r/TillSverige Dec 28 '21

TillSverige: the FAQ

Upvotes

Last update: September 2025

Since this has come up a whole of two times, I decided to make a small FAQ post for this subreddit, r/TillSverige. I would like to thank all the knowledgeable and friendly people who have answered these questions again and again. You are awesome.

I intend to edit this post, adding more answers and improving the existing ones.

Q: How do I move to Sweden? (as in, legally)

A: https://migrationsverket.se is the one true authority on all the rules. Don't forget to check out their FAQ, some non-obvious things are covered only there. Your options depend on your citizenship. For EU citizens, it's possible to just move here and then figure out the rest (which might be rather painful and long if you don't have a job, but still). Migrationsverket is actually not that relevant for this case, but you should check out https://skatteverket.se (that's the tax agency which is also in charge of the population register) and search for “Moving to Sweden”. For non-EU citizens, there are basically three paths: university studies, relationship with a Swedish resident or citizen, and a job at a Swedish company. Technically there's also the self-employment path, but for that one you need to have quite some capital saved up, and most importantly be able to prove that you have Swedish clients lined up, and your business must be set up in Sweden. More details on https://migrationsverket.se, it is truly the source for this information. Update: new way as of June 2022, if you have a Master's degree and 13k SEK for each month you want to stay, you can come and look for work for 3–9 months. Sweden is expensive, finding accommodation is extremely tricky even if you have the money, living without a personnummer is about as comfortable as sitting on the ceiling (and before you find a job you won't get a personnummer), and Swedish job market is not known for its speed, but this is a way to get your foot in the door.

There are no other common paths, e.g. owning property in Sweden doesn't let you reside here and your grandpa having a Swedish cousin doesn't mean anything in Migrationsverket's eyes either. Non-common paths are asylum, being stateless or a literal child (younger than 18) of a Swedish citizen, but I assume most of the people reading this don't fall into those categories. If you do, all the information is (yep, again) on https://migrationsverket.se.

Q: How do I move to my Swedish partner? / How do I get my partner from outside of Sweden here?

A: By reading this and figuring out what applies to your case. There's also a dedicated community on Facebook. TL;DR: you don't have to be married but the partner in Sweden must have a certain level of income enough to support you. The exact number might change but is always up to date on that page linked in the first sentence of this answer. The processing of the application tends to take a long time (months, even years).

Q: Can I move to Sweden and work remotely for a company which is not in Sweden?

A: Sure, if you're an EU citizen and your employer is open to it, but it's not very easy, and you'd need to pay taxes in Sweden (assuming this is where you would be living for the most part of the year). Verksamt.se has this and this as starting points, and of course skatteverket.se has relevant stuff as well.

Q: Should I move to Sweden?

A: We don't know. It works for some, it doesn't for others. Immigration does not make everyone happy. Sometimes it does but not immediately. Sometimes it does but only in the beginning. Search this subreddit for stories similar to yours and if you don't find one, create a post telling us about what's important to you and what background/skills/liabilities/etc you have. One of the all-time top posts on this subreddit might come in handy: https://reddit.com/r/TillSverige/comments/ltm3ap/some_tips_on_integrating_and_thriving_in_sweden/. There's also a special edition for people from the US: https://www.reddit.com/r/IWantOut/comments/gqhlfw/guide_so_youre_an_american_who_wants_to_live_in/

Q: I am 16 and decided that Sweden is awesome, what should I know before I move there?

A: Tons of things, really. Immigration is not a walk in the park, you will have to constantly do quite some research, and at least some of it — in Swedish, a language you might not know yet. So look through this FAQ and use the search function of this subreddit until it's tired and begging you to stop, that'll give you a taste.

Q: What should I do right after the arrival?

A: Go to the closest Skatteverket (Tax Agency) office and apply for your personnummer, you can't really do anything easily without it in Sweden (e.g. renting an apartment, getting a mobile subscription...). When you get that, schedule an appointment (again at Skatteverket) to get an ID card. When you get that, go to a bank, open an account, and get a BankID. This will allow you to sign things online, log in to a billion places, and interact with tons of governmental and private services. Once more: personnummer → ID card → BankID. After you have that, register with Försäkringskassan, here's their guide for new arrivals. If you reside in, or think there's any chance you'd ever reside in, any of the ten largest Swedish cities, consider putting yourself in the renting queue for them. Search for “bostadskö + city name” and register as soon as you get your personnummer and BankID. The more days you stand in those queues, the more chances you get to ever rent an apartment without a huge headache and for an extended period of time. For Stockholm, for example, this costs a few hundred SEK per year, but queuing in the smaller cities is free.

Q: How can I apply for personnummer if I don't have a permanent address yet?

A: You don't need to have a permanent address to apply for personnummer. You just need an address where mail can reach you. The author of this post got a personnummer while staying at a hotel.

Q: How do I find an apartment to rent?

A: Apartments can be rented out i första hand (“first-hand contracts”, from the landlord company directly) or i andra hand (“second-hand”, sublet from a tenant or renting from a private person who owns an apartment). Andrahandskontrakt is usually more expensive and almost always limited in time (3 months, a year, two years if you're lucky). Förstahandskontrakt is unlimited in time and the prices are regulated. In the bigger cities there is usually one or a few big landlords owning most of the apartments and sharing a queue. When you have just arrived, this is not that relevant for you — other people might've been in a queue for several years and you can't beat that. So the alternatives are: (1) find smaller landlords — some people own just one or two buildings and don't really have a queue, (2) let the smaller landlords find you — post your ad on https://blocket.se, write how great you are as a tenant, attach a nice picture, (3) try specialized websites — there's https://www.willhem.se/ and https://www.homeq.se/ at least. When it comes to andrahandskontrakt, you can also try posting your ad on Blocket, and you can search Facebook for “town_name lägenhet uthyres”. Some more details and links here.

Q: How to get an electricity contract / Why do I get two bills for electricity / Can I get an electricity contract without a personnummer?

