Sweden. Word-of-mouth and recommendations carry a lot of weight and it is often the way jobs and rental accommodations are found.

I knew networking may be a bit more challenging in Sweden now with many events cancelled and physical distancing recommended. So I decided to take my networking online and get a head start by connecting with other expats and locals via social media.

This has been a great opportunity to do some pre-arrival research and planning.

Some of the relevant and extremely useful Facebook groups I joined are: North Americans in Sweden, Canadians in Sweden, Parents in Malmö, Malmö and Lund International Families and many more!

Learning Swedish

I also wanted to start learning some Swedish so that when I do eventually enrol in an SFI course, I’ll be able to say a few words at the very least.

Some of the best apps/websites that I found really useful were:

  • Duolingo – My favourite app for on-the-go language learning. There is no excuse to NOT do even 5 minutes each day! Simple, easy to use and you can see how much you are improving each time – a great incentive!
  • Learning Swedish – With self-study exercises in speaking and writing, this free program also provides cultural insights into Swedish society.

I also started to watch some Swedish movies and TV shows (with English subtitles). It was a fantastic way to listen to Swedish but the actual shows and multiple plot twists were really riveting too!

  • The Bridge –  A fantastic mystery-drama about a murder that happens on the Øresund Bridge bridge between Copenhagen. I watched this years ago but I am watching it again because it was that good.
  • The Bonus Family – This TV drama illustrates how blended families and relationships affect each other in our modern age. Funny, poignant and truthful.
  • Sami Blood – Excellent film about a coming of age Sami girl who is trying to find her way in the world. Brilliant!
  • Caliphate – A thrilling 6-part drama which delves deeply into today’s relevant issues such as religious extremism, Islamophobia, and human rights. Fantastic characters and a gripping plot.

Moving to Sweden is stepping into the unknown for me. I’ve been to Europe many times and lived in the UK for 5 years, but I’ve never even visited Scandinavia before!

All I know about the country is that they have gorgeous mountains, lakes and forests. Lots of people are tall and blonde. Work-life balance, gender-equality and environmental awareness is at the forefront of many Swede’s approach to life. Lastly, Swedes drink a lot of coffee and eat a lot of candy.

Whether those impressions are completely far-fetched generalizations or absolute truths, I know I will be arriving in Sweden in 5 days’ time with gratitude and relief after having overcome numerous hurdles of moving during a pandemic. I am ready to embrace whatever comes my way and even excited (ok, curious) to try surströmming!

About the Author

Hej! My name is Bonnie and I’m a Chinese-Canadian who has lived/visited over 60 countries, most recently travelling with my family on our 42-foot sailboat for the past year from Canada down to the Bahamas. I love music, yoga, swimming in oceans and lakes and will try anything at least once. I am excited to be moving to Lund and look forward to immersing myself in Swedish culture – especially fika and lagom! Hope you enjoy my posts as I recount my experiences of relocating and settling into Swedish life during a pandemic!

 

Return to Sweden – Step by Step Guide

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Life is about testing new things, expanding the horizons and finding just the right thing our hearts beat for. It might happen that you left Sweden only to feel a longing to come back after some time apart.

You are not a Swedish citizen, you don’t have the citizenship and you might have cut all the ropes anchoring you to Sweden when you moved out.

Now you want to give it another try.

Start over again? You remember you had to do so many things when you first arrived, will you have to go through all those processes again?

One can change its mind, right?

Let’s embark on our exploration on what applies and what not together and make the return a pleasant and easy one.

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 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. 

 

Sign up to your course here

EU Citizens

You plan on staying in Sweden for longer than three months. Other than that, you don’t really need to do anything in order to come back to Sweden, unless you are going to work or if you need any kind of special financial support along the way.

  • If you got the personal number, upon arrival you have to first contact the Tax office (Skatteverket) and inform them about your return. From now on you will be paying taxes in Sweden (again).
  • The Insurance Office (Försäkringskassan ) has to be contacted as well, in order to receive your new insurance card. If you are moving with children younger than 16, this is the place where you ask for children support.
  • Buy a new SIM card, choose the best option between different plans from our Newbie article about cell phone plans and update your telephone number.
    Renew your bank account (again) or if you kept one, inform the bank about the change of address.
  • Update your ID card at the Tax office in case it expired.
  • Register at the Unemployment office if you don’t have a job straight away.
  • Use our helpful resources about accommodation and job hunt to get you started.

