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Living in Sweden

What is required to live in Sweden depends on which country
you come from.

Citizens of EU/EEA countries have the right to live and work in
Sweden without a residence permit. If they stay longer than one year, they should
usually register with the Swedish Tax Agency.

People from non-EU/EEA countries usually need a
residence permit. Common reasons are work, study, or moving to a
family member in Sweden. Applications are usually made before moving to
Sweden. Check here what applies to your country. About
Sweden - Sweden Abroad

Once the residence permit has been granted, the person can travel
to Sweden. After arrival, one may need to register with authorities,
obtain a personal identity number, and arrange housing, work, or studies.

More information and applications can be found at the Swedish Migration Agency.

 

Moving to and living in Sweden – step by step

1. Apply for a residence permit

If you come from a country outside the EU/EEA, apply to the Swedish Migration Agency.
The application can be made online. https://www.migrationsverket.se

Make sure to fill out the application carefully. Write plenty and send
all documentation you have. The process can be delayed if the Migration Agency needs
additional information.

2. Receive a decision from the Swedish Migration Agency

The Swedish Migration Agency reviews the application and issues a decision. If the application is approved, you will receive
documents showing that you have the right to live in Sweden.

3. Move to Sweden

Once the permit is ready, you can travel to Sweden. It is a good idea to arrange housing
and prepare your documents before the move. Check out housing to buy on hemnet.se or search for "RENTAL HOMES + the
city you want to live in."

4. Register with the Swedish Tax Agency

If you are going to live in Sweden for at least one year, you must register with the Swedish Tax Agency.
Bring your passport and other relevant documents to a service office. https://www.skatteverket.se

5. Obtain a personal identity number and start settling in

After registration, you will receive a personal identity number. With the personal identity number, you can open
a bank account, apply for jobs, study, and more.

Apply for jobs at https://www.arbetsformedlingen.se

Search for schools at https://www.antagning.se
or https://www.folkhogskola.nu

6. Integrate. By getting in touch with other
Swedes, you will more easily become part of society. The best tip, which is not
religious or political, is to get involved in voluntary associations. You can read more about
it here.

Swedish Healthcare

Health and Healthcare

Healthcare in Sweden is largely publicly financed and based on the principle that everyone should have access to care regardless of income. The system is primarily run by the regions and funded through taxes.

How Healthcare Works

Sweden has:

  • Primary care centers for common illnesses and health problems
  • Hospitals for specialist care and acute cases
  • Digital healthcare via apps and 1177 Vårdguiden
  • Ambulance and emergency rooms for serious situations

Typically, one starts at a primary care center and is referred to a specialist if needed.

1177 – Sweden's Healthcare Portal

1177 Vårdguiden is the most important service for healthcare in Sweden. There, you can:

  • book appointments
  • read medical records
  • renew prescriptions
  • get healthcare advice
  • use e-identification to contact healthcare services

You can also call 1177 24/7 for healthcare advice.

Costs and High-Cost Protection

Healthcare is not entirely free, but relatively inexpensive compared to many other countries.

Examples:

  • A visit to a primary care center often costs 100–300 SEK
  • Specialist care costs more
  • Emergency visits can be more expensive

There is a high-cost protection scheme:

  • After a certain amount within 12 months, healthcare visits become free
  • There is also high-cost protection for medicines (1177)

Children and young people often receive free care, and several preventive examinations are free of charge. (1177)

Healthcare Guarantee

Sweden has a national healthcare guarantee stating that:

  • contact with a primary care center should occur on the same day
  • medical assessment should occur quickly
  • specialist care should be offered within certain time limits (1177)

In practice, waiting times vary greatly depending on the region and type of care.

Strengths of Swedish Healthcare

Many appreciate:

  • high medical quality
  • well-trained staff
  • modern technology
  • low cost compared to, for example, the USA
  • good emergency care
  • strong child and maternity care

Sweden also has a high life expectancy and low infant mortality internationally.

Common Problems and Criticism

At the same time, there are several recurring problems:

  • long waiting times
  • shortage of healthcare staff
  • differences between regions
  • difficulty getting appointments at certain primary care centers
  • overcrowded emergency rooms

On Reddit and in Swedish discussions, many complain about:

  • difficulties booking appointments
  • different rules between regions
  • digital systems that are perceived as cumbersome (Reddit)

Other discussions concern fees for digital contact and prescription renewals via 1177, where rules differ between regions. (Reddit)

Private and Digital Healthcare

There are also private alternatives:

  • private clinics with regional agreements
  • fully private practices
  • online doctors such as Kry and Min Doktor

Digital healthcare has become much more common in recent years.

Dental Care

Dental care works a bit differently:

  • free for children and young people up to a certain age
  • adults pay a larger portion themselves
  • the state provides dental care subsidies and high-cost protection

Summary

Swedish healthcare is:

  • tax-funded
  • accessible to all
  • medically advanced
  • relatively inexpensive for patients

However, the system also faces challenges with:

  • waiting times
  • staff shortages
  • regional differences
  • administration and accessibility.

Associations in Sweden

For a long time, association life has been an important part of Swedish society and still plays a major role in people's everyday lives. Through associations, people with the same interests can meet, collaborate, and create community. This can be anything from sports and music to culture, politics, or volunteer work.

In Sweden, there are thousands of different associations, and many people are members of at least one during their lifetime. Association life is often based on voluntary work, which means that people engage voluntarily without being paid. Thanks to this, many activities and events can be carried out for both children and adults.

Historically, association life emerged during the 19th century when people began to organize themselves to influence society and improve their living conditions. The labor movement, the temperance movement, and sports clubs quickly became important parts of Swedish society. Through associations, people learned to cooperate, make collective decisions, and take responsibility together.

Sports clubs are today some of the most common associations in Sweden. Many children start early with activities such as football, hockey, gymnastics, or floorball. The associations not only create opportunities for training and competition but also help people make friends and feel a sense of belonging.

There are also cultural associations, music associations, and various organizations that work with social issues or aid activities. Through these, people can develop their interests and at the same time contribute to society.

Association life is also important for democracy. In many associations, members can vote on decisions and elect a board. In this way, people learn how democratic processes work in practice.

Even though society has changed and much now takes place digitally, association life continues to be a significant meeting place where people can meet, collaborate, and create community around common interests.

Below you will find the teams listed on svanskalag.se

Swedish Law

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