1. Work permit and Residence permit – once you have been hired

All non-Nordic citizens or citizens outside EU need 
- a work permit if you are to work in Sweden. For further information see migrationsverket.se and look for Work permits.  
- a residence permit. Applications are to be made at a Swedish consulate or embassy. 
Both must be granted prior to arrival.  

2. Apply for a personal number (Personnummer)

If you plan to live in Sweden for a year or more, you need to visit the Skatteverket office so you can be registered in the Swedish Population Register. You will be given a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) and be registered as living in a building with an address. Your civil status and any relationship to your spouse, children or parent will also be registered. Find how to do it here.  

3. Population registration certificate (Personbevis)

Some authorities or organizations may request that you present a population registration certificate (personbevis) along with an application for their services. A population registration certificate is an extract from the population register showing what information is registered about you, such as your name, address, and civil status. You can order a population registration certificate at Skatteverket once you have received your personnummer. 

4. ID-Card (ID-kort)

Once you receive your personnummer, we recommend that you apply for your Swedish ID card (ID-kort or identitetskort) at Skatteverket. It is an approved form of identification within Sweden, for example as proof of your age and identity at places such as pharmacies, banks, shops etc. However, it cannot be used as a travel document. There is a SEK 400-fee to pay for the application. More information here.  

5. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)

It is a government authority that pays out money to individuals in various situations (child benefits, dental insurance, internship subsidies, parental leave, etc.). Once you have your personnummer and ID you can register at the social insurance agency. Read more about it and get the forms here.  

6. Healthcare

It is wise to register yourself at 1177. Go online to register and consult the information about your healthcare needs in Sweden. 

Healthcare abroad 

You can get emergency healthcare in the Nordic countries (Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) by showing your Swedish ID and providing your Swedish address.

You can get emergency healthcare in the 28 countries of the EU plus Switzerland (regardless of your own citizenship) under the same conditions as local residents thanks to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) once of course you have your personnummer and are registered with Försäkringskassan. The card is free and valid for three years but order it at least 10 days before you travel. Go here to apply. 

7. Open bank account

In order to open a bank account you need to have your personal number (personnummer). Your salary or scholarship will be paid into your bank account. You therefore need to open an account. We recommend that you contact SEB or Handelsbanken. Both have offices not from  SSE (Odenplan and Sveavägen). In most cases you need to bring  your employment contract, passport, a Swedish ID card and residence permit. Please contact the bank to check if you need to bring anything else.  

8. Bank ID and Swish

These are two commonly used apps in Sweden, that may make everyday life in Sweden a bit easier. BankID is a citizen identification solution that allows companies, banks and governments agencies to authenticate and conclude agreements with individuals over the Internet. Swish is a mobile payment system in Sweden that allows you to easily transfer money in real time. Some shops offer payment through Swish, but it is mostly used among friends or co-workers. Start by downloading the applications to your smartphone. Once your bank account is open, ask your bank to verify your BankID and Swish.  

9. Mobile phone

Since there are many providers and terms change over time, it might make sense to get a pre-paid SIM card first from a provider like COMVIQ. You can simply buy a SIM card in a supermarket or shops like Pressbyrån and buy a monthly package for phone calls and mobile internet.  

10. (Tax relief)

Foreign citizens carrying out particularly qualified tasks or receiving a monthly remuneration above a certain level may enjoy tax relief on their Swedish earned income. Tax relief means that 25 per cent of the income is exempt from tax. Several formal conditions must be met to get tax relief and far from all applicants get approved. Read more about it and get the forms to apply here.  

Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe, with great diversity in its nature and climate. It is also the land of lakes and the nation of the Nobel Prize, where music rocks and 400000 moose roam the woods. Read on to know more about why Sweden is a great country to work in.

Workers have strong rights 

Workers’ rights are one of the cornerstones of the modern Swedish labour market. Labour unions are powerful, and collective bargaining has meant the development of an environment where the health and safety of employees come first. In addition to union support, a government agency, the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket), ensures employees’ well-being at work. 