Non-EU Citizens

Here apply many different rules and it is always advisable to visit Tax office and Immigration office first to ask about your specific case!

However, there are few things to bear in mind before returning to Sweden.

The most important factors are the time spent outside Sweden, time spent in Sweden before moving out and your personal/business connection to Sweden and the country you lived in.

If you had a residency permit (uppehållstillstånd) and lived outside Sweden up to three years you would have to live in Sweden before at least four years to keep your permit.

In other cases, the Immigration office will consider your connections to both lands, Sweden and your homeland. The first thing to do is fill in the application which you find on this page together with a lot of useful information – and then you just have to wait for the decision.

Good luck with returning to Sweden and if still in doubt whether to come back or not, check our article about the best things in Sweden!

Basic Everyday Info for Recently Moved Newbie

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

Lately, I’ve been receiving questions from some people who are going to move to Sweden, either for work or study in my website and Instagram. And some of the questions are actually really simple, about everyday info, which I didn’t consider important before. At least I used to take it for granted.

But I think that was just because I’m lucky. My husband moved to Sweden eight months earlier than I did so he’s kind of paves the path for me. But not all people have the same experience. So here I compile the basic information of everyday life in Sweden for recently moved newbie.

Post & Delivery

If you come from a country where you receive your post (no matter big or small) in your front door, I can assure you that it’s not going to happen in Sweden. Unless, you select the home delivery option when ordering something but this is not always available.

Most of the times, you will receive your post in the mailbox. Or if it’s too big, you will need to retrieve it from the closest pick up point based on your postcode. They will send notification to your phone, email, or sometimes leave a note in your mailbox, when the package is ready to be picked up. This pick up point is normally grocery store like ICA, Willys or other shops, depending on the courier service you choose.

The main operator in Sweden is PostNord, the other common delivery services are DHL and DB Schenker. For home delivery, there are Budbee, Best Transport, Airmee to name a few.

What if the package is really big?

Still, you need to pick it up by yourself. Therefore, it’s a good idea to download the PostNord app as it can help you to track the delivery process as well as give you the measurement so you’ll know the best way to bring your order home.

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Laundry

Most housing in Sweden use communal laundry room. It is very rare to have a personal washing machine if you live in apartment. The laundry room in Sweden is usually located in the basement and is not using coin.

Instead, it’s using key and booking system, either manual or online, which means, only those who live in the housing complex have access to it.

If the system is manual, you book the time slot (around 4-6 hours) in the board near the laundry room. You move the key with your apartment number to the day and time you prefer on the board. For the online system, you can book via the housing provider websites.

In the laundry room you will find washing machine, tumble dryer, drying room, and sometimes a passive aggressive note to those who don’t clean the room afterwards 😀 .

Again, it’s a communal laundry room so every user is expected to take a good care of it. And apparently, it’s very Swedish to leave an anonymous letter in the laundry room if you’re not happy with your fellow neighbour’s behaviour.

You will need to bring your own detergent but some housings use automatic machines so the detergent has already in it. Just check the information from the housing caretaker (bovärd).

Room & furniture

In Sweden, 3 rooms apartment means an apartment with 2 bedrooms. Unless it’s specifically stated, the word “room” apply for living room as well so make sure you check out the number of bedrooms before renting or buying an apartment. As for the kitchen, even if it says unfurnished, it has already a stove and a fridge. But, don’t forget to buy lamps because they are not included in unfurnished apartment.

Money & Payment

Sweden is a cashless country so the most commonly used payment methods here are card, Swish and Klarna. As far as I know, any credit card with Visa or MasterCard logo can be used here. Swish is an app connected to your bank account and phone number. You will need another app called Bank ID to be able to use Swish (contact your bank provider to help you with the set up). Klarna is an online payment option that gives you flexibility to pay. You can get the item first and pay later (within 14 days with no extra charge), pay the next month with extra charge or pay with instalments.