A: There are two kinds of electricity providers: one kind owns the infrastructure/grid, the other kind sells you the electricity itself (only produced from renewable sources, for example). You need both. You can't choose the infrastructure provider, because a given apartment/house is only part of one infrastructure, but you sometimes can choose a plan you have with them. Your landlord, the previous tenant/owner of the apartment/house, or websites like https://elomraden.se/ will tell you which company is the grid owner in your area. It can either be one of the big three (E.ON, Vattenfall, Ellevio) or a small actor (e.g. Göteborgs Energi). There's a lot more choice when it comes to the companies selling you electricity. Compare them on a website like https://elskling.se, and don't be shy to negotiate when the “new customer” discount expires: people drag these out for years. If you don't make an active choice, your infrastructure company will sign you up to a default (usually expensive) plan. If you don't have a personnummer yet, it will probably be necessary to call the customer service to figure out how to sign up.

Q: How do I open a bank account without a personnummer?

A: You can either wait, negotiate, or try your luck at many places. Wait: when you get the personnummer and the ID card, it should be a smooth process, so if you can, just wait. Negotiate: if you're an EU citizen, you're actually entitled to a bank account, but don't expect the people at the bank to be super happy when you explain it to them. Quite often the clerk at the bank doesn't want to bother or is not really sure about the procedure, so they tell you that it's impossible or that it requires an appointment (which is somehow only available two months from now) or something else to get rid of you. You can ask for a written refusal to open an account for you, this might encourage them. Try your luck at many places: If you really need an account, keep trying different banks, different offices of the same banks, and different clerks of the same offices. Try going to the area of your town where there are a lot of foreign people, e.g. around a university, maybe the banks there are more used to this request. While waiting, you can make an account with something like Revolut or Wise, it might help bridge the time until your Swedish bank account.

Q: Which bank should I choose?

A: The big ones (SEB, Swedbank, Handelsbanken, Nordea are all pretty much the same. Switching is not complicated, they're bound by law to do most of it for you. Search for “jämföra banker” (“compare banks”) if you have special requests. You might want to choose something else for mortgage or long-term investments but that's too deep for this FAQ.

Q: Is a salary of X enough for a family of Y to survive in the city Z?

A: If the city in question is Stockholm and you're used to things like driving your car everywhere, someone cleaning your house, eating out with the whole family of five in fancy restaurants every day, etc — no single salary will comfortably cover that. If you're a single IT guy without expensive hobbies moving to Malmö, a salary of 30k SEK/month might be quite alright. The spectrum is broad and deep, and the biggest factors are: (1) your lifestyle, (2) the accommodation you manage to get — rent market is bonkers, and (3) the number of people you intend to support on a single income (Sweden is easier for couples with two salaries). Time for a shameless plug! Here's a post about it with some numbers, updated in 2025. There's a slightly old thread about the monthly expenses, I'd say increasing everything by ~20% should give you an idea (although some things have pretty much doubled in price): https://reddit.com/r/TillSverige/comments/rcy5fr/real_world_monthly_expenses_for_a_family_of_4_in/

Q: WTF is 'pga', 'mm', 'tom', 'bla', 'osv', 'dvs', 'iaf'..?

A: Abbreviations. See this post to decipher. Pro level on wikipedia (you'll need to translate yourself).

Q: Should I join a trade union / Which trade union should I join / What is A-kassa / Which A-kassa should I join?

A-kassa is basically an unemployment insurance. You pay 100–200 SEK per month, and if you get fired, you can get money for several months while you're looking for a new job. This website explains the whole thing in English, and they have a list of the a-kassas too. There is no a-kassa which can be recommended to absolutely everyone, since different a-kassas only accept members working in particular professions, working in particular branches, or having a particular level of education — check the list to see which ones you're eligible for. Apart from providing you with money in case of unemployment, a-kassa might also give you some discounts (e.g. they can have a deal with an insurance company which will get you 20% off your car insurance or 8% off in a book store chain). There is a qualifying period with a-kassa, you can't become a member today and start receiving the unemployment benefits tomorrow. If you're still on your work permit and not sure whether you would stay in Sweden if you lost your job, or if you have a very comfortable financial buffer, it might not be very beneficial to join an a-kassa.

Trade union is an organization to which you can turn if you're in a dispute with your employer (i.e. they will advise you, negotiate for you, etc). It also costs a few hundred SEK per month, and also often has deals with insurance companies, banks, online stores, etc. Here is a broad overview of various European trade union setups in English. And here you can choose your branch and then profession to see which of the trade unions you would be eligible for (and see the prices for the membership). The more people are in the trade unions overall in the country, the more bargaining power they have. Given that legal consultations are in the ballpark of 1000 SEK/hour, it might be good for an immigrant who's not very good at knowing their rights and Swedish laws to have an option to get consultations and representation from a union. But it's somewhat of a political question, so don't @ me.

There are also a-kassas and trade unions open to self-employed people.

Q: Are Swedes xenophobic / racist / transphobic / etc?

A: Not more than any other country. Depends on where you are, what you do, who you are. By and large, racism and stuff are frowned upon, but Sweden is not a mythical paradise — there are idiots everywhere.

Q: Why is my full name, age, exact address, phone number, and other information suddenly public on the internet?

A: Because it's Sweden, transparency has been important, and then the internet happened. If it bothers you, you can do two things. (1) contact your mobile operator’s support and ask them to stop giving out your number (some operators do this by default but most don't). (2) go through all the websites that publish your information one by one and ask them nicely to remove or hide your information. Some websites have a page where you can do this yourself (BankID required), some websites make you fill out a paper form and send to them. Websites examples: https://hitta.se, https://merinfo.se, https://ratsit.se, https://eniro.se. A guide from the Swedish police on how to decrease your visibility on the web. Update: there might be new legislation on the way to improve this.

Q: Which health insurance for an EU citizen moving to Sweden via the self-sufficient route will satisfy Skatteverket?

A: Search this subreddit by “insurance + your_country”. A lot of comments mentioned Silver or Gold package from Cigna Global Health. This comment mentions OOM insurance for Dutch citizens.

Q: How do I deal with trash/recycling?

