Social introduction for adults who have applied for asylum (protection) in Sweden.
As an asylum seeker, you can choose between arranging for accommodation on your own or living at one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s accommodations. If you arrange for accommodation on your own, you will cover your own housing costs. If you live at the Swedish Migration Agency's accommodation, you do not have to pay anything if you do not have any money of your own.
In Sweden, there are laws that regulate waste sorting. They exist to protect people and the environment and to conserve energy and natural resources.
When you sort your trash, you take care of hazardous substances safely and materials can be recycled into new products. That means that no matter where you live, you have to sort your trash and throw it away in different places.
The waste that is most often sorted is food waste, combustibles, plastic, glass, metal, paper packaging and newspapers. Read more about this:
Sweden Waste Portal – Sopor.nu
External link.
Different municipalities may have different rules regarding waste sorting. Information about what applies in your municipality can be found on the municipality's website.
As an adult asylum seeker, you are entitled to medical care and dental care that is acute and cannot wait. In the case of mental illness, there is also support and help available. Asylum-seeking children are entitled to the same medical and dental care as children residing in the country.
More information about healthcare and where to go if you get sick
At 1177.se, there is medical advice available in different languages. You can also call 1177 Vårdguiden and receive personal advice from medical professionals 24 hours a day. Those who answer these calls speak Swedish or English. For example, if you are unsure if you should go to a doctor, you can call 1177 and describe how you feel. You can also call to ask other questions about your health or your children's health.
The emergency number in Sweden is 112. You use that number when you need to alert the police, fire department and ambulance in an emergency situation. Those who answer speak Swedish and English and can connect interpreters if needed.
Here you can read more about what to do in different types of emergencies and how to prevent emergencies from occurring:
Your Safety – Informationsverige.se External link.
If you need to get in touch with the police in a case that is not an emergency, you can call 114 14.
The police is there to help and protect people from crime, both those who live in Sweden and those who are visiting. Everyone should feel safe everywhere in Sweden: at home, on the street, at school, at the workplace and in all other places.
It is police’s job to ensure that everyone in Sweden follows Swedish law. The police collaborate with schools, municipalities, companies, associations and authorities to prevent crime and create security.
On the police website you will find more information about their work and addresses of all police stations.
Children who are in Sweden through the Temporary Protection Directive have the right to attend preschool and primary school. They also have the right to attend secondary or secondary special school if the education starts before they have reached the age of 18.
In Sweden, school attendance is compulsory. This means that all children who are residents here must go to school from the age of six. Younger children can attend preschool, which is voluntary.
Asylum-seeking children also have the right to attend preschool and school, even if they do not have to. You can register your child for school by contacting the municipality where you live. You can also talk to your reception unit if you would like help contacting the municipality.
Open preschool is for children who are not enrolled in preschool, for example children under the age of one, and there is no cost to participate. The child goes to open preschool together with a parent or another adult. There the child can play with other children and parents can talk to each other and get advice and support from the staff. Some open preschools have language training for parents.
Preschool is for children between one and six years old. There, children play, sing, move, paint, explore nature and practice collaborating. Children have the right to go to preschool while their parents work or study, or if there are special reasons.
From the age of three, all children have the right to go to preschool a few hours a day, even if the parents do not work or study.
The first year of school is called preschool. It involves a lot of play and creative activities to prepare young children for their future schooling.
After that comes nine years of compulsory school, which is divided into primary school, middle school and junior high school. Students in compulsory school study Swedish or Swedish as a second language, mathematics, English, practical-aesthetic subjects, technology, social science subjects, science subjects, native languages and modern languages.
As of grade six, students receive grades at the end of each semester.
Children aged 6–13 years can attend a leisure centre before and after school and during school vacations if their parents work or study or if there are special reasons. This is so that the child can have meaningful leisure time when they are not at school and the parents are not at home.
Upper secondary school is a voluntary education where students have the opportunity to choose a specialisation to prepare for professional life or continued studies at a university or college. To be able to study at a high school, you must have completed your studies in compulsory school and have received passing grades in a certain number of subjects.
If you are an asylum seeker, you have the right to complete an upper secondary education if you started your upper secondary studies before you turn 18. This also applies if you move to another municipality.
Open preschool, preschool class, compulsory school and secondary school cost nothing. In preschool, the child is entitled to three hours per day from the autumn semester of the year the child turns three years old. For the rest of the time, parents pay a fee that is based on their income. The fee for a leisure centre is also based on the parents’ income.
