Monday, 19 October 2026
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Moving to Sweden: Requirements, Steps, Costs and Everyday Life

What you should know before moving to Sweden: right of residence, registration and personnummer, insurance, work, language, costs and a checklist for the first few weeks.

Sweden is one of the most popular destinations for people moving abroad. For citizens of the EU and EEA, the move is relatively straightforward thanks to freedom of movement; slightly different rules apply to Swiss citizens, and other nationalities generally need a permit. For a smooth start, though, the order in which you do things matters: anyone who arrives without a personnummer (personal identity number) often struggles in the first few weeks with bank accounts, tenancy agreements and the authorities. This guide shows what you should sort out beforehand, which steps follow after arrival, and what costs and waiting times to expect.

Last updated: October 2026. This information does not replace legal or tax advice. Rules change; the information published by the Swedish authorities is authoritative.

At a glance

  • No visa, no work permit for EU/EEA citizens. You may work or study from day one.
  • Right of residence (uppehållsrätt) applies to EU citizens who work, are self-employed, study or have enough money to support themselves.
  • Registration with Skatteverket: anyone intending to stay for at least a year must be entered in the population register and then receives a personnummer.
  • Swiss citizens need a residence permit from Migrationsverket for stays longer than three months. The application is free, and they may work while it is being processed.
  • Allow for waiting times: according to Skatteverket, it currently takes around five weeks before a moving case is even assigned to a case officer.

Is moving worth it? Pros and cons

What Sweden has going for it

  • Quality of life and nature: plenty of space, forests, lakes and coastline, plus the right of public access, which makes nature largely freely accessible.
  • Family-friendliness: a well-developed system of förskola (preschool) and school, generous parental leave and child benefit (barnbidrag). More on this under School and childcare in Sweden.
  • Work culture: flat hierarchies, an emphasis on work-life balance and a digital administration that handles a great deal via app once you have BankID.
  • Skilled workers in demand: there is regular demand in IT, healthcare and nursing, engineering, construction and skilled trades.

What you should assess realistically

  • Housing market: rental flats are scarce in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala. First contracts are often sublets (andrahand). See Housing in Sweden: renting and buying.
  • Costs: groceries, eating out and alcohol are usually more expensive than in many other European countries, although the tax and contribution burden is distributed differently.
  • Language: English is enough for everyday life, but in the long run Swedish is crucial for many jobs, dealing with the authorities and making friends.
  • Social life and climate: Swedes are considered friendly but reserved. Friendships tend to form through clubs and hobbies. Many people underestimate the dark winter months, especially in the north.
  • Starting without a personnummer: a bank account, BankID, a mobile phone contract and some tenancy agreements are difficult without a personnummer. Plan your first few weeks accordingly.

Right of residence: what applies to whom

EU/EEA citizens

You do not need a residence permit and currently do not have to register with Migrationsverket. You have a right of residence if you are employed or self-employed in Sweden, are studying, or can support yourself from your own means. If you are self-employed, you also register your business with Skatteverket (F-skatt) and, where applicable, with Bolagsverket.

What could change: a government inquiry (SOU 2026:9) proposes that EEA citizens staying in Sweden for more than three months should once again have to register with Migrationsverket. This requirement existed until 2014. The proposal has not yet been adopted. Keep an eye on developments if your move falls within the coming years.

Swiss citizens

Swiss nationals need a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd) from Migrationsverket for stays of more than three months. They can come to work, study, be self-employed or live on their own means. The application is free, and you may start work or studies without waiting for the decision. In the meantime, you will need a coordination number (samordningsnummer) for payroll. People in employment can receive a permit for up to five years.

Family members from non-EU countries

Spouses or children without an EU passport apply to Migrationsverket for a residence card (uppehållskort). To do so, you must prove that you yourself have a right of residence, for example through work, study or sufficient means.

Citizens of other countries

Anyone without an EU or Swiss passport usually needs a work permit before entering the country. Since 1 June 2026, the salary in first-time applications must be at least 90 per cent of the Swedish median wage; for some shortage occupations and groups, the threshold is 75 per cent. Details are available from Migrationsverket.

Step by step: your moving checklist

Before the move

  1. Sort out work, study or funding. An employment contract makes everything else easier. You will find tips on searching under Job hunting in Sweden.
  2. Get your documents ready: a valid passport (Skatteverket requires copies of all pages containing information), your employment contract or proof of enrolment, and for families, marriage and birth certificates. Have international certificates issued in good time.
  3. Look for a flat or an interim solution. You need an address in Sweden to register.
  4. Prepare your move with Skatteverket: the “Flytta till Sverige” (moving to Sweden) notification can be submitted online, no earlier than 14 days before the move.
  5. Deregister in your home country and put your insurance, contracts and banking in order. Check with your health insurer when your cover in Sweden begins, so that there is no gap.