A: Find your municipality's website and search by avfall, återvinningscentral or sopor. There will be links explaining how it works where you live. Generally speaking, if you live in an apartment, chances are there's a small building nearby (or a room) with containers for packaging (plastic, paper, metal, glass), food rests, newspapers, and 'general trash' (aka all the other household trash). You will probably also be able to find special biodegradable bags for the food rests there. If you live in a house, you will probably have a couple of big containers on wheels where you can put the 'general trash' or the food rests, and for packaging you need to go to a recycling station. For bigger or hazardous things like fridges and paint you have to go the bigger recycling station (återvinningscentral) and follow the signs there. Batteries and smaller electronics are often accepted at bigger supermarkets, next to the machines that take your empty plastic bottles and give you a receipt (1 bottle = 1 or 2 SEK). Multi-material packaging is sorted by the material that weighs the most. Common mistakes include putting envelopes into container for paper packaging (they belong in 'general trash' because of the glue; although some municipalities now can handle them together with newspapers), not flattening cartons/boxes/etc (Swedish sin!!!), and not removing the steel wick holders from the aluminum cups of the tea lights (those are not metal packaging by the way but are supposed to go to the same place as frying pans). When in doubt, go to https://www.sopor.nu/. Oh, and you are not supposed to take anything out of the recycling room/building, that's against the law.

Q: How can I save money?

A: While this heavily depends on your lifestyle and priorities, the generic tips include: (1) using matpriskollen website/app to compare prices and current discounts in the selected supermarkets, (2) checking out recipes on https://undertian.com/, (3) looking over your insurances/subscriptions using comparison websites (search for subject+jämföra, e.g. 'el jämföra', 'bilförsäkring jämföra'), (4) signing up for memberships and checking out which partnerships they have (e.g. if you have a Coop card, you get a discount with SJ; also check your trade union's discounts), (5) using the library for books, audiobooks, newspapers, games, music, and movies (there are even streaming services, although they usually have a limit of like 2 movies per month), (6) shopping second-hand in the local stores, on blocket.se, tradera.se, and facebook marketplace.

Q: How to make friends?

A: The shortest answer is this: learn the language, get a hobby. There are courses, clubs, organizations, meetups, and all sorts of other things where adults come together, and based on this shared interest/activity can develop a friendship. But pretty much all of them are inaccessible or even invisible to you if you don't speak Swedish. It is of course possible to stay within the English-speaking bubble, or to find a couple of Swedes who are comfortable speaking English for long periods of time and stick with them, but if you want anything else, the only path is through language. Whatever you're into (board games, photography, silversmith stuff, trucks, permaculture, birdwatching, any kind of sport, any kind of DIY, philosophy...), chances are, there's at least one förening about that. I mean, even having kids counts, here's a community of new parents looking for new friends: https://rullavagn.nu/grupper/ and there's such a thing as öppna förskola. If you currently don't have any interests and don't know where to start, well, we're in Sweden, so there's always hiking: just get a pair of comfortable shoes and some rain-proof clothes, you'll be able to walk around a forest or whatever with some Swedish people.

Q: How to buy an apartment and why do people say I wouldn't own it?

A: In short, you're not buying an apartment, you're buying a share in a home owners association, because that's how things are set up. This is also why you can't just buy an apartment and rent it out for years — the association is for those who actually own the share and actually live in the place, not for someone who's just renting and doesn't have that much of a stake. There's a small percentage of properties which you could actually own, but it's so small, it is irrelevant for the high-level overview. What you do is you find an apartment (most probably on https://hemnet.se or https://booli.se), then go to a showing (visning), then participate in a bidding process, sign the contract and pay 10% of the price as deposit; then pay the rest on the day you sign more documents and get the keys. There's also a step of being accepted into the tenants association, but that's a formality. You can find links and excruciating details about all these steps as well as about getting a mortgage in this post. Note that right now (autumn 2024) the rates on the mortgages are higher than they've been in ages.

Q: What should I know if I'm going to have a child?

A: Checkups during the pregnancy are free and voluntary. If everything is going fine, there won't be many checks, especially in the first two trimesters. All the medical care, including dental care, is free for children in Sweden. If your kid gets prescribed a medicine, you just go to the pharmacy to pick it up, you don't have to pay anything. Kids can start at preschool (förskola) at the age of 1. The cost per month is calculated based on your income but is capped somewhere around 1800 SEK. School is free (and they get textbooks and food there). Parental leave is 480 days for both parents in total (+10 days just for the father around the day of birth), and for 60 days both parents can take it out simultaneously. All the nitty-gritty about the parental leave is up on https://forsakringskassan.se. There's also a bunch of posts about everything from your employee rights while on parental leave to what to pack for the hospital when it's go time.

Q: How much does it cost to own a car?

A: This is easier to answer for a specific car. If you have a license plate for the specific car, enter it on https://www.car.info and you'll see (1) calculated tax, which can be ~900 SEK/year for a four year old VW Golf or it can be ~11000 SEK/year for a two year old Volvo XC90, (2) fuel consumption. Fuel prices have jumped quite high this year (2022), you can check the current ones out at https://bensinpriser.nu. If you're looking at electric vehicles, the electricity price comes into question — they have also jumped high, especially in the south of Sweden. You must have an insurance to be able to drive on public roads, the price will depend on your personnummer, where you live, and the car, but count on at least a few thousand SEK per year. There's a mandatory inspection once a year (except for very new cars), it's called besiktning and costs 400–600 SEK. You'll probably want to switch tires for summer/winter — you can do this yourself for free or have someone do it for you (300–400 SEK, twice per year). Speaking of tires, every few years you'll need new ones, that'll be ~4000–7000 SEK. Then there's parking. If you live in a city, you might need to stand in a queue before you get a parking spot from your landlord or home owners association (those could be super cheap like 100 SEK/month; or not). Service and any kind of repairs are pricey, try to compare the offers before committing and ask around for advice, but in any case you can count on seeing thousands on the bill. For places with real winter (i.e. Norrland) you'll also want some equipment to have in the trunk, but that's mostly a one-time small investment.

Q: Where to buy things / What is Sweden's amazon?

A: Technically, Sweden also has Amazon now, but it might be considered not cool to shop there. We've got price aggregators here though: https://www.pricerunner.se/, https://www.prisjakt.nu/. You go there, search for the product you want to buy, and see which online stores have it, what are the current prices, and what's the price history. Also:

  • Blocket, Tradera, and facebook marketplace for second-hand stuff (or new stuff but mostly from private individuals)
  • Clas Ohlson, Bauhaus, Jula, Byggmax, Bolist for home improvement (when you need tools or materials)
  • Ikea, Jysk, Mio for furniture (as well as pillows and stuff)
  • https://bookify.se/ for comparing book prices
  • Dustin, ComputerSalg for computer stuff
  • Symaskinsboden for sewing machines and supplies (also some knitting)
  • Jollyroom, Babymarkt, Bonti for kids stuff

(this is not an endorsement of these stores in particular, just some options to get you started)

Q: How do I move to Sweden? (as in, practically: with cats, all my things, ...)