As an adult asylum seeker, you can take part in various activities called early interventions (TIAs) where you can learn Swedish, among other things.
Read more about various activities at informationsverige.se External link.
Read more Swedish education from preschool to adult education External link.
Read more about school at informationsverige.se External link.
Assessment of foreign education – Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) External link.
Sweden strives for diversity in the labour market so that society and working life can take advantage of the many experiences and skills that different people have. In order for as many people as possible to be able to contribute regardless of prior circumstances, there is a political will to increase diversity in working life from the perspectives of gender, age, class, disability, sexual orientation and ethnic background.
Read about what applies if you want to work during the asylum process
See the film — The Road to Work External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
It may be good to know that unfortunately, people are misled or exploited by unreliable employers. For example, employees may receive too wages that are too low, have unreasonably long working hours or a poor work environment. You can read more about this on this page, which is mainly aimed at people who have not yet come to Sweden, but which contains information that you can benefit from when if you are already in Sweden:
Before you go – Swedish Gender Equality Agency External link.
If you receive a residence permit in Sweden, you can receive a pension when you get older and no longer work. The pension is higher the more you have worked. That may be good to think about when you and your partner are planning how to divide parental leave between you.
As an asylum seeker, you can receive compensation for certain trips, such as trips to the Swedish Migration Agency. You can also receive compensation for trips to so-called “Early Interventions” (TIA), for example to learn Swedish, receive community orientation, gain knowledge of the labour market or knowledge of what to do to improve your health.
It is the Swedish Migration Agency that assesses whether compensation can be provided for a trip or not.
To drive a car in Sweden, you must have reached the age of 18 and have a driving licence. If you have a valid driving licence from another country, you may drive in Sweden while you are an asylum seeker. If you receive a residence permit, you may continue to use your valid driving licence for one year from the date of population registration.
You should carry your licence with you when driving a car. The driving license should have a photo of you. If there is no photo on your driving license, you must also carry a valid ID with you. If your driving licence is not in English, German or French, the police may require you to have a translation of your driving licence with you.
Remember that there are different traffic rules in different countries, so you need to find out which rules apply in Sweden before you start driving. As a driver, you are responsible for this.
If you as an asylum seeker want to obtain a Swedish driving licence, you must first apply for a driving licence permit. This can be done if you can verify your identity with a valid and acceptable identification document. After that, you must attend training and then take driving tests that consist of a knowledge test and a practical driving test.
Read more about driving licences here:
Driving licence in Sweden – Informationsverige.se External link.
Have a foreign driving licence in Sweden – The Swedish Transport Agency External link.
I am going get a driving licence – The Swedish Transport Agency External link.
Sweden is a democracy where public power is based on the people. In Sweden, we elect politicians who run in four general elections: elections to parliament, to the regional council, to the municipal council and to the European Parliament. The elections within parliament, region and municipality take place every four years and the elections to the European Parliament take place every five years. In the next section, How Sweden is governed, you will find information about Parliament, the region, the municipality and the European Parliament.
There are different requirements for voting in the different elections:
Voter turnout is important for Sweden’s democracy to work. It is therefore important that everyone who can vote does so. Every vote counts and allows us to influence how Sweden is governed.
Even if you are not allowed to vote in elections, you can influence by engaging in political issues. In Sweden, we have freedom of opinion, which means that everyone has the right to freely express their views without government intervention. But this freedom entails a responsibility. You may have opinions, but if you express them or act on them in a way that is offensive or harmful to others, it could be a crime.
Watch the film Democracy in Sweden External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
Sweden has four constitutions in place to protect Swedish democracy. The constitutions are more difficult to change than other Swedish laws. Two different votes are required by Parliament, which votes in favour of an amendment to the constitution. The two different votes must have a parliamentary election between them in order for the Swedish people to also have the chance to express its opinion.
The four constitutions are:
Read more about Sweden’s constitutions on the Riksdag’s website External link.
In society, information is distributed in different ways, for example between friends and colleagues, through TV and radio, and on social media. It is important to be able to review and assess information. Being source-critical means that you should be able to evaluate whether information is reliable. Questions you can ask yourself are:
Find more information about source criticism (in Swedish) External link.
