Visit Sweden

The myths surrounding Swedes are many. You’re bound to have heard a few. But what’s true and what’s not? Sweden expat David Wiles provides his perspective. #1 Swedes are reserved It’s true that the Swedes aren’t the world’s most outgoing people, but I do feel their reclusiveness has been… mythified. I remember my Swedish teacher telling our class of newly arrived immigrants that Swedes living in flats often look through the peephole in their front door before stepping out into the hallway. This was out of fear of running into a neighbour and having to talk to them. Exaggerations aside, the average Swede is less likely to talk to a stranger, unless being asked for directions. I think it could be something to do with the weather: if it’s cold and wet you’re less likely to take the time to stop and chat to people in the street, and that behaviour becomes ingrained. A word of advice: Many Swedes think it’s rude to pry and ask personal ...

Like any other country, Sweden comes with its own laws, regulations and traditions. And honestly, getting your papers in order as newly arrived in Sweden can be quite demanding. Here are ten things to take care of when you move to Sweden. You’re advised to follow the chronological order. #1 Get a residency permit, or renew it, at the Migration Agency This is almost always step one for expats in Sweden. Sweden’s Migration Agency is called Migrationsverket , and it handles issues relating to immigration, asylum, visas, permits, and citizenship. Maybe you already secured the necessary residence permit required to legally reside and work in Sweden before arriving – through a job, family, or for study purposes. But all residence permits have expiration dates, so you may want to locate your nearest Migration Agency field or head office in case you need to renew permits or have other visa related issues. #2 R...

So, you’ve decided to move to Sweden. Next step: finding a job. Below are some helpful starting points. Job listings There are many privately run job sites commonly used to find a job in Sweden. These websites usually include job listings (often in Swedish) and functions where you can upload your CV. Some of these job sites are: careerbuilder.se jobb.blocket.se jobbsafari.se studentjob.se metrojobb.se monster.se stepstone.se Job listings in English LinkedIn’s job search portal Thelocal.se/jobs neuvoo – global job source Recruitment agencies with job listings Academic Work Adecco  (in Swedish) Incluso Manpower  (in Swedish) OnePartnerGroup Proffice  (in Swedish) TNG  (in Swedish) Undutchables EURES – the European Job Mobility Portal Another good starting point for job seekers is the EURES database . It’s a collection of job listings from EU countries’ public employment agencies and run by the EU Pu...

Wary of moving to a country where polar bears supposedly roam the streets? Don’t be! Let these five compelling reasons convince you to work in Sweden. 1. Workers have strong rights Workers’ rights are one of the cornerstones of the modern Swedish labour market. Labour unions are powerful, and collective bargaining has meant the development of an environment where the health and safety of employees come first. In addition to union support, a government agency, the Swedish Work Environment Authority  ( Arbetsmiljöverket ), ensures employees’ well-being at work. Read up on Swedish business and office culture. 2. Equality is key Sweden’s anti-discrimination legislation ensures that everyone has the right to be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or functional disabilities. Read more about Swedish equality. 3. Your family can get residence permits Family-focused policies extend to migr...

Swedes celebrate their National Day on 6 June in honour of two historical events: Gustav Vasa being elected king (6 June 1523) and the adoption of a new constitution (6 June 1809). This day offers a rare chance to see Swedes waving the flag. Celebration with the Royal Family Every year, the King and Queen of Sweden take part in a ceremony at Skansen, Stockholm’s open-air museum, where the yellow and blue Swedish flag is run up the mast, and children in traditional peasant costume present the royal couple with bouquets of summer flowers. These days, special ceremonies welcoming new Swedish citizens are held around the country on National Day. The last time people in general took an active interest in Sweden as a nation-state was at the turn of the century, around 1900, when national-romantic winds were blowing through the country and folklore societies and local history museums were established. It was then that 6 June first became a day of ce...

Swedish food is much more than just iconic meatballs and chewy fish-shaped sweets. If you want to know a herring from a crayfish and a kanelbulle from a prinsesstårta , here are ten vital facts about Swedish food traditions. #1 Lingonberries go with anything Just like ketchup and mustard, lingonberry jam is widely used to accompany a variety of dishes, from meatballs and pancakes to porridge and black pudding ( blodpudding ). But despite its sweetness, it is rarely used on bread. Thanks to the Right of Public Access ( Allemansrätten ), which gives everyone the freedom to roam and enjoy nature, many Swedes grow up picking lingonberries in the forest, and using these tiny tart red fruits to make a jam-like preserve. Photo: Magnus Carlsson/ imagebank.sweden.se #2 Pickled herring – centre of the smorgasbord You might swap meatballs ( köttbullar ) for mini sausages ( prinskorvar ) or pick cured salmon (...

About 1.5 million people in Sweden have a disability of some kind. The principal goal of Sweden’s disability policy has long been to ensure that people with disabilities have power and influence over their everyday lives. Dignity and democracy in Sweden The aim of the Swedish Government’s disability policy is to give people with disabilities a greater chance of participating in society on the same terms as others. Ten priority areas have been identified, three of which are given special attention: the justice system, transportation and IT. The justice system All citizens should feel that laws are reasonable and relevant, that the justice system is there for them, and that it is effective and ensures compliance with their legal rights. Accordingly, police authorities must analyse their operations from a disability perspective. In 2010, the Swedish Prosecution Authority initiated a project to assess how it disseminates information to cr...