International Staff Support

The Migration Agency is the authority that considers applications from people who want to apply for permanent residency or who want to work in Sweden. Make sure you apply early as the application process can take a long time. It is recommended to apply online using the Migration Agency website to receive a decision sooner, provided you have submitted all the required documents and paid the applicable fees.

More information about permits, visas, application forms and the time for a decision can be found at the Swedish Migration Agency's website.

Read more: The Swedish Migration Agency
Read more: Time to a decision

EU/EEA citizens

As an EU/EEA citizen, you have the right to work in Sweden without a work or residence permit. The same applies to your family members if they join you. You and your family members are entitled to begin working immediately. There is no need to register your right of residency in Sweden.

Read more: Work, study, or live in Sweden for EU/EEA citizens

Non-EU citizens

If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and want to work in Sweden, you might need to obtain a work or residence permit. You must have been offered a job before you can obtain one. However, you do not need to apply for a work or residence permit if you:

• Have a permanent residence permit.
• Have a residence permit to attend a college or university as a guest student or PhD student.
• Have a special residence permit to work as a visiting researcher (see below).
• If you stay less than three months in a 12-month period.
• If you obtain a permit for more than three months you will also receive a residence permit card. The card, which is proof that you have the right to be in Sweden, contains your photo and fingerprints.

If you need a travel visa to enter Sweden and you have received the residence permit decision, it can take up to four weeks to produce the card. The card contains your photograph and fingerprints, which will be obtained from the embassy or consulate where you applied for your residence permit. You cannot enter the Schengen area without this card.

If you do not need a visa to enter Sweden and you have received the residence permit decision, you should, as soon as possible after your arrival in Sweden visit the Swedish Migration Agency to have your picture and fingerprints taken for the permit card. You may also need a transit visa for countries outside the Schengen area on the way to Sweden. It will be sent to your home address in Sweden in approximately one week.

Read more: Work permit for employees and citizens of non-EU countries

Visiting researcher

Special rules apply if you plan to stay as a visiting researcher. You do not need a work permit if you stay less than three months, however, citizens of certain countries require a visa (read more about visas below). If you intend to stay longer than three months you need to apply for a residence permit as a researcher and you need to have a hosting agreement. Please contact your host university who will arrange this for you.

If you will stay longer than 90 days and will research less than 50% of your employment, Linköping University will assist you with your application for a work permit at The Swedish Migration Agency.

If you will research more than 50% of your employment you must apply for a permit for researchers.

Read more: Residence permits for researchers

PhD student

As a PhD student who has been admitted to full-time studies at a Swedish university you have to apply for a residence permit for doctoral studies.

Read more: Residence permit for doctoral studies

Entry visa

An entry visa is required for researchers and employees from certain countries. You must have received the decision for the entry visa before entering the Schengen area including Sweden.

Read more: List of foreign citizens who require a visa for entry into Sweden
Read more: Visit Sweden for less than 90 days

Residence permits for family members

The first thing to check is if a residence permit is needed. EU citizens are free to enter Sweden and can stay here and look for a job or study. If the stay is planned to be longer than one year a Swedish personal identity number is needed.

For non-EU members, some citizens will need a permit to enter Sweden. If the stay is longer than three months a residence permit is required.

Read more: Permits for a family member of a person who has a work permit
Read more: Permits for family members of a person with a residence permit for studies

Health care in Sweden can be costly if you are not covered by a health insurance. Check with your home social security or insurance office about your own situation before you leave.

To receive more information about health care and social insurance in Sweden, please download information from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency or read more on 1177 Vårdguiden.

Read more: The Swedish Social Insurance Agency - moving to Sweden
Read more: 1177.se

EU citizens

To receive health care, you need to obtain a European Health Insurance Card from your home country. You need to bring the card with you when seeking medical attention in Sweden to show that you are covered by health insurance, otherwise you will have to cover the costs yourself.