Watch the film Distribution of Information and Source Criticism External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
In Sweden, we have for a long time had the right to freedom of religion. This freedom is protected by our constitution and it means that you have the right to belong to the religion that you believe in and to practice it the way you want. You also have the right not to believe in any religion at all. Everyone has the right to change religion whenever they want and you don’t have to belong to the same religion as your family. Discrimination on the basis of a person’s choice of religion or choice not to have a religion must not occur in Sweden.
Sweden is considered a secular country and our state is completely separated from religion. We have previously been a Christian country and we still have many holidays that are connected with the Christian faith, such as Christmas and Easter.
Freedom of association in Sweden means that you have the right to participate in associations and to engage in issues that are important to you. Your involvement in an association should not lead to negative consequences for you.
Sweden is a democracy but also a monarchy with a king or queen as head of state. The current king is called Carl XVI Gustaf and in 2023 he celebrated his 50th anniversary on the throne. The king or queen has no political power but serves mostly as a symbol for the country.
The Riksdag decides on Swedish laws and Sweden’s government budget. The government budget finances government agencies, child support and universities.
The Swedish Riksdag should consist of 349 members. Swedish citizens vote for the party that best matches their values and opinions about how Sweden should be governed.
Based on the election results, the seats in the Riksdag are distributed to the various parties elected. If a party has received 15 percent of the votes, that party will receive 15 percent of the seats in the Riksdag. The party then fills the seats with people who have been nominated by the party to be in the Riksdag. These people are called members of parliament.
Read more on the Riksdag website External link.
The government governs Sweden at a national level. The government’s task is, among other things, to propose new laws or legislative amendments to the Riksdag and to ensure that the Riksdag’s decisions are implemented.
The head of the government is the Prime Minister of Sweden. In addition to the Prime Minister, the government is made up of secretaries of state. The government usually has a title based on the area for which they are responsible, such as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Migration.
In order for the region and the municipality to be able to carry out the functions they are responsible for, they need money.
Regions and municipalities are largely financed by taxes paid by residents. This means that anyone who has an income within the region or municipality pays a portion of their salary as a tax.
The primary task of Sweden’s regions is to conduct healthcare and dental care in Sweden. But the regions also have other responsibilities, such as ensuring that public transport is available in the region.
The Regional Council decides how to govern the region. The members of the regional council are politicians elected by those who are eligible to vote in the regional elections. This election takes place on the same day as the parliamentary and municipal elections.
The municipalities in Sweden are responsible for the local service where you live. School, elderly care, social services, waste management and water are things that are controlled at a municipal level.
The municipal council decides how the municipality should be governed. On the municipal council are politicians elected by residents of the municipality via the general elections that take place on the same day as the elections to the parliament and the region.
Sweden is a member of the European Union, which is abbreviated the EU. The Union consists of 27 European countries that cooperate on several issues, such as trade and the environment.
The EU consists of seven institutions with different tasks. The three most important are the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.
The European Parliament consists of elected members from all Member States. The number of members from each country varies based on the population of the countries. Citizens elect their members through general elections every five years. Parliament decides on the EU budget and decides on new laws with the Council of Ministers.
If you want to immerse yourself in the European Union’s connection to Sweden, you can read more on the Riksdag’s website: How the EU functions – Swedish Parliament (riksdagen.se) External link.
If you want to read more about Sweden’s elections, democracy or democratic history, you can do so at To influence in Sweden – Informationsverige.se External link.
Since March 2024, Sweden has been a member of NATO. NATO is a defence alliance with joint security cooperation and a collective defence. Work within the organisation focuses primarily on preserving peace and security in the Member States.
Read more about NATO:
This is NATO – Regeringen.se External link.
Sweden in NATO (msb.se) (in Swedish) External link.
Sweden's total defence is the operations that Sweden needs if there is war within the country or in the immediate area. The total defence consists partly of military activities but also of civilian activities. Total defence includes authorities, organisations and companies.
All of Sweden’s inhabitants are part of the total defence. This does not mean that all of Sweden’s inhabitants are called into the military in the event of war. But we all have a duty to stand up as part of Swedish society in the event of war and crisis.
You can read more about the total defence on these websites:
Total Defence – Armed Forces (forsvarsmakten.se) (in Swedish) External link.
The Swedish Civilian Emergency Response System (msb.se) (in Swedish) External link.