Equality is key 

Sweden’s anti-discrimination legislation ensures that everyone has the right to be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or functional disabilities.  

Your family can get residence permits 

Family-focused policies extend to migration regulations; when you apply for a work permit, you can also apply for residence permits for your spouse(including common-law and registered partners) and unmarried children under 21. Your family members can start to work or study right away when you get to Sweden. 

Work life balance - Swedes generally have around five weeks of vacation a year, plus a generous number of public national holidays. This, combined with a very family-oriented culture, contributes to a strong sense of work/life balance, even in the capital city. Even the more demanding and fast-paced industries will have fewer working hours per week compared to companies in many other Western and Asian cities.   

Innovation is highly valued 

Sweden encourages innovation. Companies in fields from ICT to energy are at the cutting edge of sustainable development and technological advancement. Swedish companies like IKEA, Ericsson and Spotify have fundamentally changed their fields – and continue to do so. International rankings like the Global Innovation Index confirm that Sweden is an innovation leader. If you work in Sweden, you could be a part of taking your field to the next level. 

The welfare system is inclusive 

In addition to a career where you’re encouraged to develop as an individual, comprehensive social benefits mean you don’t have to worry about the cost of healthcare, childcare or your children’s education. State subsidies make these and other aspects of life affordable, and many benefits are free of charge. Eighteen months of paid parental leave are offered per child, with job security when you return to work, and sick leave benefit means that you can focus on your health when you need to. 

The Stockholm School of Economics is conveniently located in the center of Sweden’s dynamic capital. Stockholm is the largest city in Sweden with a population of 1.8 million and is often said to be one of the most innovative, modern and open cities in the world. Here are why Stockholm is a great city to live in.

Green and modern

Stockholm excels in the areas of sustainability, education, IT, social welfare and culture. In addition, Stockholm has been named one of the leading green cities by the Global Green Economy Index. But perhaps foremost, Stockholm is world famous for being stunningly beautiful.  

Fast moving and international

Stockholm is known to pick up quickly on international influences. With the city’s broad ethnic spectrum, the latest trends in fashion, culture, art, and music quickly take root. Restaurants featuring cuisines from every corner of the world jostle with cafés, pubs and night clubs, galleries and museums, shopping malls and unique boutiques.  

A creative city

Sweden has a long tradition of being a forward-thinking place when it comes to creating business. Successful companies as diverse as IKEA, H&M, Ericsson and Absolut Vodka all got their start here. In addition, several newer companies that started in Sweden, such as Spotify and Skype, are fast becoming global leaders as well. During 2014 there were several huge exits, most notably Microsoft’s USD 2.5 billion acquisition of Mojang (Minecraft) and King’s NYSE IPO at a valuation of USD 7 billion. Stockholm is an important international center for commerce and is home to more international corporate headquarters than any other city in the Nordic region.  

Progressive accepting society

Stockholm is a very open and progressive city, which aims to be inclusive and ensure that people are happy and comfortable. According to a study done by Nestpick, Stockholm is one of the top 30 countries in the world for LGBTQ people, with it scoring particularly highly in terms of LGBT rights, dating and openness. It is also a great place for young families and has been one of Europe’s most proactive countries in trying to find solutions to the recent refugee crisis. The HSBC survey ranks it as the ninth best city in terms of tolerance and tenth in quality of life. 

World-class cultural hub

Despite not being one of Europe’s biggest cities, in terms of population, Stockholm matches most places in terms of culture. It has brilliant art galleries, such as Fotografiska; so outstanding that a second one is opening in London, great arenas that host huge concerts and sporting events, like Tele2 and Globen, as well as an opera house and theatres that have a delightful range of shows to see. There are also museums large and small that cover all kinds of topics, from Swedish history to ABBA. Everyone’s cultural tastes are catered to by Stockholm – you can even see art on the Stockholm subway, where over 90 stations have varying kinds of installations on display, from sculptures to paintings. 