Entitlement to benefits, sickness benefits and parental benefits, through the Swedish social security system, varies depending on whether you are employed and pay taxes in Sweden. To receive benefits, you need to have a Swedish personal identity number organised by The Swedish Taxation Office and be registered at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

Read more: EU citizens social insurance
Read more: Personal identity number
Read more: The Swedish Social Insurance Agency

Non-EU citizens

Staying less than one year

If your residence permit is for less than one year, you will not obtain a Swedish personal identity number, but instead you can apply for a coordination number at the Swedish Tax Agency.

Since you are not eligible for Swedish healthcare benefits, you must make arrangements for health insurance coverage for your stay in Sweden before you arrive. Linköping University has a group insurance for foreign visitors which may cover you for emergency care. Enquire with your department at the university if this insurance applies to you.

Read more: Coordination number
Read more: Group insurance for foreign visitors

Staying one year or longer

If you have a residence permit for a year or more, you are eligible for health care benefits. However, you need to register at the Swedish Tax Agency and at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

If you receive a scholarship, you will not be required to pay taxes in Sweden. Therefore, you are ineligible for Swedish social security benefits even if you reside in Sweden for longer than a year. It is advisable to ensure you have a comprehensive health insurance policy and travel insurance if you intend to travel.

Read more: Moving to Sweden
Read more: The Swedish Social Insurance Agency

Insurance for family members

During the journey from your home country to Sweden all employees, scholars and accompanying family are covered by group insurance with The Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency in Sweden. If you intend to stay for a longer period, it is advisable to ensure that you have extended insurance coverage for travel and medical care.

Read more: Insurance for foreign visitors

When registered with the Swedish Migration Agency, or when you have a residence permit valid for a year or longer, you are generally required to be registered in the Swedish population register. When you have been registered you will be given a Swedish personal identity number.

To be registered in the Swedish population register you need to notify the Swedish Tax Agency that you have moved to Sweden. This can be done by visiting one of their service offices.

Linköping
Norrköping

Prepare for your visit to the service office

To ensure that your visit to the service office goes as quickly and as smoothly as possible, you should use the moving to Sweden service before your visit. In this service you go through several steps, and you will get information about all the required documents you need to bring to the office depending on your citizenship or if you move with or move in with a family member.

Read more: Moving to Sweden service

It is recommended that you apply for an ID card when you receive your personal identity number. The ID card can be used to identify yourself and to receive medical care. The ID card is issued by the Swedish Tax Agency, and you apply at the service office. You can book a meeting online.

Read more: Book a meeting online

The Swedish currency is called SEK and Sweden is mostly a cash-less society. Please be aware that many banks in Sweden no longer handle cash. However, you still have the option to withdraw cash in ATM's.

Staying in Sweden for a shorter period

If you only plan to stay in Sweden for a few months Swedish banks may be hesitant to open a bank account. It might be easier to use your bank account and bank card from your home country, preferably a Master or Visa card. This may result in currency exchange charges for transactions made in Sweden.

Another alternative is a neobank that provides online banking services through a partnership with an established bank. Neobanks are virtual banks that offer complete banking services via digital platforms like mobile applications. If you do not have a Swedish personal identity number, you can still apply for a neobank account and receive a bank card, some without a fee. Before you apply, make sure the neobank offers payment solutions that allow you to pay your bills in Sweden.

Staying in Sweden for a longer period

If you will stay for a longer period, you are legally allowed to open a bank account in Sweden. Banks cannot demand you have a Swedish personal identity number or a coordination number to open a bank account. You can choose between online and physical banks. Customers without a personal identity number are offered an account with limited features such as:

• Bank account.
• Online banking with payment service.
• Electronic bank card.

Due to strict regulations, it can take some effort to open a bank account in Sweden. You should make sure you bring an international bank card to be able to cover your expenses. Banks are by law required to check the identities of customers and must make sure there is no suspicion of money laundering, bribery, or other financial crimes. The bank will ask several questions to find out if you are a secure customer. Some questions might seem unnecessary and private, but it is very important that you answer all questions truthfully.

Each Swedish bank sets its own routines and rules for opening an account and you can prepare by reading on their webpage what documents they request.
To open an account, the following normally must be provided:

• A valid passport.
• Employment contract, acceptance letter or certificate of studies and documents must contain information about the intended stay.
• Your Swedish work permit or Swedish residence permit.
• Proof of residence such as rental agreement, electric bill, or a C/O address.

