Moving to Sweden from the UK

Guide to moving to Sweden from the UK

Moving to a new country will undoubtedly bring culture shock, but for UK nationals making the move north to Sweden, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the prospect of a move.

If you are a UK national wishing to move to Sweden, you will need to go through the same process as non-EU and non-EEA nationals, unless you were resident in Sweden before 31^st December 2020.

If you were living in Sweden before this date, your rights are protected under the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

If you intend on moving to Sweden and you hold dual nationality with a country in the EU, it will be significantly easier for you to make the move.

The main points you should follow when moving to Sweden from the UK include:

1. Apply for and obtain the appropriate visa and residence permit
2. Register with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and get your unique tax ID (personnumer)
3. Find where you want to live
4. Organise your move with an international moving company
5. Apply for your personal identity card (identitetskort)
6. Set up a Swedish bank account
7. Depending on the terms of your visa, start work or a business
8. Ensure that you are paying the appropriate taxes
9. If you have children, enrol them at school
10. Learn the language with free courses arranged by the Swedish for Immigrants (SfI) programme

If you are looking for support with your move to Sweden from the UK, contact IAS for advice on each stage of the process.

Call 0330 828 4146 to speak to an immigration adviser today.

Can I move to Sweden from the UK after Brexit?

Since Brexit, the majority of British citizens will not be permitted to move to settle in Sweden unless they have obtained the appropriate permissions.

Visiting Sweden after Brexit

To visit Sweden, you do not need to apply for a visitor visa, but you can apply for a Schengen Visa to allow you to stay for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Joining family members in Sweden after Brexit

It will still be possible to join family members if you are eligible after Brexit. It can be a complex process to join a spouse, registered partner, or cohabiting partner in Sweden.

Swedish family members must be eligible Swedish citizen, with permanent residence status, or alternatively, hold a temporary residence status permit as a person in need of humanitarian protection.

Some of the requirements include:

• Fulfil the maintenance requirement to support yourself and any family members
• Have suitable accommodation for the couple to live in
• Provide proof of your identity and address
• Submit evidence of your relationship

Working in Sweden after Brexit

Although it is more difficult for British nationals to work in Sweden after Brexit, it is still possible. The primary requirements for applying for a Swedish work visa after Brexit include:

• The job was advertised to Swedish/ EU/ EEA workers for at least ten days
• The terms of employment are similar to those set by Swedish collective agreements
• The role pays at least SEK 13,000 (£1,097) gross salary per month
• Your employer must intend to provide insurance on your behalf

How to get a job in Sweden

There are many jobs available in Sweden for British citizens who have the appropriate qualifications, expertise, and language skills.

As British citizens, you must apply for and be approved for a work permit before you make plans to travel to Sweden.

To get a job in Sweden, it is recommended to follow the below steps:

1. Look for job opportunities while you are in the UK
2. Create a CV and cover letter bespoke to the job and submit it to the employer
3. Receive an eligible job offer from an approved Swedish employer
4. Submit your visa application to the Swedish government along with your supporting documents
5. You may need to attend a visa interview at the Swedish consulate as part of the process
6. If your visa is approved, you may travel to Sweden
7. When you arrive, you must register your details on the Swedish Population Register
8. Work in your job until your visa expires, and keep to the visa conditions
9. If possible, you may be eligible to renew the visa before it expires

Is Sweden a good place to work?

In general, Sweden is considered to be a good place to work compared to the UK.

Sweden has a very high level of union membership among its workforce, meaning that workers generally enjoy wide protections at work.

The level of union membership is approximately 70% and employees have a strong voice to represent them at collective agreements.

There are opportunities for pay increases, overtime pay, insurance schemes, and the opportunity to make workplace decisions.

Apply for a visa to work in Sweden

If you wish to settle in Sweden and you are required to hold a visa, you should apply for the appropriate immigration permission and apply.

How to get a Swedish work permit

1. Obtain your offer of employment: Your employer is required to have advertised the position to Swedish, EU, and EEA workers for at least ten days before you are offered the role
2. Your employer starts the application: Your employer will begin the paperwork process by issuing a formal offer of employment
3. Wait for your email on how to apply: When the employer completes the offer of employment, you will receive an email about how to apply. You should apply on behalf of any dependents who will be travelling with you to Sweden
4. Prepare your supporting documents: Gather the documents you need to submit with your application (passport pages with bio information and visa stamps), power of attorney (where relevant), and documents showing your offer of employment
5. Pay the application fee online: You will receive a confirmation email when your application has been submitted (as will your employer)
6. Wait for the Migration Agency to issue a decision: The Swedish Migration Agency has the authority to issue visas if applications meet the requirements. If you ensure that your application is completed thoroughly, you may be more likely to get a quicker decision
7. Check whether you need a residence permit card: If your permit is issued for longer than three months, you will be required to attend the Swedish embassy to apply for an entry visa. If less than three months, you can request your residence permit card when you arrive (not applicable to those intending to work in Sweden)

What documents do you need to apply?

Depending on the purpose of your visit to Sweden, the cost of applying for a visa will vary.

If you wish to visit Sweden for more than 90 days, you must apply for a visitor’s permit. Some of the documents you should include with your application include the following:

• A copy of your passport with your bio information and visa stamps recorded
• A copy of a residence permit in a Schengen zone country (if applicable)
• Power of attorney form (if represented by a qualified lawyer)
• Copy of the ID card of the person you intend to visit
• An invitation from the person you intend to visit
• Means of support form from the person you intend to visit (where applicable)

If a child is travelling without a guardian, they must submit the following:

• Birth certificate with the names of parents
• Confirmation that the parent consents to the child travelling alone
• Copy of the parent/ guardian passport

What documents do you need for a Swedish work visa?

As mentioned above, Swedish employers as well as visa applicants must submit documentation to the Swedish Migration Agency and follow all Swedish government guidance.

Some of these documents include:

• Valid passport or travel document
• Formal, eligible job offer aligned with Swedish collective agreements or the standard of the occupation
• Documents confirming a monthly salary SEK 13,000 before taxes or a salary
• Formal employment offer with health insurance, life insurance, and social security
• Evidence of accommodation
• Proof of intention to leave Sweden when the visa expires (where applicable)

Depending on your circumstances, there may be additional documents required as part of the process.

You should submit all the requested documents in a timely manner to give yourself the best chance of a successful application the first time.

How much does it cost to move to Sweden from the UK?

The exact cost of moving to Sweden from the UK is impossible to say without having an understanding of your circumstances.

If you choose to hire a removals company to transport your belongings to Sweden, you can expect to pay approximately the below costs:

• One-bedroom property: Between £2,000 – £3,000
• Two-bedroom property: Between £2,500 – £3,500
• Three-bedroom property: Between £3,500 – 4,800
• Four-bedroom property: Between £4,600 – £6,200
• Five-bedroom property: Between £5,800 – £7,900

Depending on your situation, these factors may impact the cost of your move:

• The quantity of your goods
• The nature and size of the items to be moved
• The length of time available to transport the goods
• Additional services (e.g., packing, securing, insurance, etc.)
• Special requests for certain items
• The moving company you work with
• The proposed moving dates

What is the cost of living in Sweden?

It is difficult to estimate the cost of living without knowing an individual’s exact circumstances.

However, below we have prepared a sample outline of the cost of living in Sweden for the general Swedish population.

Note that costs are written in Swedish krona.