A: For dogs, cats, and ferrets, there are rules depending on the country you're bringing them from: Jordbruksverket has kindly translated them to English. As for bringing all your belongings, the most common advice is “don't” :D Sell and give away as much as you can, then buy (new or used) after your arrival to Sweden. The cost of transporting heavy bulky items across the border, and especially across an ocean, is pretty crazy. The power outlets might not be compatible with whatever you have. The clothes might not match the climate. And so on.

Q: What about the driving?

A: If you have a driving license from an EEA country, UK, Japan, Switzerland or Faroe Islands, you can exchange it for the Swedish one. For everyone else (that includes the US) you need to get a Swedish driving license from scratch, and you have a year to do it. Unless you're a Ukrainian under the Temporary Protection Directive, then your license is valid as long as the protection is valid. Getting a driving license from scratch will set you back at least 5.5k SEK if you already know how to drive, and how to drive on snow, and how to drive in a Swedish way. If you need to learn from scratch, and don't have a friend who can teach you, that's more like 25–30k. Exact steps, prices breakdown, exam statistics, and more links here.

Q: How do I do anything without a BankID?

A: Usually by calling the customer service, using the paper form instead of a digital one, going somewhere in person instead of spending two seconds on your phone, or sometimes — rarely — using FrejaID or a digital signature service from another EU country. It ain't easy, but don't despair just because you see the BankID button somewhere, there are workarounds in a lot of these situations, though not all of them.

Q: How do I find a job / Why does nobody reply to my hundreds of applications / How long did it take you to find a job / Are there any jobs to find outside of IT?

A: Unemployment is like 10% in Sweden (2025) and even natives with higher education struggle for months to find a job. So yeah, don't be surprised if you don't get many calls after sending out some applications. Even if you're already here and have a valid work permit, some companies will shy away from hiring you just to avoid the hassle with Migrationsverket (source: I was a hiring manager at one of them and had to get an approval from HR if the candidate was on work permit). Knowing Swedish helps. Having someone recommend you helps immensely to get the foot in the door. Having a bombastic, "I AM THE AWESOMEST" tone in the CV decreases your chances. A lot of jobs are not advertised widely. Jobs that don't require education are few and far between, the competition for them is quite immense unless you go to less populated areas. Elderly care (äldreomsorg) always needs personnel. PhD positions come with a salary in Sweden. Some bars in Stockholm hire English speakers. A bit of opinionated advice on finding a job in Sweden can be found in this post.

Q: Will I really die of darkness and cold?

A: Not necessarily. We've had Californians in this sub who hated it, we had those who loved it. A lot of people advise to come and try it out for a while before you go all-in, because it's kinda individual. For the cold (which in Stockholm and south from there is not really that cold), layers are your best friend: don't buy the thickest coat you can find, buy a thin woolen base layer, add a sweater, then a jacket for the wind/rain/snow (whatever's in season), a scarf or neck warmer, a hat, good socks, good gloves, and you're good. For the dark: see all the cute little lights the Swedes put everywhere? Do the same. One in the window, one by the desk, one above the table, one on the floor; whip out the christmas lights ahead of time, light up candles — it all adds to the coziness! Note: the coziness is greatly enhanced if you go North where there's actual snow; it also reflects the sun during the day, unlike grey asphalt covered in slush. A lot of people swear by vitamin D3 supplements.

Questions to be added:

Q: How can I invest money?

Q: How do I open a business?

Q: How does pension work?

Q: What is SFI and how do I sign up? / Are there free Swedish courses?

Q: How does the medical system work? / How do I schedule a doctor appointment?

Q: Can I freelance on the side while on a work permit?

Q: How do I avoid being spammed?


r/TillSverige 1h ago

To everyone dreaming/planning to move here. Read This first.

Upvotes

This is all in good faith, but I've seen far to many posts of the same kind here and this is a answer to many of them. This is not to people dealing with migration issues already, this is to all the dreamers and planners that are not already here.

Everyone dreaming about moving to Sweden because they like to go on nature walks and don't mind a bit of bad weather. Become a millionare (in USD) first and you can worry about talking walks or where you want to live. Houses don't grow on trees, and jobs even less so. You will not be able to move to a small town and just wing it, there will be nothing for you there to support yourself on, and even if it is it will not meet the requirements of salary for eventually staying here. The weather is the least of your problems.

Do not worry if you are going to be cold during winter or find friends. Worry about the heaps of paperwork and permits to even get here, then worry about what is needed to stay. As I said in another thread today. The job will be your way of staying, and the salary you need to be allowed to stay long term is going to be higher than the salary of many native Swedes. Get this in your head, because there are no ways around this unless you are married to someone who can support you for the rest of your life here (and there are rules about your partners salary/housing too). None of the rules are rule of thumb, they are written in stone, just realize this.

Don't worry about what fields of work you "could imagine doing", worry about competing with a thousand natives for a part-time gig at a fast food chain. And worry about how you are going to do grocery shopping in your small town dream without a car. And a car comes with heaps of new rules, you can't just drive around a beater, it will cost MONEY to even legally have a car on the roads. Worry about how many times per day the bus will even pass the forsaken (joke) village you dream about.

I'm so serious. There is a romanticized view of just "Moving here" and going on walks, drinking tea and being close to nature. This is not the reality for any of you, and I frankly don't have the energy to answer every thread like this.

I do not know the economics of the people asking these things over and over again, but if you already are millionaires in USD its fine, but you will still need that job in the end. The rules are having employment that pay a certain amount.

There are less jobs than people here, like in any country. You are going to be playing at Hard difficulty here.

And this goes for everyone wanting to study here and then "Build a life here". Brother... To the good students out there especially from developing countries, there are so many easier places. You can probably long term build a better life in your own country if you truly are highly educated.

I could also say a lot about xenophobia and coldness but I leave that one for you to figure out yourself.

Unless you are married, already employed, sent here via work, or headhunted you will have a hard time.

