You’re finally in Sweden! You’ve been planning your move for a long time, and the day is finally here. What next? There are a few vital steps to take after arriving in Sweden.
We’ll go through the all-important visits to the Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency and give you the laydown on getting a Swedish bank account and a cellphone plan.
We’ll also share a few bonus tips for those of you who are looking for work. There’s a lot to go through, so let’s get started with our list of 4 things to take care of before getting to the fun part of living in Sweden.
First stop: The Swedish Migration Agency
The first step is to locate your closest Migration Agency Office. If you need to renew your permit or if you have any issues, you’ll know where to go.
More importantly, this is where you need to go if you haven’t received your residence permit yet. Book an appointment at Migrationsverket (The Swedish Migration Agency) as soon as you can. During your appointment, your residence permit card will be ordered. When it’s ready, it’ll be sent to your Swedish address.
Second stop: The Swedish Tax Agency
The next vital step of your move to Sweden is to get registered with Skatteverket (The Swedish Tax Agency).
When you’ve gone through this crucial step, you can finally receive that all-important personnummer you might have heard about. The personnummer is a Swedish personal ID number which is key to many services in Sweden.
The Swedish Tax Agency is also where you’ll apply for a Swedish ID card. Once you have your personal ID number and your ID card, one of the things you can do is to open a Swedish bank account.
Third stop: Getting a Swedish bank account
Once you have your ID number and Swedish ID card, opening a Swedish bank account is a straightforward process:
- Go to the bank
- Provide the necessary documents
- Fill out some paperwork
- You’ll receive your debit card in the mail within a few weeks
Some of the most used banks in Sweden are:
TIP: Get a BankID!
Once you’ve opened a bank account, make sure to ask for a BankID as soon as possible. The mobile BankID is the most popular way to identify yourself electronically. It’s also the key to using the Swedish payment method “Swish”.
Fourth stop: Getting a cellphone plan
Finally, you’ll likely need a phone plan soon after you arrive in Sweden to stay in touch with family back home and with your new Swedish pals.
Some of the leading mobile operators you can choose from are:
When choosing a mobile operator, you might want to consider whether they offer English customer service and whether the mobile plan includes international calls.
Bonus tip: Getting a job
If you haven’t yet found a job in Sweden, you might be wondering: How can a foreigner get a job in Sweden?
A good place to start after you’ve arrived is Arbetsförmedlingen (The Swedish Public Employment Service). They can help you if you’re having difficulties finding work in Sweden. You can also search for jobs in their job portal Platsbanken.
Other job portals to check out are:
NOTE: If you’re a resident of a non-EU/EEA country, you need to find work and have secured your job before applying for your work permit or arriving in Sweden.
One step at a time!
It can feel overwhelming to arrive in Sweden with a long to-do list of things to take care of. Just remember to take things one step at a time.
The e-book “I’m moving to Sweden! Everything you need for your new Swedish life” can help you along every step of the way.
Likely, you still have many questions. How much does Sweden cost? How can I integrate into Swedish society? With this trusty companion in your hands, you can leave your nerves behind and focus on the fun and exciting parts of moving and arriving in Sweden!