Home preparedness is about you should cope without the help of society in a major crisis. The municipalities are tasked with assisting the most vulnerable citizens in a crisis, such as people in elderly care. Therefore, it is good if you do what you can to handle yourself for as long as possible without the help of society in the event of a crisis.
Want to know more about home preparedness to see what you can do? Read on the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s website:
In all parts of the world, in every single country, within all groups of people, there are cultural values that for many create a sense of togetherness but which do not do that for everyone. It is therefore difficult to say what is typically Swedish. In this section you will find examples of what is Swedish for many people. Of course, there are many more examples and different people may have different perceptions of what defines Sweden.
For example, there is a strong faith in the state and its authorities. People rely to a relatively high degree on authority decisions, the judiciary system and officials, and corruption is low.
Keeping times is also important for many people in Sweden, even when we meet with family or close friends.
Many Swedes care a lot about nature. The right of public access makes it possible, for example, to hike, bike, pick berries and tent almost everywhere in nature, but it also means that we must not hurt forests and land, disturb animals or litter. You can read more about the right of public access here:
Easy to read about the right of public access – Keep Sweden Clean (hsr.se) External link.
The right of public access – all you need to know! – Swedish Tourist Association External link.
All about the right of public access (naturvardsverket.se) External link.
Some things that are typically Swedish are also examples of cultural norms. Norms are ideas and unwritten rules about how people are expected to act and live and what is expected of their appearance. Norms are needed in all societies. They help us, for example, to know how to behave on the bus, how we stand in line, how close we stand when we talk to an unknown person or how we should greet each other.
While norms are needed, they can also limit people and create discrimination. For example, in most societies, there are norms about how men and women should dress, what they should work with, who can use makeup, and who can cry when they are sad. There are also norms about what a family should look like and how to live to not embarrass one’s family or oneself.
If you violate these norms, you may experience being questioned and treated worse by others. If we know what norms exist, they can be influenced and changed, although in some cases it may take a long time. For example, it took until 1921 before women were given the right to vote in Sweden, as there were long-standing beliefs and norms that women were not suitable to participate in social discussions.
Gender equality is about achieving equality between genders and that women and men should have the same rights, opportunities and obligations. It’s something that everyone needs to work for, both privately, at work and in society.
The Riksdag has decided on overriding goals for the gender equality policy in Sweden. They aim for men and women to have the same power and opportunity to influence society and their own lives.
The goals state that:
Although Sweden has come a long way in terms of gender equality, there are many examples that show that society is not equal.
Women often take greater responsibility for work at home. Mothers are usually on parental leave for a longer period of time than fathers, even though parents have the right to be home with the child the same amount of time. Women often earn less than men and there are significantly more women who are sexually assaulted.
You can find out more about gender equality here:
Goals for gender equality – Regeringen.se (in Swedish) External link.
See the film Equality External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
In some societies, the family has a lot to say about which partner someone should have and in some places in the world, it is forbidden to live in a same-sex relationship. In Sweden, you can decide who you want to have a relationship with, but there are certain laws regarding relationships and marriage that are important to know about. Here, there may be large differences between what is allowed and what is not allowed in Sweden compared to other countries.
Polygamy is illegal, which means that it is not allowed to be married to multiple people at the same time. You are, however, allowed to divorce and then remarry if you want to.
Polygamy that has taken place abroad is not approved in Sweden, unless there are special reasons. These may be individual cases where a woman is at risk of suffering serious consequences if she loses the right to, for example, property division, maintenance or inheritance.
More information about what applies to people who have married abroad can be found on the Swedish Tax Agency's website:
Marriage according to foreign law – Legal guidance (in Swedish) External link.
See the film The Right to Choose a Partner External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
See the film Sexual Health and Rights External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
Some groups in society are more vulnerable and there are therefore special laws that give them extra protection. Examples of such groups include women, children, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ people.
The Discrimination Act protects you from being discriminated against based on your gender, ethnic identity, religion, disability or sexual orientation.
If you were to still be discriminated against in contact with, for example, healthcare services, authorities or a company, you can report it to the Equality Ombudsman. This is a government agency that works for everyone's equal rights and opportunities.
The Equality Ombudsman – DO External link.
There are also various anti-discrimination agencies in Sweden that can provide help and support to people who have been subjected to discrimination. Here you can find the contact details:
Anti-discrimination Office in Östergötland (in Swedish) External link.
If you are instead subjected to some form of violation by a private individual because you belong to a particular group, that may be a crime that should be reported to the police.