After arrival

  1. Identity check at Skatteverket: every person, including children, must appear in person with the original documents at a service office. Book the appointment in advance.
  2. Wait for your personnummer. Until then, if you are employed, the coordination number helps; your employer or you yourself can apply for it.
  3. Register with Försäkringskassan: using the e-service notification “Lämna uppgifter vid flytt till eller arbete i Sverige”, the agency checks whether you are covered by Swedish social insurance. This is a prerequisite for child benefit, parental benefit and sickness benefit. If you bring children under 16, you must report the move in order to receive barnbidrag.
  4. Set up a bank account and BankID as soon as you have your personnummer. With BankID, you can then handle almost all dealings with the authorities online.
  5. Apply for an ID card (from Skatteverket). Many places in Sweden accept foreign ID documents only to a limited extent.
  6. Choose a vårdcentral (health centre) and find out about healthcare: The healthcare system in Sweden.

All the official steps relating to the personnummer, taxes and ID card are explained in our article Personnummer, taxes and authorities in Sweden.

In the first few months

  • Learn Swedish: with a personnummer, you can usually attend your municipality’s “Svenska för invandrare” (SFI, Swedish for immigrants) course free of charge. Since 1 January 2026, a time limit of three years generally applies; extensions are possible for special reasons.
  • Unemployment fund (a-kassa): unemployment insurance is voluntary in Sweden. Joining an a-kassa early secures entitlement to income-related unemployment benefit.
  • Cars and pets: an EU driving licence remains valid in Sweden. A car you bring with you must be re-registered with Transportstyrelsen. Dogs and cats need an EU pet passport to enter, and dogs must also be entered in Jordbruksverket’s dog register.
  • Making connections: clubs, sports clubs, choirs or language cafés are the best way to meet people. Another typically Swedish tradition is fika, the shared coffee break.

Work: which professions are in demand

Skilled workers in the following fields are regularly sought after:

  • IT and engineering: software development, data analysis, engineering.
  • Healthcare and nursing: doctors, nurses, dentists. For these professions you need a Swedish professional licence (legitimation) from Socialstyrelsen, often with proof of language skills. Allow time for this.
  • Construction and skilled trades: electricians, carpenters, plumbers and installers, but also civil engineers and architects.
  • Education and childcare: teachers and early-years educators, again with a licence and Swedish language skills.

Wages and working conditions are mostly governed by collective agreements; there is no statutory minimum wage. Ask at the interview whether the employer is bound by a collective agreement (kollektivavtal). Supplementary pensions and insurance often depend on it.

How much money do you need?

There is no single figure, as it depends on where you live, the size of your family and your job situation. But you should budget for at least the following:

  • Removal and documents: removal company or hire van, ferry, translations and certificates.
  • Housing: deposit and advance payment for a sublet, often also expensive temporary accommodation while you search. Furnished flats are common; otherwise, furniture and household appliances need to be added.
  • The first few months: rent, electricity, groceries and transport before your first salary arrives. Salaries in Sweden are usually paid monthly, mostly around the 25th.
  • Buffer: a reserve for unexpected expenses or a longer job search.

As a rule of thumb, savings covering several months of expenses are advisable, and more if you have no job lined up. Compare rents and prices in your target region beforehand. Our pages on cities and regions can help you choose.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a work permit as an EU/EEA citizen?

No. EU citizens may work in Sweden without a permit and start straight away.

Can I work without a personnummer?

Yes. A coordination number is sufficient for payroll at first. However, many everyday things such as BankID or SFI require a personnummer.

What happens if I stay for less than a year?

In that case you will not be entered in the population register and will not receive a personnummer. If you work in Sweden during this time, you need a coordination number.

Am I automatically covered for healthcare in Sweden?

Anyone entered in the population register has the same healthcare rights as all residents and pays the usual patient fees. Whether you receive social insurance benefits is determined by Försäkringskassan. Within the EU, Switzerland and the UK, you cannot be insured in two countries at the same time.

I receive a pension from another country. What do I need to do?

If you receive only a foreign pension and no Swedish one, you need an S1 certificate from the paying country. It guarantees access to Swedish healthcare at normal patient fees. A copy goes to Skatteverket with your moving notification, and the original to Försäkringskassan.

Official contact points