First Steps

A checklist of what to do when you move to Sweden and when to do it.

A checklist of what to do when you move to Sweden and when to do it.

The Swedish agency for immigration, visas and permanent residency approval

The Swedish tax and civic registration agency – you get your personal number and ID card from this agency.

The Swedish social insurance agency – cradle to grave welfare.

A list of important documents to bring from home when moving to Sweden for the first time.

A list of questions you should take with you when you go to Migrationsverkets, Skatteverket, Försäkringskassan and Arbetesförmedlingen.

Your Swedish ID number is your key to Swedish welfare services, banking, civic duties and even your supermarket loyalty card.

The most used form of ID in Sweden is your ID card. It details your ID number, address and physical description.

That magic 480 days parental leave and making it work for you and your family

Anne Pihl arrived in Sweden in 1998 with her Swedish husband. Her daughter had been born in England, 2 months before moving to Sweden. You can imagine how surprised she was when Försäkringskassan called her up offering a monthly parental leave allowance.

Swedish parental leave for the non-Swede. Maternity and Paternity payments or social insurance in Sweden is called föräldrapenning.

Where does it come from, are you entitled to it and how do you apply for it?

Parental benefits for immigrants with children over the age of 1 are changing. On Jul 2017 the Riksdag voted in amendments that could affect you.

Försäkringskassan has updated their online brochures and application forms to accommodate several immigrant languages. Making the social insurance system in Sweden a whole lot easier to understand.