Racism is a form of discrimination. Racism can come from society as a whole and be something that individuals subject others to. Racism assumes that people can be divided into different groups and that some groups or people are more valuable than others.
Racism is when a person or group of people is treated poorly on the basis of, for example, the colour of their skin, their ethnic origin or their religion. It could be afrophobia aimed at people of African origin, Islamophobia targeting Muslims and anti-Semitism dealing with prejudice and hatred of Jews.
A group that is often very vulnerable in many parts of the world, but also in some contexts here in Sweden, is the group comprising LGBTQI people. LGBTQI stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people.
In Sweden, everyone has the same rights and opportunities regardless of sexual orientation or identity.
Sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression may in some cases be a basis for asylum. It is therefore important that you tell us about it in the asylum investigation if this is relevant to you. You can read more here:
If you are a LGBTQ person and are applying for asylum
RFSL is a non-profit organisation that provides advice and support on issues related to LGBTQI. They also have a group called Newcomers that is for asylum seekers.
Year 1944
Homosexuality became legal in Sweden
Year 1972
Sweden became the first country in the world to allow transgender people to change their legal gender
Year 1987
Discrimination based on sexual orientation became prohibited
Year 2003
Same-sex couples were granted the right to apply for adoption
Year 2005
Same-sex female couples gained access to assisted reproduction
Year 2009
Marriage between two people of the same sex became legal
There are many different forms of violence and you can be subjected to several forms of violence at the same time. For example, there is
Neglect can also be a form of violence. All forms of violence in Sweden are prohibited.
If someone uses violence within their family, for example against their child or partner, this is a crime for which they can face jail time. There is a law that makes it punishable to allow a child to become a witness to a loved one being subjected to violence.
Women are most often subjected to domestic violence by someone they know and depend on. It can be a partner, but can also be a child, a sibling or other relatives. Men can also be subjected to violence in close relationships.
Violence in close relationships is a major social problem. It is more common than you think and occurs in all different types of relationships. Some groups are particularly vulnerable, such as women with foreign backgrounds.
If you yourself or someone you know is or is at risk of being subjected to threats or violence of any kind, there is help available. It is important that you dare to tell the police, healthcare or the Swedish Migration Agency. You can also turn to social services in your municipality.
Here you will find contact information for various organisations that can provide support and help:
Kvinnofridslinjen – Sweden’s National Women’s Helpline – is an organisation for women who have been subjected to violence in a close relationship. They can also offer counselling in languages other than Swedish through an interpreter. Relatives of women who have been subjected to violence can also contact Kvinnofridslinjen for advice and support.
www.kvinnofridslinjen.se External link.
Young relationships provides support to people under the age of 20 who are being subjected or have been subjected to violence or are themselves subjectying someone to it.
ungarelationer.se – Do you feel bad about your relationship? External link.
The Men’s Support Line provides support to men who are being or have been subjected to threats and violence by someone close to them or sexual assault.
Support Line for Men External link.
Phone: 020‑80 80 80
The Transgender Support Line provides support to vulnerable adult transgender people, including non-binary, such as domestic violence or sexual abuse.
Transgender Support Line External link.
Phone: 020‑55 00 00
Here you can read more about what violence is and how the Swedish Migration Agency works with these types of issues:
See the film Violence in Close Relationships External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
Choose to quit is a telephone line for people who want help in changing a controlling or violent behaviour towards loved ones.
VAS (valjattsluta.se) External link.
Phone: 020‑555 666
Honour-based violence and oppression occur in different cultures and religions. The honour-related violence and oppression are characterised by the fact that it is usually collectively practised or sanctioned.
The control of girls’ and women’s sexuality is usually central and is seen as necessary to maintain the family’s reputation. This is done, for example, by checking what girls and women are wearing and who they are spending time with.
Those who violate family norms and values risk are considered to bring shame to the family and being punished. They can be ostracised, threatened and beaten, at worst even killed.
Honour-based violence affects both girls and boys and both men and women can be perpetrators. At the same time, those involved in oppression may be vulnerable themselves and this means that the boundaries between victims and perpetrators often become unclear.
Honour-based violence can have many different expressions. In addition to physical punishments, it may be about limitations and control in everyday life. Examples of control may include:
You can read more about honour-based violence and oppression on these pages:
Here you will find contact information for various organisations that can provide support in honour-related issues:
National organisation GAPF (in Swedish) External link.