If you plan to stay longer than a year you have access to features such as BankID, which makes it possible for you to sign transactions and documents digitally instead of signing and sending documents. Your personal identity number and Swedish ID must be ready before you can apply for a full account. You organise this in person at a bank branch, since 1 October 2021 it is no longer possible to apply for a BankID at an online bank with a non-national ID or passport.

Available banks with branch offices in Linköping and Norrköping

• Danske bank (only in Swedish)
• Swedbank
• Handelsbanken
• SEB
• Nordea
• Länsförsäkringar Östgöta

If the bank denies you to hand in an application or open a bank account

If a bank refuses you to hand in an application because you do not have a personal identification number or coordination number or denies you a bank account, contact the complaints department of the bank. It is within your rights to have the refusal reassessed. You should receive written information about where you can file a complaint and how you can get it legally evaluated, by the National Board of Consumer Complaints.

Read more: National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN) - Swedish consumer laws

How to pay rent and bills

Rent in Sweden is usually paid once a month, in advance for the month to come. If you pay your invoices by an international transaction, make sure to add about a week for the payment to come through. It is important to pay your rent on time to fulfil your part of the contract. If you have a Swedish bank account, you can pay your bills via Internet banking or mobile apps.

Everyone who lives and works in Sweden must declare their taxes each year. The tax return form is sent out to all eligible individuals each year. It is your responsibility to return the tax form by the firm deadline set by the Swedish Tax Agency. There are some exceptions to the regular tax system and tax relief for key foreign employees.
Income taxes are always automatically submitted to the tax authority since employers are obliged to deduct taxes from your salary directly. It is advised you seek information about any tax treaties between your home country and Sweden. If you are on a fellowship, you do not pay income taxes.

Key foreign employees - executives, experts, researchers, and persons with special skills that are not available in Sweden - may qualify for a tax break. More information is available at The Taxation of Research Workers Board. You must apply within three months after the start of employment. There is also a special income tax for non-residents (SINK).

Read more: The Taxation of Research Workers Board
Read more: Swedish Tax Agency - Working in Sweden
Read more: SINK - special income tax for non-residents

In case of an emergency: dial 112

The emergency number for ambulance, police and rescue and fire brigade is 112. You will be asked to explain what has happened and to state your location. You can also download the app SOS Alarm.

Non-emergency health care

There are local health care centres in Linköping and Norrköping where you book a non-emergency appointment if you need to see a doctor. To find the local health care or hospital, use a search engine.

Medical Information Services: dial 1177

For the Medical Information Service dial 1177 or visit 1177 website. This is a 24-hour provider of free health care information and consultation with a registered nurse.

Read more: 1177 - Healthcare in Östergötland

Pharmacies

Non-prescription medicines such as aspirin and cough syrup are sold at pharmacies, supermarkets, grocery stores and petrol stations. Prescription medicines can only be obtained from a pharmacy.

Dentists

All medical districts have a dental service, usually located in the same area as the health care centres. There are also a wide range of private dentists you can choose if you need to. Dental care costs are partially subsidised once you are registered with the Swedish social insurance system.

Read more: Dental care in Sweden (only in Swedish)
Read more: Dental care subsidy

If you plan to stay in Sweden for a longer period, it is recommended that you learn Swedish. Your ability to speak the language will improve your career prospects and help you to get more out of the Swedish lifestyle.

SFI is a basic, tax-funded Swedish course provided free of charge for those who immigrate to Sweden.

Read more: SFI in Linköping

Folkuniversitet also offers Swedish language courses at different levels. They will charge a course fee.

Read more: Folkuniversitet

Other websites relating to courses in Swedish

• sweden.se: Learning Swedish
• Klartext: news in easy-to-understand Swedish (listening and reading)

Before you leave Sweden, remember to cancel your bank account. Contact your bank to make an agreement about the closing date and to plan the final transactions. Banks are not allowed to close bank accounts with money and want to avoid small amounts of money left in your account. It might also be difficult to get access to the money if you do not have BankID and cannot visit the bank in person.