This is not to discourage, if you think the work is worth it and believe in yourself, go for it. You can make it, but you need to be part of the 5% of immigrants, if even that. But I see too many crazy posts, "Single mom wanting to move to a desolate island, how is daycare there" etc. Worry about getting here properly first.


r/TillSverige 52m ago

Renting: Landlord escalating to Kronofogden & Hyresnämnden - anyone experienced this?

Upvotes

Hej,

I'm a foreign national renting in Stockholm, looking for other people's real experiences before I take this further. Got a rental situation that was stable, but kinda turned messy & escalating.

Background:

  • Renting the same apartment (a new-build) since 2022: I'm the first and only tenant it's ever had. Landlord has said openly it was bought as an investment property.
  • Contract (förstahandskontrakt: first-hand contract, hyresavtal på obestämd tid/tillsvidareavtal — indefinite-term agreement) is signed directly with the landlord, who is based in Stockholm at a different address.
  • Account has always been in good standing — no issues on that front at all.
  • Since Jan this year, I've been receiving notices not from my actual contracted landlord, but from someone who appears to be his brother, based in the US, corresponding as if he is the landlord, the dynamic between the two of them is unclear and honestly confusing.
  • The notices have made a series of shifting, spurious claims: first alleging arrears that don't exist, then that I must move out within a month due to contract terms that aren't accurate, then that new tenants were already booked in.
  • I contacted Hyresgästföreningen (the Swedish tenants' union) and was advised I have besittningsskydd (security of tenure) and don't need to take any action.
  • A later notice invoked privatuthyrningslagen (the law on renting out one's own home, which removes besittningsskydd), claiming personal use, the brother said he intended to return to Sweden and wanted the apartment back for that reason.
  • However, checking the listing on Qasa showed the flat had actually been re-advertised for rent at a higher price, suggesting the "personal use" claim was pretext.
  • Numerous further deadlines were issued; I was advised I didn't need to act on any of them. The brother has now made an application through Kronofogden (the enforcement authority) for avhysning (eviction), which I intend to contest.
  • I expect this will end up going to Hyresnämnden (the Rental Tribunal).

What I'm asking: Has anyone dealt with a similar situation, a landlord (or someone acting as one) using shifting/spurious grounds and a personal-use claim to try to remove a tenant with besittningsskydd? What's your experience of a dispute escalating to Kronofogden and/or Hyresnämnden, and any advice for someone in my position? Mainly just after some stability at this point, not looking to be pressured into an unnecessary move if I'm legally entitled to stay.


r/TillSverige 4h ago

How likely is it I can find a job?

Upvotes

I'm [33M] an American sambo living with my girlfriend in Norrköping and moved here 2 months ago. I have a2-b1 Swedish and 4 years of experience in programming and 1 in software test automation. Do I need to wait until my Swedish is better before I could realistically work in an office somewhere? Any advice for me to land a developer job? Tack så mycket för hjälpen!


r/TillSverige 2h ago

Sweden student residence permit rejected due to bank verification - reapplied. Looking for advice

Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m an international student admitted to a Master’s programme in Sweden and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced something similar.
Timeline:
April 2026: Submitted my first residence permit application.

June: Completed biometrics.

11 August: Application was rejected because the Migration Agency was not satisfied with the authenticity/verification of my bank statement. They had contacted my bank for verification but apparently did not receive the required response.

12/13 August: Submitted a new application rather than appealing, with a new fee.

17 August: Completed biometrics again.

For the new application, I provided signed and stamped bank statements and a bank letterhead confirmationaddressing the financial-document issue.

My case officer recently asked whether the current application should be treated as a new application or an appeal. I confirmed that it is a new application.

I’m currently waiting for the decision.

My university is aware of the situation and has been understanding about the delay, but my classes have already commenced and I need to report to the university as soon as possible.
My questions are:
Has anyone experienced a similar situation and been approved after reapplying with additional bank documentation?

How long did your second application take?

Would it be appropriate to write to my case officer again, explaining that my programme has commenced and that I need to report to the university as soon as possible, or is it better to simply wait?

I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thank you!


r/TillSverige 22h ago

Samhällskunskapsrant. Swenglish requirement fulfilled.

Post image
Upvotes

As we all know, the new requirements for the citizenship include knowing the language and knowledge "about the Swedish society" - so samhällskunskap. While I have the means to prove the language skills, I lack any kind of proof for knowing anything about Sweden, except living here now for over 8 years.

Migrationsverket specifies on their website the ways how to prove both knowledge about language and samhällskunskap:

  • betyg från svensk grundskola eller gymnasium
  • studier på komvux eller folkhögskola
  • godkänt betyg i svenska för invandrare (SFI kurs D).

As they mentioned komvux, I thought instead of doing a test for 2000 kr and having to go to stockholm, I could maybe just go to a course there about samhällskunskap and prove it that way.
The problem were the levels on Komvux, there were 1a1, 1a2, 1b, grundläggande, and one called just.. "samhällskunskap", ...etc - which one would be enough? (And which one can I actually do, with my foreign education? aka lacking the basic swedish samhällskunskap)

Since the details of which level one would need to pass is.. lacking, I wrote 2 emails:

- Komvux: "We have no idea, ask Migrationsverket"
- Migrationsverket: "Migrationsverket har ingen information om exakt vilka kurser som uppfyller kravet"

Sigh. In my world they should know which level/nivå one should have to complete and it should be listed clearly, but what do I know.

So for samhällskunskap a Komvux course going through samhällskunskap from/up to årskurs 9 is enough.

Maybe. ...."borde"..."borde överensstämma"...
I do not have much trust that it would actually work. Or that they don't change their mind halfway through.

(Of course migrationsverket took a week to respond, now it is too late to apply to komux lol - that is on me partly, I had that idea quite late.)


r/TillSverige 9h ago

Visiting Stockholm in early December for work - what to expect?

Upvotes

Hello!

My job is having me visit Stockholm for a week. I have travelled in Europe before - 10 years ago - but have never made it to Sweden. From the little I have been able to dive into, I am very excited to spend some time here!

I already know it's going to be cold and am planning on packing accordingly. But should I really expect much snow/precipitation in the first week of December? Is December a month that typically has a lot of tourist traffic, or will I be able to slow down a bit and enjoy more of the city? I love walking around, learning about the history of the city, and enjoying local food/drink.


r/TillSverige 20h ago

Running out of Lamotrigine in Stockholm, any advice?

Upvotes

Hey guys, maybe someone here has been in a similar situation.

