Moving to Sweden

Accommodation

Finding a place to live in Karlskrona is usually easier than in many larger Swedish cities, but it’s still a good idea to start your search early. You can choose between rental apartments and condominiums in different parts of the city. Many people like to live near the city centre or in areas with good transport links to the Gräsvik campus.

If you’re new to the city, it helps to register early in local housing queues. You can explore options through both municipal and private landlords. Student accommodation is also available if you are a PhD student or other student. Commuting from nearby towns is another possibility.

Support and Guidance

Karlskrona Municipality offers a relocation service with practical tips, contacts, and guidance on housing and everyday life. You can contact them at +46 455 30 32 75 or inflyttarservice@karlskrona.se.

Open a bank account

Opening a bank account varies greatly from country to country and can be challenging. We want to make it a little easier for you and have put together a brochure with important information, just contact someone at our Euraxess welcome center for more information.

If your stay in Sweden is more than 6 month we recommend you to open a bank account.

Documents that the bank may ask for:

• Valid passport (if you stay less than 1 year)
• Swedish ID-card (mandatory if you stay more than 1 year, application is made via the Swedish Tax Agency)
• Certificate of employment
• Details of address in Sweden
• Coordination number or a Swedish personal identity number (application is made via the Swedish Tax Agency)

When you open a bank account you can get a debit card and Internet- and Telephone- services linked to your account (mobilt bank-ID). The cheapest way to pay bills is through the banks’ payment services, which are available online. Five Swedish banks have offices in Karlskrona:

• Nordea
• Handelsbanken
• Swedbank
• SEB
• Länsförsäkringar

Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket)

The Swedish Tax Agency is responsible for the civil registration of private individuals and for collecting taxes such as personal income tax, corporate tax, VAT, and excise duties.

Living or working in Sweden often requires registering with the agency and paying tax on salary and other types of income. If you live in Sweden, you are liable to pay income tax on all your income.

On the Swedish Tax Agency’s website, you can read more about moving to, living in, or working in Sweden.

Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)

The Migration Agency is the authority which considers applications from people who want to visit, live in or seek asylum in Sweden, or who want to become Swedish citizens.

Working in Sweden

In order to work in Sweden, you must have a work permit. Read more about how to apply for a work permit or for a residence permit as a self-employed person or a visiting researcher.

Studying in Sweden

In order to study in Sweden, you must have a residence permit. Read more about how to apply for a permit for studies or to work as a doctoral student.

Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)

When you work in Sweden, your employer is required to pay social security contributions for the work you perform here. This means that you are covered by the Swedish social insurance system, which entitles you to benefits, for example in case of sickness.

More information may be found at Försäkringskassans website.

Personal Injury Insurance for Doctoral Employees

All registered doctoral students and employees at BTH are covered by personal injury insurance during study or working hours, as well as when travelling directly between their place of residence and the place where they study or work.

For university employees, there is also a supplementary personal injury insurance called PSA (Personal Injury Agreement, personskadeavtal). The insurance provider AFA pays compensation under the PSA for loss of income, expenses, and physical or mental suffering.

Medical Care

In general, Sweden’s health and medical care holds to a high standard. All residents – or individuals with a personal identity number – will be subsidized by the state when receiving health and medical care, regardless of whether it is a visit to a doctor or a dentist.

Read more about the healthcare system in Sweden/Karlskrona here.

Childcare and school

Childcare

Childcare is a collective name for educational activities for younger children. Childcare encompasses such activities as preschools, family day nurseries and after-school recreation centres. Children can be there while their parents are working or studying.

There is municipal childcare in all municipalities. There are also independent and private childcare facilities that are run by companies or organizations. Children aged between one and five have a right to attend preschool or family day nursery. If you are a job-seeker or taking parental leave with younger siblings, the older child has a right to about three hours of childcare per day, or 15 hours per week.

Karlskrona municipality has a well-developed early childhood education for children aged 1-5 years. Read more on Karlskrona municipality website.

School

School attendance is compulsory in Sweden. It applies to nine-year comprehensive school, and means that you have a right to education there. It also means that you have to participate in what the school organizes

All children, between the ages of 6-15, are given a place in a nearby school, known as home school, but you as a parent can search for a place at another school. Read more about school in Karlskrona on the Karlskrona municipality’s website.

Since 2019 Karlskrona has an international primary school. The primary school will follow an international curriculum and all teaching will be conducted in English. Read more about the IB school here.