If you really need cash, you can withdraw money from the ATM or better known here as Bankomat. It’s jointly owned by the five largest banks in Sweden – Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB, Swedbank and offer services to all card issuers, either as a customer or via the VISA and MasterCard networks.

Food

Thanks to globalisation, we have quite plenty option here in Sweden: Jasmine rice, Indian spices, Middle East herbs, Chinese tea, Japanese noodle, and so on. They may not taste exactly the same (due to a long storage in the cargo I assume) and most definitely not cost the same 😀 , but it’s still good if you’re missing a bit flavour of home.

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Third Year Reflection: Facts I learned about Sweden

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Written by Hayu Hamemayu

As the year-end is approaching, I would like to use this blog post as a medium of reflection. A look back to where it all started three years ago.

This month in 2016, I moved to Sweden from my home country. Time has passed by and many things have happened ever since, including having an additional member in the family. So it just feels right to see how it was and how it has been as a newbie living in Sweden.

Here are some random facts about Sweden that I learnt during my first three years of living in the country:

Sweden is a good place to raise a kid

From free education to nearly free healthcare, Sweden is one of the few places I can think of when it comes to a “family-friendly” country.

Yes, the system is a bit frustrating sometimes and requires lots of things to do—filling out forms, queuing, making calls … But once you got in, the safety net is always there. This is probably one of the most important facts about Sweden.

Sweden also seems to care about and is willing to take part in children development. One tiny example is when my baby turned 6 months old, she received a free choice book from Lund’s state library. From what I understand, it’s a part of the program to encourage reading and literacy (such important skills for kids to have).

Apart from those, generous parental leave, Sweden offers equality and recognition of universal values. And those are the list I would love to tick as a parent. Anyway, read more about the rights of parents in Sweden here.

Sweden has no tourism slogan

A world map with most reserach torusit words
@lonelyplanet

I used to be a volunteer in a non-profit tourism organisation, so I once did an internet “research” on tourism in Sweden. That’s when I bumped into this site. When other countries come up with Wonderful Indonesia, There’s Nothing Like Australia or Inspired by Iceland to market their respective countries as a destination, Sweden has none.

I think this has to do with the character of lagom (putting everything in the middle). It’s not in the nature of Sweden to overly promote their country, even for tourism purposes :D.

Sweden, though, has promotional videos under the project Stories from Sweden that are not only interesting but also inspirational. You can watch them here.

Sweden is fond of nature

This is another popular fact about Sweden. Almost every aspect of our everyday life can sense it. From the right to roam or the right of public access (Allemansrätten in Swedish), the wide-ranging availability of Ekologisk or organic product, and the attempts to keep everything as green as possible, Sweden is, I dare to say, one of a few countries that try its best to put nature first before anything else.

Sweden is a DIY country

Everyone knows that Sweden is famous for Scandinavian designs, characterised by its simplicity, minimalism and functionality. According to Wikipedia, it’s actually a “movement that emerged in the early 20th century and subsequently flourished in the 1950s throughout the five Nordic countries”.

But the movement doesn’t stop there. Lately, there has been a trend in “do it yourself” activities.

I once met a young lady in the hallway to our communal laundry room. She was building something and blocking the way. Naturally, I asked what she’s making. To my surprise, she said “a bed frame.” For a moment I was stunned. I mean, wouldn’t it be much easier to just go to one of those home furniture stores and get one?

Apparently, more and more people in Sweden think that buying is one thing, but making is the ultimate achievement.

And actually, on a less sophisticated level, Sweden encourages us to do most stuff by ourselves, at least to assemble furniture.

That’s why my friend once joked, IKEA is not for the rich, but for the smart 😀

ikea pieces on the floor to build up for the interviewer
Ikea Job Inteview

So, what about you? What do you learn about Sweden so far? Do you have any other facts about Sweden? Tell me in the comments!

Hayu Hamemayu is a Lund-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Kompas, Majalah Kartini, and Indonesia Travel Magazine among others. A traveller mommy by nature and random thinker by inclination, she keeps memories in her Instagram @hayuhamemayu and writes her everyday stories in her blog.