TRIS (in Swedish) External link.
You can also contact social services in the municipality where you live.
Genital mutilation, sometimes referred to as female circumcision, occurs in many parts of the world. It is a very old tradition that is not linked to any particular religion. The tradition exists to control girls’ and women’s sexuality and means that, for example, a girl’s genitals are punctured, cut, sewn together or damaged in some other way. It is usually girls aged 4–14 who are exposed to genital mutilation.
Gender mutilation can lead to serious health problems for those exposed, such as blood loss, infections, difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth or mental health problems.
If you have been exposed to genital mutilation, you can contact the youth clinic, healthcare centre, a gynaecologist clinic or one of these clinics:
Amel Clinic – Södersjukhuset External link.
Vulva Clinic – Angered Hospital (in Swedish) External link.
Existera can provide advice and support on issues related to genital mutilation, both for victims and for relatives.
You can read more about genital mutilation here:
Genital mutilation – female circumcision – 1177 External link.
What is genital mutilation? – Könsstympning.se (in Swedish) External link.
Male circumcision may be performed on request or after the consent of the boy’s parent/legal guardian. If the boy has two legal guardians, both must consent to it. The procedure may not be carried out against the boy’s will. Circumcision may be performed only by a licensed physician or by a person who has a special permit to perform the circumcision of boys.
Asylum-seeking children have the same rights as all children in Sweden. For example, all children have the right to go to school, to receive care when they need it, to live in safety, and to say what they think. Here you can read about rights and special rules that exist to protect children.
Children have a special position in Swedish society and children’s rights are especially protected by law. In Sweden, anyone under the age of 18 is regarded a child. Asylum-seeking children have the same rights as other children in Swedish society. For example, asylum-seeking children are entitled to full medical care while adults are entitled only to emergency care and care that cannot wait.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child became Swedish law on 1 January 2020. The Convention on the Rights of the Child aims to give children, regardless of their background, the right to be treated with respect and to be allowed to be heard. These principles are about the equal value and rights of all children.
Read more about the Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Convention on the Rights of the Child (raddabarnen.se) (in Swedish) External link.
The Swedish Migration Agency must take into account the best interests of the child and how the child will be affected in all actions and decisions relating to children. This does not mean that all decisions will always be what a child or parent wants, but that the child’s best interests should always be weighed into the decision.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is one of several laws with which the Swedish Migration Agency must comply. It states what rights children should have, but it does not determine who can be granted a residence permit in Sweden. These rules can be found in other laws, primarily the Aliens Act. The Swedish Migration Agency may come to the conclusion that it would be in the best interests of the child to be granted a residence permit, but that there is still not possible to grant this under the Aliens Act.
More information on how these laws must be weighed against each other and how the Swedish Migration Agency should take into account the best interests of the child can be found in this article:
In Sweden, it is prohibited and punishable by law to use physical or psychological violence against children. In 1979, Sweden was the first country in the world to ban violence against children, both at home and at school. It is not allowed to subject children to violence of any kind..
For example, parents or teachers must not pinch, push, kick, hit or pull children by their hair. Nor should they threaten or intimidate a child or call it ugly names. Violence against someone else in the family is also prohibited so that the child sees or hears it. The penalty may be a fine or imprisonment.
Parents have the responsibility to keep children safe, ensure that they develop and receive education and care but also protection against psychological and physical violence. This also means that parents have an obligation and responsibility to protect their children from being subjected to child marriage, forced marriage or genital mutilation.
If the parents expose the child to violence or do not fulfil their responsibility as a parent in some other way, it is the social services that have a responsibility for ensuring that the child receives what he or she needs.
The social services conduct an investigation to assess if the child has a need for protection or support from the social services. Both parents and children are allowed to speak during the investigation. Most of the time, social services and parents can work together to find out what is best for the child. In some cases, the child may live elsewhere for a while. During that time, parents can get help to make it better at home so that the child can move home again. The most common thing is that it is a voluntary placement.
Staff who work with children, such as at a school, preschool, with the police or at the Swedish Migration Agency, are obliged to immediately report to the social services if they are concerned that a child is in danger. Private individuals should also report if they suspect that children are in trouble. As an individual, you can make an anonymous report.
A report to the social services does not mean that you report a parent, but that you report your concern for the child. Reporting your concern about a child is one way to take responsibility for the child.
