Capital City: Stockholm
Population: 8.9 million
Official language: Swedish
Commonly spoken languages: Swedish, English, German and French
Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK)
Exchange rate to pound sterling: 0.088 (18/08/2020)
Ah, Sweden! Not surprisingly, often featured in rankings of the best countries to live in. Sweden is located in Scandinavia, between Norway and Finland. Its breathtaking scenery, combined with a high-quality lifestyle and an average life expectancy of 80 years, makes Sweden a very popular choice. The country is ranked in the top 10 in the World Happiness Report 2020 and, according to the same report, comes 7th in the global comparison of happiness of foreign-born people. This all goes to show that if you are looking to move to Sweden from the UK, you have made the right choice.
Table of Contents
Where to move to Sweden from the UK
In 2022, the number of UK citizens who moved to Sweden reached 1,513. The most preferred Swedish cities, especially by British citizens, are Stockholm and Gothenburg.
The Stockholm metropolitan area has 26 municipalities with a population of more than 2.2 million, making it the most populous city in Sweden and Scandinavia. Stockholm has a long history, dating back to the 13th century, and is one of the most diverse and welcoming cities in the world. Over 27% of its citizens are immigrants of non-Swedish background. The city, as well as the whole of Sweden, is eco-friendly, with novel policies being implemented regularly in order to become more sustainable.
Some other popular choices on your radar would be:
Malmö
Located in southern Sweden and very close to another big European capital, that of Denmark, Copenhagen, Malmö offers low-price rental properties, lovely sights, a clean environment and overall a great atmosphere worth considering.
Gothenburg
Located on the west coast of southern Sweden, Gothenburg is the second-largest city in the country. It is the perfect place for those looking for some peace and quiet.
Uppsala
A university town, located 44 miles north of Stockholm. The city is home to some of the best educational centres in the world. But don’t let that fool you, this is also a place with vibrant nightlife for those of you who’d like to live it up every so often.
Moving to Sweden from the UK after Brexit
Following Brexit, UK citizens are no longer regarded as EU citizens, which means that the requirements for relocating to Sweden have altered. Living in Sweden these days will require a residence permit. Despite how difficult it may seem, many people are making the transition successfully, so you can too!
Types of residence permits
- Work – If you’ve been extended a work offer in Sweden, congrats! The help of your company is required in order to obtain a work visa. It’s best to handle this before you begin packing. You should have a copy of all your employment records available since you will need them for your application.
- Study – Are you preparing to enrol in classes at a Swedish university? A student residency permit is required. Make sure you have all of your acceptance letters and supporting documentation available because the procedure requires you to provide documentation of your enrollment in a Swedish educational institution.
- Family – You may be qualified for a residence permit based on your family links if you already have close relatives residing in Sweden. If your parents or partner live in Sweden, then this may be applicable. Sweden acknowledges the value of family by letting you travel to be with your loved ones.
- Self-employment – Do you want to launch your own company in Sweden? Applying for a self-employed residence permit is required. This entails submitting a strong business plan and evidence that you have the resources necessary to sustain yourself while starting your venture.
Application process
Although the application process is simple, some preparation is needed. Here’s a detailed how-to:
- Collect your documents – The documentation you require will vary based on your unique circumstances. A valid passport, a job offer, evidence of finances, health insurance, and more can be among them. Creating a checklist will help you make sure you have everything you need.
- Send in your application – The Swedish Migration Agency website is the primary place to submit applications online. Although it’s easy to use, double-check that all of your papers have been uploaded successfully. Process delays might result from missing papers.
- Await the decision – Be patient, as processing times may differ. Applying much in advance of your intended move can help you to minimise stress at the last minute. While you wait, you can start planning other aspects of your move, such as locating a place to live and learning Swedish.
- Register with the Swedish Population Register – You must register with the Swedish Population Register if you want to remain in Sweden for a period longer than a year. As a result, you will be given a personal identity number, which is necessary, among other things, to open a bank account and obtain healthcare in Sweden.
Moving to a new country is always a big step, but with the right preparation, it can be a smooth and exciting transition. Make sure to visit the Swedish Migration Agency’s website for the most detailed and up-to-date information. The UK government’s guidance on living in Sweden is also a valuable resource.