Active lifestyle

Stockholmers love the outdoors and fill the warmer months with barbecues, sporting events, visits to the countryside, and soaking up the limited sunshine. They may complain about the long winters but it doesn’t mean they don’t know how to make the most of it. During those months, they often take long skiing weekends, hikes in the snow, and go ice skating or sledding. Winters in Stockholm are not too extreme but there is usually quite a bit of snow, which makes winters more activity-oriented than if they were simply rainy.  

Safety

Stockholm is a very safe place with low levels of petty crime, and even lower levels of serious crime. It’s one of the safest capital cities in all of Europe.   

Non-hierarchical and equal society

Stockholm, like the rest of Sweden, is full of workplaces, organizations, political groups, and the like that are very non-hierarchical. It’s important to Swedes that everyone from the secretary to the CEO has a voice and is treated equally. Upper management doesn’t tend to get a great deal more benefits than anyone else in a company. This may feel unusual to some expats but it makes for a society where many are comfortable in their workplace and can approach anyone without much bureaucracy. 

Finding housing in Stockholm can be hard, but it is not impossible. Here we hope to provide you with useful information in the search for your next home.

Short term housing 
While you’re waiting for more permanent housing, you might want to consider a short-term housing. There are several websites where you can find accommodations, the most frequently used might be Airbnb. Airbnb is a community marketplace for people to list and book accommodations around the world. A short-term housing may be a good solution whole waiting for a more permanent housing. Unfortunately, scams related to rentals and other accommodations do occur. Please read the section "Scams – tips to avoid frauds" for more information.  

Rentals 
Apartments in Stockholm are regulated by a rental control system to keep the rent below what the market would dictate. The apartments are allocated on the basis of time spent in a housing queue. To apply for an apartment, you need to register in the housing queue.

On the housing market, you will find so called first-hand rentals (Förstahand) and second-hand rentals (andrahand). A first-hand rental means that the apartment is in your name and you deal directly with the landlord. A second-hand rental is basically a sublet, which may or may not have the landlord’s consent. Bear in mind that if you rent a second-hand rental which does not have the consent from the landlord, you run the risk of being evicted.

Deposits are a common procedure but shouldn’t be more than a month's rent. You should also get a receipt (even hand-written) for your deposit. A regular studio apartment in Stockholm and the surrounding areas costs around 10,000-20,000 SEK/month. Make sure you visit the apartment, before you pay anything. And if you rent a furnished apartment, make sure the furniture is of acceptable quality. 

Swedish vocabulary 
If you are looking for a home on your own, you might end up at a few Swedish sites. Here is some basic Swedish housing vocabulary: 

Lägenhet/hyresrätt = flat/rental flat 
Hyra lägenhet = rent a flat 
Uthyres (i andra hand) = to let (sublet) 
(Number) rum och kök = the number of rooms a flat contains aside from the kitchen and WC. “2 rum och kök” is a 2-room flat with a kitchen. 
Möblerad lägenhet = furnished apartment

Stockholm is a beautiful and vibrant city, but unfortunately frauds and scams related with rentals do occur. Housing in Stockholm is hard to find, and as a result people are getting desperate, and this is where the con-artists feed. Here are some tips to help you avoid frauds:   

1. Always ask for the landlord personal information. The information you need is: name, surname, phone number and id (personnummer). 

2. Double check that the provided address really exists. You can user services such as Eniro or Google Maps. 

3. Googling name and surname of the landlord might help you to find people who has reported this person in previous frauds. You might find this information in blogs and forums. 

4. Never send your scanned id (passport). This id can be used in future frauds. 
    
5. Never pay the deposit before the viewing and signing the contract.
    
6. Sometimes, legit landlords ask for the deposit transfer in advance. Normally, this is due personal circumstances of either the landlord or the tenant. If this happens, you should use safe payment services, such as PayPal or wire transfers to Swedish accounts. 
    
7. Never pay in cash. Paying in cash means that it is really difficult to track the payment. If you have any issue with the landlord, it will be very difficult to prove you have paid.