Being a parent isn’t always easy, and sometimes the responsibility can feel difficult and lonely. Social services can support you as parents in various ways if you need help in your parenting role or feel anxious about your child, for example because your child is feeling bad, taking drugs or skipping school. There is nothing wrong with needing support, advice or affirmation from someone else and many families get help from social services.
You can turn to the social services and request support and help yourself. You can also contact the children’s health centre (BVC) or the school counsellor for guidance to the right support and help. You can also talk to the staff at the Swedish Migration Agency or in the healthcare services.
You can read more social service’s work here:
About Social Services – National Board of Health and Welfare External link.
About social services for children and young people – Koll på soc External link.
See the film — Being a Parent in Sweden External link.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
BRIS, Children’s Rights in Society, is a children’s rights organisation that works for a better society for children. Both children and adults can contact them for support by chat, e-mail or telephone.
BRIS – Children's Rights in Society (in Swedish) External link.
Children who are in an asylum process need to be informed about what is going to happen and what rights and obligations they have. In order for them to have access to information, the Swedish Migration Agency has produced written material that is aimed at children aged 10–14 years:
At www.informationsverige.se External link. you will find information about the Swedish society. Here you can read, for example, about how the housing market, the labour market and healthcare work in Sweden. There is also information about children’s rights and how the Swedish school works. You can take part in free community orientation and find exercises and films to practice Swedish.
When it comes to size, Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe, bordering Norway, Finland and Denmark. There are currently approximately 10.5 million people living in Sweden. Roughly 4 million people live in and around the three largest cities in the country: Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Stockholm is Sweden's capital with approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. Approximately 27 percent of the Swedish population is born abroad, which equates to roughly 2.8 million people.
Most of Sweden’s surface area is covered by forest, especially coniferous forest. About a quarter of the country consists of mountains and marshes. Off the coast there are archipelagos with tens of thousands of islands. The biggest ones are Gotland and Öland. There are over 100,000 lakes in Sweden. The three largest lakes are called Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren.
The drinking water in Sweden comes from purified surface water from our lakes. The cold water found in the taps is safe to drink and cook with.
You can read more about Sweden’s geography and population here:
Laws and age limits regarding alcohol, drugs and tobacco differ between countries. This section is about what is allowed and not allowed in Sweden.
Alcohol is addictive and can lead to illness, death, violence and accidents.
In order to purchase alcohol in bars and restaurants, you must be 18 years of age. The 18-year limit also applies to the purchase of cider and beer with a lower alcohol content in grocery stores. To purchase alcoholic beverages at Systembolaget, you must be 20 years of age or older. Systembolaget is owned by the Swedish government and has a limited number of stores and limited opening hours.
Selling or buying alcohol to anyone under the age of 20 is prohibited and the punishment can be a fine or imprisonment.
Sweden has a restrictive tobacco policy and since the late 1970s, the proportion of people who smoke has declined steadily. However, it has become more common to use snuff.
In Sweden, it is forbidden to sell tobacco or nicotine products to people under the age of 18.
In many places, smoking is prohibited, for example in schoolyards, workplaces, outside hospitals and restaurants, and in public transport.
When buying alcohol or tobacco, you may be asked to show identification to prove that you are old enough.
In Sweden, it is illegal to possess, use, buy and sell drugs. Examples of drugs include cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, heroin and cat. Some strong drugs, such as tramadol and benzodizepines, are also classified as narcotics and may only be taken if prescribed by a doctor. Drug offences can result in fines or imprisonment.
There is help to get if you want to change your alcohol habits, stop smoking or escape a drug addiction. You can read more here:
How to Change Your Alcohol Habits – 1177 (in Swedish) External link.
Alcohol Help (in Swedish) External link.
Help to Quit Smoking – 1177 (in Swedish) External link.
Stop-smoking line for those who want to quit tobacco External link.
Drug dependence – 1177 (in Swedish) External link.
www.cannabishjalpen.se External link.
There are organisations in society that are largely made up of volunteers. These organisations have different areas in which they operate. You can apply to a volunteer organisation if you feel that you need support, help, advice or if you are looking for a sense of community. You can also get involved and work as a volunteer within the organisation. Volunteering means that you carry out the work of your own free will and without payment for the work. This is a type of work that you are allowed to do without AT-UND.
