Although Sweden is the largest of the Scandinavian countries, twice as big as Britain, its population is less than nine million. Arrive by plane on a clear day and you will see the black-green tapestry of an endless pine forest laid out before you, punctuated by the glinting of 100,000 lakes.
As well as being a place of unique natural beauty, Sweden is also friendly and efficient. Walking through the quiet, airy and immaculately clean arrivals lounge at Arlanda airport is a good indication of what is to come: municipal pride on a level most of us will find totally alien. And when you’re ordering your Max burger, try breaking through that legendary reserve - you’ll find the Swedes to be an emotive and expressive people. And with their excellent English, initial contact is rarely a problem.
Sweden has an excellent healthcare system and you do not require any vaccinations before your arrival here. Doctors, nurses and dentists invariably speak English and in many cases, other languages besides Swedish.
The emergency number in Sweden is 112.
If you are an EU/EEA Citizens you will have access to public medical services, but you must register with your domestic social insurance office. You will be issued with a European health insurance card or, in some cases, an E128 or E111. You need to present the form or card when seeking medical attention.
If you are a non EU/EEA citizen and have a permit to prove you’ve been resident in Sweden for more than one year, you are entitled to the same health care as everybody else. You need to register at a tax office on arrival in Sweden to be eligible for this. Students staying in Sweden for less than a year are usually covered by reciprocal agreements that Sweden has with some, but not all, countries.
To receive your salary you will need a bank account. Opening a Swedish bank account is only possible if you have a Swedish social security number. This is available from the Skatteverket, but our consultants maintain a close relationship with the main banks and will happily guide you through the procedure.
There is currently a housing shortage in Stockholm, driving up the rents in surrounding areas. Most properties are only on the market for a very short time so it’s best to view properties two to four weeks prior to your move-in date.
When you’re house hunting there are a number of routes you can take; try the newspapers, ask your friends and colleagues or register at a real estate agency. The internet is always a useful resource and why not ask your Michael Page consultant? They will always be happy to help out any way they can.
Sweden is incredibly proud of its public transport system and rightfully so. All towns have reliable local and regional bus services and the railway network is clean, cheap and efficient. Gothenburg and Norrköping enjoy the convenience of a tram network and Stockholm has a subway system with more than a hundred stations.
