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 welcome house 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.

If you are looking for accommodation, you can contact different housing providers. A list of relevant options can be found here: Find Accommodation - Karlskrona.se.

We also recommend searching in local Facebook groups and on Facebook Marketplace, where accommodation opportunities are often advertised.

Visa, Residence Permit and Work Permit

A valid passport is required to enter Sweden, except for Nordic citizens. EU/EEA citizens may use a national ID card, but bringing a passport is recommended as it is often needed to open a bank account.

EU/EEA citizens

EU/EEA citizens can work or study in Sweden without a permit. The same applies to accompanying EU/EEA family members, who may start working or studying immediately. Non-EU/EEA family members must apply for a residence card through the Swedish Migration Agency.

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Visa

Many visitors to Sweden need a visa, which allows stays of up to three months for purposes such as tourism, business, or conferences. The visa must be obtained before entering Sweden.

Researchers and postdoctoral fellows

If your research stay exceeds three months, you must apply for a residence permit for researchers before arrival. For shorter stays, a visa may be required. Family members can receive residence permits for the same duration, and if the permit is valid for at least six months, your partner may also work.

Doctoral and exchange doctoral students

Doctoral students staying longer than three months must apply for a residence permit before arrival.

• If you have a hosting agreement with an approved research organisation, you may apply for a residence permit for research, meaning you are treated under the same rules as researchers.
• If you do not have a hosting agreement, you must apply for:
  • a residence permit for doctoral studies (if admitted to a programme in Sweden), or
  • a residence permit for a visit (if you are a visiting doctoral student without formal admission).

For stays shorter than three months, a visa may be required.

Family members can receive residence permits for the same period, and if the permit is valid for at least six months, partners may also work.

Teachers and administrative/technical staff

Staff coming to Sweden for work must apply for a work permit before arrival. However, university teachers involved in research or teaching for up to three months within a 12-month period may be exempt from this requirement (though a visa may still be needed for some nationalities).

Work permits are usually granted for the length of employment, up to two years at a time and not beyond the validity of the passport. Family members can receive residence permits for the same period, and if the permit is valid for at least six months, they may also apply for work permits.

New rules from June 2026

From June 2026, new Swedish rules make it easier for researchers and doctoral students to obtain and change residence permits. Doctoral students with a hosting agreement can now apply for a research permit, while those without must apply for doctoral studies or visitor permits. More individuals can apply for new permits without leaving Sweden, especially those already holding permits to seek work or start a business. The job-seeking permit period has been extended to up to 18 months, and it is now easier to qualify for permanent residence after three consecutive years with certain permits, which can also be combined. Additionally, family members already in Sweden can apply for their own residence permits for research or doctoral studies without needing to leave the country.

For more information, visit The Swedish Migration Agency

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

Get a BankID or Freja e-ID

Electronic ID is a standard tool in Sweden for secure online identification and signing.

To get a BankID, you must have

• a Swedish Personal Identity Number,
• be a customer of one of the banks that issue BankID and
• be identified with a valid ID document.

To register Freja e-ID, you need to fulfil the following criteria:

• Hold a biometric passport and be a citizen of an EU/EEA country

• Have your identity officially verified with the Swedish Tax Agency

• Have a registered address in SPAR where you can receive mail

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.

Anyone who has worked in Sweden is required to submit an annual tax return (Inkomstdeklaration) for the previous year. This form is typically sent out at the beginning of the year to everyone who has received income. Much of the information is already pre-filled by the Swedish Tax Agency, but it is important to review the details, make any necessary corrections, and add any taxable income that has not been included. You will also receive a summary of the income statements that the university has reported to the Swedish Tax Agency. The completed tax return must be submitted by a deadline in early May, and this can be done online, via mobile phone, by telephone, or by text message.

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.

Living in Sweden less than a year

If you plan to stay in Sweden for less than one year, you will need to obtain a coordination number (samordningsnummer). This is an identification number issued to individuals who are not registered in the Swedish population register, meaning you will not receive a personal identity number. Please note that having a coordination number does not grant access to the healthcare benefits associated with a personal identity number.

If your stay is shorter than six months, you are required to apply for SINK tax. Travel expenses to and from Sweden at the beginning and end of your employment, as well as accommodation costs, are exempt from SINK taxation. To apply, you should use form SKV 4350.

If your stay in Sweden exceeds six months but is less than one year, you must instead apply for preliminary tax using form SKV 4402.

Living in Sweden over a year

If you plan to stay in Sweden for one year or more, you and your family need to visit the Swedish Tax Agency after arrival. Bring your address in Sweden, passport, residence permit, and marriage certificate (if applicable).

During the visit, you will register in the Swedish population register (folkbokföring) and apply for a personal identity number (personnummer). This number is essential for everyday life in Sweden, including access to healthcare, banking services, mobile subscriptions, and other official services.

Once you receive your personal identity number, please inform hrsupport@bth.se