Moving to Sweden

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Written by Georgia Lane

Thinking about moving to Sweden? Curious as to how your life will be? If the thought of Swedish meatballs wasn’t enough, then get ready to be blown away by the many benefits and opportunities Sweden has in store for you!

When you first arrive in Sweden…

After moving to sweden, nearly 2 years ago, I was quickly drawn to the Swedish ways. People were friendly, spoke good English, were quick to integrate expats into their society and of course, the main reason: it is socially acceptable to drink coffee and eat baked goods more than once a day… big win for all of you, including myself, who love a good coffee break! But besides all that, Sweden has quickly become one of my favorite places to live. With easy to navigate transportation, access to healthcare from the moment you arrive, free Swedish courses and all you can eat cinnamon buns (the famous kanelbullar) be ready for a quick and easy transition into the Swedish life.

Experience all four seasons…

Sweden, being so far North, has roughly 6 months of Winter (of course being Canadian has made me slightly bias towards winter… as in I love it!) 2-3 months of Summer, 1 or so months of spring and around a month and a half of Autumn. Yes, it may be cold but the warm summers, spent by the ocean or countryside, make up for the “darker” few months of winter. Being so close to the outdoors makes it easy for you to get outside and stay active. Although temperatures may be in the lower single digits, there are still many outdoor activities held/offered throughout the winter. Some of which include: toboganning – “sledding” for all you non- Canadians, snow shoeing, dog sledding, skiing, outdoor workouts, and northern lights expeditions. In bigger cities, like Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö, you can find a cozy cafe/ restaurant on pretty much every corner of the city. What better way to spend a brisk winter day than sipping hot chocolate by the water side, watching the snow fall – definitely a 10/10 place for all you lovers of sites and warm drinks! After the darkness has gone, Swedes will slowly but surely emerge from their houses. Spending every summer, spring and autumn day they can outside – whether it be at the beach, the city docks, a lake, the countryside, or out on the archipelago. Wherever there is sun, a Swede will be there.

What else does the land of Abba, Ikea and meatballs have to offer?

Sweden is one of the best countries in the world to live in, ranking seventh in the world rankings of the HDI (human development index) and for many good reasons. Some of which include:

  • Free healthcare (well, almost free!)
  • Free education for EU nationals – No student debt? Count me in!
  • Clean cities + new and improved public transport
  • Unemployment benefits + 3-6 weeks of holiday leave (varying on your job of course)
  • Gender equality… reason #1 to move
  • Living in (or near) nature – good way to enjoy those brisk winters & hot summers
  • Tasty native Swedish food (although you probably want to steer clear of caviar in a tube)
  • Everything is regulated & safe – although Swedens crime rate has increased over the last 5 years, it it still considerably low compared to most European countries.
  • 480 days of paternity leave between both parents… one word, AMAZING.

Integrating into Swedish Society

As an expat, the top question I have when moving to a new country is “How easy will it be for me to integrate?” A lot of people say that learning Swedish is the key to full integration. To that I mostly agree, and with focus and dedication you will most certainly be able to learn this beautiful, and very melodic, Nordic language. But if languages aren’t your thing, no problem. A few other ways to slowly integrate yourself include: obtaining a job – this alone can help you learn about the Swedish taxes, join a volunteer group/project within your new city, attend language cafes and free SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) classes, get to know your city and its history and/or rent an apartment (this will give you insight on the Swedish housing market) Alongside these few suggestions, putting yourself out there – by making a Swedish friend or joining a hobby class – are also good ways to make your new home, feel like home.

Overall, if you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy diverse culture, fascinating people, amazing landscapes and an overall good quality of life – Sweden is definitely the place to plant your new home roots. Making the most of your time in Sweden is the best way to ensure you have a positive experience. Getting outside to enjoy the breathtaking nature, attending events held in your city or finding the best fika spots are all good ways to start making this new and foreign land feel like a permanent home!

Are you interested to know more about sweden? Here is an article about art and culture in Stockholm

Hi all! I moved to Stockholm almost 2 years ago from Canada & I’ve been loving every minute of it! I know first hand how hard it can be to navigate your new life in Sweden as an expat – so I’m here to help and share my insight on different problems/situations you may run into as an international who doesn’t yet speak Swedish. Enjoy!