Working in Sweden
Sweden is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe with a booming economy. According to different studies, the country ranks above the average in environmental quality, civic engagement, education and skills, work-life balance, health status, income and wealth, housing, and personal safety.
Statista reports that between 2009-2019, the annual household disposable income per capita has constantly increased and in 2019 reached 222 000 SEK, or roughly £20 000 making it quite easy to cover the otherwise high cost of living in Sweden.
Sweden has a very competitive job market with outstanding working conditions and culture. Popular graduate jobs include healthcare workers, IT specialists, construction and engineering. According to the 2019 labour shortages list, Sweden is in need of architects, healthcare professionals, lawyers, software developers, and teachers. Somewhat expected, the highest-paid positions in Sweden are C-level executives, project managers, and physicians, which in no way means that the rest of the professionals are underpaid. On the contrary, Sweden has one of the best-paid job markets in the world.
Transportation in Sweden
Swedes use their public transportation options frequently. The country has a reliable network of trains, buses, underground, and trams. There are also options to travel by bus from city to city. Public transport is relatively inexpensive compared to the UK and there are a lot of options for daily, monthly, and other passes which can save you some money. On average, a monthly public transportation pass in Stockholm is nearly 50% cheaper than that in London. The overall cost of owning a vehicle is also lower in Sweden than in the UK.
Being an environmentally oriented country, Sweden offers a variety of options to rent bicycles, electric scooters, or cars. There are quite a few taxi companies as well for those of us who tend to be late or need a late-night ride home.
Driving your own car in Sweden
According to information provided by the UK government, you can drive in Sweden with your UK driving license. If you are a resident of Sweden, you should exchange your UK licence for a Swedish one.
Owning a car does not come cheap. Buying a decent commuter vehicle, such as Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline or Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or an equivalent new car) in Stockholm will cost you roughly £20,000, whereas buying the same vehicle in London will cost around £2,000 more. But when you factor in all the expenses – car insurance, annual road tax, annual inspection, gasoline and parking fees, the cost might be hefty. Still, according to data from Statista, cars are the preferred and most commonly used method of transportation in Sweden, followed by public transport and bikes.
Education in Sweden
The Swedish school system is tax-financed and regulated through the Education Act, which mandates ten years of school attendance for all children from the age of six. Preschool and primary school are 70%-90% less expensive in Stockholm than in London.
Being a student in Sweden
The country is home to some of the best universities globally and has a very good higher education system. The best cities to consider for your degree are Stockholm and Uppsala.
Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland are exempt from paying application and tuition fees for higher education studies in Sweden. However, the fact that the UK is leaving the EU might lead to some changes after 31st December 2020. For students outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, the tuition fees can vary from 80, 000 to 130, 000 SEK a year depending on the university and course.
The average cost of students’ accommodation, food, travel, internet, and going out expenses is about 8,500 SEK, or £745 a month.
Healthcare in Sweden
If you are living in Sweden or are about to move there permanently before 31st December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights as you do now, provided you remain a resident. You can check this guide and learn more about Healthcare for UK nationals in Sweden.
The Swedish healthcare system is generally good and mainly government-funded, universal for all citizens (Sweden and foreign-born), and decentralized. Private healthcare also exists. Healthcare for citizens under 18 is completely free, as well as dental care for people up to 23 years of age. There is a high-cost ceiling to most medical fees, so they don’t exceed a certain amount. On average, you’d spent an equivalent of £96 a year on all your medical consultations.
You won’t need to undergo any formal application process, as everyone is covered under Sweden’s healthcare system, whether native-born or expat. If you are an EU citizen, you are covered by your EHIC card.
However, if you are not from the EU and are staying for less than a year, you won’t be eligible for healthcare access and should consider private healthcare options instead.
Takeaways
To sum up, there are many pros to moving to Sweden. Being the leader in charts for the best place to live and having the happiest people in the world, who wouldn’t want to live there!
So, if you’ve decided to move to Sweden from UK, you can rely on our international removal service, and we will help you organise the move.
(3 votes, 100.00 % )
Loading...