I’m traveling in Stockholm and I’m running out of Lamotrigine 100mg, which I normally take every day.

I live in NYC and have my US prescription, the original bottle, pharmacy records etc.

Apparently my American prescription isn’t enough to just buy it here.

Does anyone know the easiest/cheapest way to get a Swedish prescription as a tourist?

I don’t have personnummer or BankID.

I checked some private clinics but they want like 2000-2500 SEK just for a consultation, which feels a bit crazy just to renew a medication I already take.

Maybe a cheap vårdcentral, walk-in, or some other option foreigners use?

Also curious if pharmacies can ever do an emergency supply if I show my prescription/bottle.

Thanks!


r/TillSverige 19h ago

How much can be done from overseas when moving to Sweden?

Upvotes

I’m a Norwegian currently living in the US but looking to move back to sanity. I have a good chance of getting a job in Sweden, and I was wondering if I accept this job, how much prep work can I do while still in the US.

I’m keenly aware of the necessity of personnummer. Can I get that sorted before I move?

My wife is a US citizen. I know from EU rules that it’s a formality for her to move with me. Can I get her the residence permit before we go, or does she need to apply in Sweden? I would prefer to do it in advance because airlines are itchy if she doesn’t have a return ticket meaning we’d have to spend money on a return ticket for no use.

How easy is it to rent from the great abroad? I heard that the Swedish rental market is a mess. The job I’m aiming pays enough to allow me to go for the second hand market.

In terms in internationalness, I am aware that stockholm is reasonable. How about gothenburg or malmö? I have free pickings of where to live (within Sweden), but since my wife is USAian we’d like as much international flair as possible. Keep in mind that we’re well middle aged so the party scene isn’t of great importance, though we like an urban and vibrant setting.


r/TillSverige 21h ago

Fastest bankID?

Upvotes

Hey,

I have aquired SSN and ID Card from skatteverket(comes in two weeks)

What is the fastest way to open swedish bank and get bankID?

Any bank better than others?

I am nordic citizen btw.(if that has any impact)


r/TillSverige 9h ago

Question to all Swedes

Upvotes

I (22yo female) moved to southern Sweden about two weeks ago as a student. I don’t speak swedish (know about 5-10 daily words maybe) at all. Therefore I often don’t understand what’s being said obviously; and in multiple occasions people talk to me, I cannot feel sure they speak to me or not, as I think I visibly look foreign (i am white, medium blonde, brown eyes, freckles, like lets say i don’t look like a typical nordic person), despite that im being spoken to swedish everywhere, obviously i don’t understand, had to reply in english. Is this normal? Do you guys speak swedish to everyone in sweden? Or do you expect the person to know swedish when you have a talk with them despite they could be tourists as well? Would you speak swedish to everyone you encounter in your own country? Just wondering.

Edit: Before people coming after me, lemme mention a recent incident happened last week in a bus stop outside a shopping centre. I was returning home from Ikea, waiting there, listening music. There were other people around, three people next to me (non-white, saying this to clarify the situation, and they were definitely speaking swedish (i can distinguish swedish). Anyway, then two girls came to me. Spoke swedish, i thought they were talking to the other people, i didn’t turn till the girl kept speaking swedish. Then i realised she was talking to me all the time, felt bad, had to respond in English and tried to give them directions. They could have gone to those three people (they were definitely speaking swedish), but they came to me despite me not responding for a while.


r/TillSverige 2d ago

How are the intensive Swedish courses at the Folkuniversitetet?

Upvotes

Hey,

I was thinking to go to Stockholm next spring/summer and attend an intensive Swedish course starting from B1.

My question is: how is the quality? Are there several groups at the same level so I could change if I don't like the teacher?

I did an online A1-A2 intensive course at the Folkuniversitetet Lund and the teacher was terrible. He doesn't know how to teach like at all. And HALF of the time were stupid breakout sessions.

Thanks or your experience!


r/TillSverige 2d ago

Differences in Requirements for Partner/Sambo Visas

Upvotes

Hey everyone!
I’m an NZ & UK citizen looking at moving to Sweden with my girlfriend who is an NZ & French citizen in the next 2 years. We currently do not live together, but plan to in Ireland for a year or two to meet the cohabitation requirement as both our secondary passports allow us to live there. I have noticed there are two different ways of moving to Sweden as her partner and am curious as to if there are any big drawbacks I’m missing somewhere to the family member option. Since she is not a Nordic citizen I can’t move with her to Sweden on a regular partner visa, but it seems like the requirements for the family member option are much more relaxed and I may be able to move there with her through that route.

Is there anything I am missing regarding the family member route? It seems strange to have essentially the same situation represented in two different ways with very key differences in requirements.

Also if anyone knows roughly how long they expect you to have been living together that would be very helpful, as currently we have been together for a couple years, but do not live with each other (living with parents whilst studying), and we would like to move as soon as possible!

Live with Partner: https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/live-with-someone/live-with-a-partner-child-or-other-relative/live-with-a-partner.html
Family Member of EU Citizen: https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/citizens-of-the-eu-eea-or-nordic-countries/family-of-eu-eea-citizens.html#svid10_2cd2e409193b84c506a307bc

Cheers in advance!


r/TillSverige 1d ago

19M (non-EU) planning a CS Master's in Gothenburg after finishing my bachelor's

Upvotes

Hi everyone, I'm 19M (non-EU citizen), currently in my 3rd year of a Computer Science bachelor's , I plan to complete my bachelor's here and then move to Sweden for a Master's , Gothenburg is my definite goal

My situation:
- I'll take IELTS soon (aiming for 6.5-7.0)
- I don't speak Swedish yet, but I'm learning it
- I already do full-stack development and build my own projects
- Long-term plan is to move to Sweden, study there and build my life there

My questions:
• How realistic is it to get into an English-taught CS Master's in Gothenburg as a non-EU student?

• Which Gothenburg universities offer the best CS Master's, Chalmers or University of Gothenburg, and how do they compare?

• What do they actually look for in admission, GPA, projects, work experience, SOP?

• How competitive are scholarships for non-EU Master's students, and which ones should I apply for?

• What's the realistic total cost, tuition + living in Gothenburg per year, as a student?

• How hard is it to find housing as a first-year international Master's student?

• Can I find part-time work as a student who doesn't know Swedish well yet, and what do typical student jobs pay?

