Moving to Sweden

Relocation and immigration guide for international professionals planning to move or settle in Sweden.

Sweden is an EU and Schengen member. The main sponsored work routes for non-EU professionals are the Work permit and the EU Blue Card.

🇪🇺 EU Member 🛂 Schengen Zone

Moving to Sweden: what you need to know

Verified facts on visas, salaries, housing, tax, and arrival steps for non-EU professionals — sourced from official sites, with confidence noted where limited.

Use the jump links above or scan the sections below; topic guides and profession rails follow.

Immigration and work permits

Sweden supports an EU Blue Card and a Work permit for non-EU employees, plus an ICT permit, a Self-employed route, Look for work or start a business, and Live with a partner. Fees and Migrationsverket waiting times are in each row.

EU Blue Card — typical processing Most complete applications are decided within 1 month (incomplete: 2 months)
Work permit — typical processing Complete applications: within 1 month for highly qualified jobs, 4 months for other jobs (incomplete: up to 10 months)
ICT permit — typical processing Most complete applications are decided within 1 month

→ Full Sweden visa and immigration guide

Salaries and cost of living

Average gross pay is about SEK 42,900/month (SCB, 2025). Minimum wage: There is no statutory minimum wage.

→ Jobs and salary benchmarks in Sweden

Housing and rentals

Official SCB rents below are first-hand (regulated) contracts for a 2-room flat. Second-hand and sublet rents are not covered by this figure.

→ Housing guide for Sweden

Tax for new arrivals

Sweden combines municipal and state income taxes, high VAT, and simplified annual returns through Skatteverket, with separate registration for self-employed individuals.

→ Sweden tax guide

Permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence is normally requested when you extend your permit; Swedish citizenship for adults is applied for online with the Migration Agency under the Swedish Nationality Act.

→ Permanent residency and citizenship in Sweden

How to settle in Sweden

After your permit is approved, register for a tax ID, banking, and healthcare — the checklist further down covers the full sequence.

Register at Skatteverket to receive your personnummer — the key to unlocking almost all Swedish services
Request a coordination number (samordningsnummer) from Skatteverket if personnummer is delayed
Open a bank account: SEB or Handelsbanken accept applications before personnummer; use Revolut as a bridge
Get BankID: visit your bank in person once personnummer is issued — required for most online services
Register with a local healthcare centre (vårdcentral) at 1177.se

Everything you need to settle in Sweden

Visa & Immigration

Complete guide to work permits and visas for Sweden.

Permanent residency & citizenship

Settlement routes, PR timelines, and citizenship rules for Sweden.

Tax Guide

Income tax brackets, freelancer registration, and tax treaties in Sweden.

Jobs

Portals, top sectors, and salary benchmarks.

Schools & Education

Public and international schools for expat families in Sweden.

Healthcare

How to register with public health insurance and find a doctor in Sweden.

Banking

Best bank accounts for new arrivals and expats in Sweden.

Housing

Rental market overview, average rents by city, and tenant rights in Sweden.

Students

Study visas, universities, and practical tips for international students in Sweden.

Guides by profession

Salary ranges and demand signals — open a guide for visa routes and qualification notes for your field.

💻 Software Engineer