Some examples of NGOs in Sweden are:
A person in need of subsidiary protection is someone who has applied for asylum in Sweden and been granted subsidiary protection status. These people are usually granted a residence permit for 13 months.
Asylum means sanctuary. When a person applies for asylum, he or she seeks protection in a country other than his or her country of origin.
The asylum process is the various steps that an asylum seeker goes through – from application to decision.
An asylum seeker is a person who has arrived in Sweden and applied for asylum, but who has not yet received a final answer to their application.
An asylum investigation is an interview where you can say why you want protection in Sweden.
Rejection of an asylum application means that the Swedish Migration Agency has said ‘no’ to granting a person’s application for asylum.
Children are all people under the age of 18.
A decision in an asylum case is when the Swedish Migration Agency has decided whether or not an asylum seeker can stay in Sweden.
Daily allowance is an allowance from the Swedish Migration Agency that an asylum seeker can apply for if they do not have their own money.
Judgement. Most of the Swedish Migration Agency’s decisions can be appealed in the courts. When a court makes a decision, this is called a judgement.
A refugee is a person who has applied for asylum and been granted refugee status. This means that you meet the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Refugees, the so-called ‘Geneva Convention’. These people are usually granted a residence permit for 3 years.
A guardian is a person who must look after the interests of asylum-seeking children when their parents are unable to do so. It can be a man or a woman.
Identity means who a person is. When the Swedish Migration Agency asks about your identity, we mean your name, how old you are and where you come from.
Legal force means that the decision can no longer be appealed.
The Swedish Migration Agency is the authority in Sweden that examines applications from people seeking asylum. The Swedish Migration Agency also examines applications from people who want to visit or move to Sweden, or who want to become Swedish citizens.
Authorities ensure that society functions as it should according to the laws decided by the Parliament.
Public counsel is a person who knows Swedish laws. This counsel will help you with your asylum application. A public counsel is a lawyer or law graduate and does not work at the Swedish Migration Agency.
Social services are available in every municipality. They work according to a law called the Social Services Act. The Social Services Act deals with the right to health and social care that everyone in the municipality has. It contains rules for how society should assist people who need help but who cannot get it from anyone else.
Obligation of secrecy means that people who work at, for example, the Swedish Migration Agency are not allowed to tell share what you have said with anyone who does not have the right to know.
A residence permit means that a person has received a ‘yes’ to their application to live in Sweden.
When someone lodges an appeal, this means that they write to an authority or court and inform them that he or she does not agree with what the authority or court has decided. The person says they want the authority or court to change the decision.
2025-03-05
The Swedish Migration Agency's new website has now been launched
On 5 March, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a completely new version of migrationsverket.se, with a new structure and a more user-friendly navigation. The purpose of the new website is primarily to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.
2025-02-28
Amended rules for asylum seekers living in their own accommodation (EBO)
From 1 March, virtually all new asylum seekers will be required to live in one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s asylum accommodation centres in order to receive financial support from the Swedish Migration Agency in the form of daily allowances and special grants.
2025-02-18
If you are returning to your country of origin, you can receive support worth EUR 5,000
If you withdraw your application for asylum or if it is rejected, you can receive support from the Swedish Migration Agency. On 1 March 2025, the support we provide for efforts to help you and your family members reintegrate into society in your country of origin will change. The amount of support you can get depends on when you choose to return.
2025-01-30
Legislative change on accommodation and financial support for asylum seekers
The Swedish Parliament has decided on a legislative change that will affect asylum seekers’ right to financial support and the option to live in their own accommodation. The change will be introduced in two stages. From 1 March, the change only applies to new asylum seekers, and from 1 September 2025, anyone who applied for asylum before 1 March and who lives in their own accommodation is also affected.
2025-01-20
The Upper Secondary School Act ends on 20 January
January 20 is the last day to apply for a permanent residence permit under the Upper Secondary School Act. After this the law will expire, but many people who currently have a residence permit under the Upper Secondary School Act will be able to have their application for permanent residence considered even after January 20.
2024-12-16
Now you can see your complete decision on My Page
If you are waiting for a decision from the Swedish Migration Agency, you can now see the complete decision on My page. Previously, you have only been able to see if the decision is positive or negative, and the justification has only been sent home to you in paper format.
2024-12-12
Now there are films that explain to children what happens when they apply for asylum in Sweden and why they may need to answer some difficult questions. Children will also learn more about life in Sweden, about children’s rights and about laws that protect children.