• Is the Swedish job market for CS grads good after graduation, and how do the work permit rules work for non-EU students?

• How long is the Master's, and does it include an internship or thesis period with companies?

• What does the application timeline look like for non-EU students, and when should I start applying?


r/TillSverige 2d ago

Changing to student permit during university

Upvotes

Hello! Has anyone here been in a similar situation where you started university in Sweden on a residence permit based on family ties, but later needed to switch to a student residence permit while already enrolled at a Swedish university?

My situation is quite complicated. I am a non-EU student and started university as a non fee paying student because I was living in Sweden as a dependent of my mom, who is married to a Swedish citizen. However, now that I am over 18, I can no longer extend my residence permit on the same basis.

Even if I were somehow able to extend my family ties permit until I am 21, I still would not be able to finish my studies before the extension expires, meaning I would eventually have to apply for a residence permit for studies anyway.

The problem is that, as far as I understand, a first time application for a Swedish student residence permit generally has to be submitted and decided while the applicant is outside Sweden. The waiting times can also vary by a lot. There is a real possibility that I may have to postpone or interrupt my studies and leave Sweden for weeks or even months simply to wait for a decision, which would obviously be very difficult.

I know another person whose mom was working for a non-EU embassy who is dealing with a similar situation, and she is currently waiting in Denmark, but neither of us has been able to find much information about people who have actually gone through this process.

Has anyone experienced something similar or knows how this usually works? Is there any way to prevent having to interrupt or postpone your studies in this situation? I would really appreciate hearing about other people's experiences or any information that might help.


r/TillSverige 3d ago

What challenges did you and your spouse or partner face after moving from your home country to Sweden?

Upvotes

When one spouse is actively looking for new job opportunities and the other is already working, it can sometimes impact the relationship. The non-working spouse, who might have had an established career in the homecountry, is stuck at home and lose a sense of identity. Did you or your spouse go through such challenges after moving to Sweden?


r/TillSverige 4d ago

Sweden's citizenship test fee is now a law: 2 000 kr, first applying to tests held in 2027

Upvotes

The 2 000 kr figure has been circulating on third-party sites for months with nothing behind it. It is now in the regulation: Förordning (2026:451) om medborgarskapsprov, 6 §, as amended by 2026:1194.

Den som ska delta i ett medborgarskapsprov ska betala en avgift till Universitets- och högskolerådet om 2 000 kronor.

(Anyone who is to take a citizenship test shall pay a fee of 2 000 kronor to UHR.)

What the regulation settles

  • 2 000 kr, paid to UHR.
  • It applies to tests held from 2027. The transitional provision is explicit, so the 15 August 2026 sitting was never in scope.
  • One exemption, and it is narrow. 6 § second paragraph: it does not apply to someone who is stateless and has been granted refugee status or a travel document by a Swedish authority. Both conditions, not either.
  • This is separate from the application fee. Migrationsverket charges 2 900 kr for an adult citizenship application. Different agency, different process, two payments.

What is still not settled

None of this is in the regulation, and UHR has not published it:

  • How and when you pay, and whether it is due at registration.
  • Whether the fee is refunded if you withdraw, or if you are ill on the day.
  • What a resit costs. The regulation says the person who is to take a test shall pay the fee. It does not say what a second attempt costs. Read literally that is 2 000 kr each time, but nobody has confirmed it.
  • When the next test is, or when registration opens.

UHR's own page still says "Information om anmälningsavgift kommer" (information about the registration fee is coming). So if you look there and find nothing, you are not missing a page. The regulation is simply ahead of their website.

Useful extra from the same regulation

2 § lists the eleven areas the test may cover:

  1. Historical events that shaped Sweden
  2. Traditions
  3. The welfare state
  4. Labour market, working life and personal finance
  5. Climate and environment
  6. Democratic government, the constitutional laws and the legal system
  7. Rights and equality, including gender equality and children's rights
  8. World religions and freedom of religion
  9. The role of the media
  10. Geography and geopolitics
  11. The EU and other international cooperation

That is the legal boundary of what the test is allowed to be about. Worth knowing it is not a table of contents for the official study material: that has 13 chapters, these are 11 areas, and they do not map one to one. Climate and environment is the one people tend not to expect.

Sources

All checked 3 September 2026.


r/TillSverige 4d ago

D-Visa

Upvotes

Hey guys, I recently received approval for my student resident permit but my classes have already started and university has set 14 September as hard deadline for arrival.

Hence I want to apply for D-Visa, I have already emailed the embassy of sweden in my country they did send a generic response, I mean they should’ve asked me to book an appointment, no?

I am really confused about the process if someone can please guide me through the steps it will be very helpful.

P.S: I am from Pakistan; so if anyone else applied from Pakistan recently you can help a brother out.


r/TillSverige 3d ago

Can I get CSN for university abroad after living in Sweden for 2 years?

Upvotes

I’m a Swedish citizen, but I’ve spent quite a lot of time travelling and living in different countries. I’ve now moved back to Sweden because I’m planning to study medicine somewhere in the EU.

I’m currently registered with Skatteverket as living in Sweden permanently, and I intend to actually live here continuously.

From what I understand, CSN says that you need to have been resident in Sweden for at least two consecutive years during the last five years to receive student finance for studies abroad.

My question is: Do I need to work or study during those two years, or is simply being resident in Sweden enough?

Thanks


r/TillSverige 4d ago

Union Support

Upvotes

My wife works for a small consultancy firm in Malmö. Her assignment is with a Video Game Development company. She has a 3 month notice period with her consultancy company. She was recently informed by her consultancy manager that her assignment is ending in 3 months and her consultancy company has decided to end the contract and terminate her after the 3 months. This would mean that the notice period from consultancy and her current assignment would end on the same day. She said that she feels that this doesn't seem legal and that she would approach Unionen. But the consultancy manager mentioned that she shouldn't and that it would take a very drastic turn if she did.
I feel that the right course of action is to approach the union and let them help in this situation especially after hearing the "drastic turn" comment from the manager.
Does anyone have experience in dealing with such a scenario?

Additional Information:- Wife has been in the same assignment for 5 years and when we came here from Hungary, the employer had given us verbal assurances that they would look for different assignment and keep her on payroll for 3 months after existing assignment ends. Hence, the shock and the reaction on her part. Also, to add she is one of the seniormost people in the organization.


r/TillSverige 4d ago

Tid efter intervju i Canberra

Upvotes

Hejsan!

