Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit

This page contains information that is useful to know if you have moved or are moving to Sweden with a residence permit.

Don’t forget to save your residence permit decision. It will be useful in your contact with various national authorities and organisations.

Learn Swedish

If you are listed in the Swedish Population Register and do not already know Swedish, you are entitled to Swedish language education provided via the Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) programme. Contact your municipality to find out more. See also the website of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. External link, opens in new window.

On the page Learn Swedish on www.informationsverige.se External link, opens in new window., you will find links to several programmes for learning Swedish on your own.

Knowing Swedish is often important to be able to get a job in Sweden.

Civic orientation

Most people who come to Sweden have the right to civic orientation, a programme in which you learn about Swedish society, in the municipality where they live. Contact your municipality to find out more.

Read more about civic orientation here: Civic orientation | Informationsverige.se External link, opens in new window.

More information about Swedish society can be found on the website of the Swedish Institute. External link, opens in new window.

Hej hej Sverige! External link, opens in new window. has simple and inspiring films about how life in Sweden works.

Healthcare

For questions about healthcare, contact the administrative offices of the region where you live. Find care throughout the country via 1177 Vårdguiden. External link, opens in new window.

Childcare and schooling

In Sweden, it is most common for both parents to work. Children of working parents have the right to preschool from the age of one. Even if their parents do not work, a child has the right to attend public preschool for 15 hours per week from the year the child turns three.

Your child has the right to attend primary school. Children who have started primary school have the right to attend an after-school centre after school hours. You can get more information from the municipality to which you are moving.

Information about the Swedish education system can be obtained from the Swedish National Agency for Education. External link, opens in new window.

Continuing your education

Information about studying in a higher education programme at a university or college can be found at Antagning.se External link, opens in new window. or studera.nu. External link, opens in new window.

For questions about student grants and loads, you can contact CSN, the Swedish Board of Student Finance. External link, opens in new window.

Read about CSN’s student grants and loans for foreign citizens External link, opens in new window.

Work

The Swedish Public Employment Service can provide you with support in finding work in Sweden. Contact the Swedish Public Employment Service to get information about how they can help you.

The website of the Swedish Public Employment Service: Arbetsförmedlingen.se - The Swedish Public Employment Service External link, opens in new window.

To be granted a permanent residence permit in Sweden, you are often required to have a job, so that you can support yourself financially. That’s why it is wise to start thinking about work early. Having a job affects how much you can receive in parental benefit if you have children, as well as how much money you receive when you retire.

Read more about looking for work and your rights at the workplace:

Looking for work | Informationsverige.se External link, opens in new window.

Being employed | Informationsverige.se External link, opens in new window.

Civil society

Civil society associations and organisations can be a good way to make contacts and learn more about Sweden. There include, e.g. sports clubs, study associations, cultural associations, and organisations that cater to various interest groups. Your municipality can provide information about your local associations.

Equal rights and protection against discrimination

In Sweden, women and men have the same rights. Children have special rights. No one may be discriminated against on the basis of their gender, gender expression or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religion, or disability.

Read more about gender equality, equal rights for everyone, and protection against discrimination here: The individual’s rights and obligations | Informationsverige.se External link, opens in new window.

Prohibition of violence

If you are a victim of violence, you are the victim of a crime. This also applies to children. No one is allowed to hit anyone else or use other forms of violence, not even within the family. If you or your child are a victim of violence, you can get help from the police or by contacting the Kvinnofridslinjen women’s helpline.

Calling Kvinnofridslinjen is free of charge, and you can get help from an interpreter if you need it.

Other information

To become listed in the Swedish Population Register and receive a personal identity number, you must contact the Swedish Tax Agency. External link, opens in new window.

To get enrolled in the social security system, you should contact The Swedish Social Insurance Agency. External link, opens in new window.

Some municipalities have municipal housing agencies where you can apply for housing. The municipality can also give you tips about private landlords.

The Swedish Pensions Agency External link, opens in new window. has information about income support for the elderly if you come to Sweden late in life and have a low pension or none at all.

For questions about driving licences, you can turn to the Swedish Transport Agency. External link, opens in new window.

For questions about voting rights, please contact the Swedish Election Authority. External link, opens in new window.

The Swedish Consumer Agency’s information service External link, opens in new window. can provide tips if you have questions about purchases or contracts.

Last updated: 2024-10-16