Min partner är från NZ och ansökte om uppehållstillstånd 4 nov 2025. När sex månader hade gått så hade han fortfarande inte hört något så han skickade in begäran om att avgöra fallet. Två veckor senare fick han meddelande från Migrationsverket om att boka in intervju i Canberra, ansökan om att avgöra fallet blev avslagen samma dag. Antagligen fick handläggaren helt enkelt in ansökan, såg att han behövde göra intervju så nekade den men bad honom då boka intervjun istället så det hade ändå viss effekt.

Nu är det över sju veckor sen han gjorde intervjun och vi har inte hört ett ord, det är så man blir tokig av otålighet. Jag har ringt Migrationsverket ett par ggr (jag har fullmakt) men de säger bara att de har allt de behöver för nu och vi bara kan vänta. Vi har aldrig haft direktkontakt med en handläggare men vet hens namn. Finns det verkligen inget vi kan göra? Funderar på att skicka in ansökan om att avgöra ärendet igen även fast vi vet att man bara kan skicka in det en gång bara för att få deras uppmärksamhet, men vill inte riskera någon genom att göra ”fel”.

Han får vara i Sverige i 90 dagar visumfritt så i teorin hade han kunnat säga upp sig nu, resa till Sverige om ca en månad (meddelar såklart MV om det så han kan resa ut vid beslut) och sen är det ju rimligt att han får ett besked inom 90 dagar från det. Men om det av någon anledning skulle bli något annat än ett ja direkt vågar vi inte chansa och stå där utan jobb medan vi krånglar med överklagan osv. Någon som har tips eller erfarenhet?


r/TillSverige 5d ago

Min medborgarskapsansökan blev nekad :(

Upvotes

Hej på er, jag behöver råd!

Jag har ansökt om medborgarskap förra året i Februari och hade väldigt otur med dem nya reglerna då de bestämde sig att fortsätta med min ansökning fyra dagar efter 6e Juni. (stor suck)

Iaf jag kompletterade alla nya krav utom samhällskunskapsprovet som jag tyvärr inte fick ta, efter jag ringde min handläggare och bad henne att anmäla mig så fort hon kunde. (hon gjorde det inte)

Vad jag missade att berätta är att i tiden jag väntade på beslutet , fick jag ett barn och gick på mammaledighet som jag ska vara hemma med tills Januari 2027. Jag tycker det är omänskligt att straffa en person för att de är hemma med sina barn, speciellt om de har haft ett säkert jobb på 3 år och visade intyg från jobbet att den personen ska fortsätta jobba där när ledigheten tar slut.

Men migrationsverket tyckte inte så. De tyckte att det är ingen undantag och det är därför man får inte bli medborgare. För att min inkomst är under 20k just nu. Som jag själv valde, så att jag ska ge mitt barn så bra liv som möjligt. Om pappan hade stannat hemma vi hade haft sämre ekonomi.

Jag ska överklaga beslutet. Jag tänker be om mer tid, kanske tills Maj så att jag kan samla tre lönebesked för att visa att jag får riktiga pengar igen. Och tänker ta en Samhällskunskapkurs emellanåt för att ha det fixat också.

Vet inte om detta kommer funka. Så jag tänkte fråga er vad ni tycker om detta eller om ni har andra idéer, eller om ni tycker att det inte kommer funka als.

I got nothing to lose.

Tack för tålamodet, det är mycket text.

TL;DR Migrationsverket tycker inte att jag får bli medborgare för att jag är mammaledig och tjänar under 20k tillfälligt. (jag har bott här i 10år, alltid betalat skatt, lärde mig svenska, är gift, fött svenska medborgare, inga skulder eller kriminellt beteende)


r/TillSverige 5d ago

Begäran om beslut medborgarskap

Upvotes

Hej! Vet någon om man får någon sorts bekräftelse när man skickat in begäran om beslut inom 30 dagar för medborgarskap?
Frugan skickade in brevet för 2 veckor sedan och har inte fått någon bekräftelse på att dom tagit emot det.


r/TillSverige 5d ago

Starting a enskild firma – looking for advice

Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm considering starting a small enskild firma in Sweden as a side business. I already have a full-time job, and I expect most of the customers/revenue to come from outside Sweden.

The expected revenue is quite small, less than 100,000 SEK per year. I've done some research and it seems that an enskild firma with FA-tax would probably be the simplest option, but I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have actual experience with this.

A few questions:

  • What are the actual fixed/monthly costs of keeping an enskild firma running if I have no income from the enskild firma that month, while still having my normal income from my full-time employment?
  • Can I realistically handle the bookkeeping myself with something like Bokio or Spiris, especially if I only expect to issue a handful of invoices per year?
  • Do I need an accountant, or is this simple enough to manage myself?
  • When registering the business, how specific do I need to be about what the business does? Can the business activity cover different types of IT/consulting projects?
  • Since I already have a full-time job, is there anything specific I should be aware of regarding FA-tax, taxes or social contributions?
  • For customers outside Sweden, is there anything special I should consider regarding VAT/moms?

I'm mainly trying to understand how much hassle and cost this would actually involve for such a small side business.

Would appreciate any advice or experiences! Thank you all :)


r/TillSverige 5d ago

New to Sweden - Lost red THULE backpack on bus

Upvotes

Hej! Yesterday 09/01, around 6pm, my partner left his red THULE backpack on Bus 60 from Redbergsplatsen in Göteborg. It contains his wallet, two passports, earbuds, prescription sunglasses etc. We were distracted while wrangling our toddler and chatting with two other commuters, and left it behind when getting off at Kungsportsavenyen, across from FOREX.

Total nightmare, and I’m at a loss as to what more to do. We just moved here and it was already incredibly stressful before this happened, and now we have all the replacement costs on top of that. As well as the Swedish Tax Agency ID he just got that day…

We’ve registered it on MissingX, contacted Västtrafik (Nobina) lost and found, and reported the items to the police. No luck so far. Västtrafik told us to try again tomorrow.

It’s almost been 24 hours, so we’re losing hope. Has anyone had something like this happen and actually got their stuff back? Anything else we should be doing?

Thank you!

UPDATE - as of 09/04, still hasn’t shown up unfortunately. :(