The information included here has been formulated
in March 2007, and is intended as a guide only.
Grants, jobs and visas
What kind of visa do I need if I want to visit
Sweden for 2 months, or 12 months?
If you are a national of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to enter Sweden. All other nationals should check their visa status on this list. Most visas are granted for a maximum of 3 months within a 6-month period. If you are not an EU/EEA citizen and want to work, you must also apply for a work permit and, if your visit is for a year or more, a residence permit.
Where can I get a travel grant?
The best place to start searching for travel grants is with the funding bodies in your own country. In Sweden, a good source of links for funding can be found at the STINT website.
I am from the UK and would like to come to work as a researcher in Sweden. Can you find me a job?
Unfortunately, the Mobility Centre can’t find you a job, but on our portal we suggest you search for researcher opportunities via, for example, job search engines, and the Marie Curie website. The European Researchers' Mobility Portal allows a country-by-country search for researcher positions and, if you register, you can post your CV.
I am an information technology student in Hungary and I wish to pursue my studies at one of the major technical institutes in Sweden. Can you help me?
You must take direct contact with the institute of your choice, or conduct a job search (see above question).
I have always wanted to work in Sweden. I would like to apply for a visa and work permit so I can come to find a job. How can I do this?
You should consult the Swedish Embassy, or visit their website. The general rule, however, is that nationals of third (non-EU) countries will not be eligible for a work permit if they do not already have a job offer from a Swedish institution or business.
I am an unemployed EU citizen. Can I come to Sweden to find a research job?
As a citizen of an EU country, you are entitled to come to Sweden for up to three months in order to search for a job and still receive benefits. You need to complete form E303 which is available through the unemployment office in your country.
I am returning to Sweden after a one-year post-doc in Germany, how can I get a research job?
You can search for jobs online using the newspaper website Dagens Nyheter, for example, or Eniro's search engine. Or simply scan the newspapers when you get here. If your host institution has offered you a job on condition that you find your own funding, you could try applying for project funds from one of the Swedish research funding bodies, such as at SSF. This list at STINT provides useful links to funding bodies.
Tax issues
I am employed by a university in the UK and will spend 6 months at a laboratory in Sweden while continuing to be paid at home. Will my UK income be taxed by the Swedish or UK authorities?
According to a double-taxation agreement with the UK, if your income arises from outside Sweden and you work here for less than 183 days within a 12-month period, then the income is not liable to tax in Sweden, but will be taxed at source in the UK.
My employer has suggested I might be eligible for “forskarskatten” (tax relief for foreign key personnel)? How do I find out more?
The main feature of Sweden’s tax relief legislation is to provide a 25% reduction of taxable income for foreign “key” persons for up to three years. This means that tax will only be liable on 75% of that individual’s income. Full details are available via the Swedish tax office's International section.
I have been told by my university that I must pay LKP at 52% of my salary, and that this amount is deducted from both my Marie Curie living and mobility allowances. This is higher than the government’s set amount of 33%. Why am I paying such a high LKP?
LKP, short for lönekostnadspålägg, is the amount that Swedish employers pay on your behalf as a contribution to social insurance, including pension. The amount of LKP is set after agreements reached with the relevant trades unions and, at universitites, it is topped up from 33% to 52% to include more pension and other benefits for workers. With Marie Curie fellows, this amount must be deducted from the monthly allowances, ie both the living allowance and the mobility allowance. There is no special reduction in LKP for non-EU citizens.
A Swedish university has offered me a Marie Curie post-graduate fellowship on full pay. However, I would prefer to receive a stipend as the EU has stated that this sum, although lower, is tax-free. Why won’t the university pay me a stipend?
Sweden considers all Marie Curie salaries and stipends as taxable earned income. You are therefore better off with an MC salary which pays more money per month than an MC stipend. The good news is that you will be fully covered for social insurance purposes.
I am from Canada and am just about to start work as a visiting researcher in Sweden with a salary from the Swedish university. I have a contract for 6 months. Will I pay tax in Sweden or Canada? Does my situation change if I stay longer than 6 months?
As you are not from within the EU, and are in Sweden for just six months, you will not be considered resident in this country and therefore will not be liable to pay Swedish tax on your income. Instead you will pay Special Income Tax (SINK) which means that an amount is withheld by your employer at a rate of 25% of your earned income. In the case of a contract that is longer than 6 months, you would not pay SINK, but instead would be required to file a tax return, självdeklaration, and your tax liability in Sweden is likely to be considered unlimited. Double taxation agreements have been reached with many countries, including Canada, and you should therefore investigate this with your tax office in your home country before you leave. See Tax Regulation for Residents Abroad.
Social insurance, benefits, etc
Is it true that, once I arrive in Sweden, I will have the same rights to social insurance as a Swedish citizen?
If you are an EU citizen, and have registered your right to stay in Sweden with the Migration Board, you are entitled to residence-based benefits. If you also work, you will become eligible to claim work-based benefits after one month. If you are from outside the European Union, and are resident for less than one year, you are not normally entitled to healthcare or social benefits, in which case you should ensure you have adequate medical and other insurances before you leave your home country. However, Sweden has concluded social security conventions with the following countries: Austria, Canada (including a special agreement with Québec), Cape Verde, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Yugoslavia (including Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina), Luxemburg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA. Nationals from these countries should check the agreements before travelling.
Can I bring my children with me to Sweden?
If you are from the EU, you are entitled to visit or reside in Sweden at all times and can bring your dependent family. If you are from a so-called third country, and have been granted a visa to enter Sweden, you may also apply to bring your spouse/cohabitant and your children to Sweden for the same period of time. In some cases, your spouse can also apply for a work permit.
What are the rules in Sweden governing child care? How much time can I take off work to be at home with my baby? Can I claim parental benefits?
The answer to this depends on your status in Sweden. If you are from the EU/EEA, and have been employed for a month or more, you are entitled to the same benefits as Swedish citizens. If you come from outside the EU area, and are resident/employed in Sweden for more than a year, and paying tax here, then you also are entitled to some benefits. The rules for parental leave, föräldraledighet, can be found here. In summary, parental leave entitlement for each child is 480 days, split between the two parents. Either parent is able to hand over most, but not all, of his/her entitlement to the other parent. Mothers can start their period of leave from 60 days before the expected delivery date. Fathers are entitled to an additional 10 days’ leave to be at home for the first two weeks after the birth. The Social Insurance Office, Försäkringskassan, pays a taxable 80% (up to a ceiling) of the at-home parent’s normal salary for 390 days of the time the parents are away from their jobs to look after a child. The remaining 90 days is paid at a reduced amount. In addition, the family (usually the mother) receives barnbidrag, which is a taxable allowance for each child in the family.
What kind of social insurance cover will I receive when in Sweden?
You entitlement is dependent upon whether or not you are working, who pays your salary, and on the length of your stay if you are from outside the EU. For an overview, in English, of the social insurance system in Sweden, see here.
What happens if I get sick during my research visit?
If you are a member of an EU or EEA state or Switzerland, and are in Sweden on a short visit (ie, less than 3 months) you are entitled to the same emergency medical care in Sweden as Swedish citizens. You should be able to produce a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Make sure the doctor or dentist you visit is in the public insurance scheme and not in private practice. If your stay is longer than 3 months, you will need to register with the Swedish Migration Board which will entitle you to full medical care, including non-emergency treatment. If you are coming from outside the EU for a period of less than a year (ie, if your residence permit is for less than 12 months), you need to have full private medical insurance for the duration of your stay with a cover of at least 30,000 EUR. However, Sweden has agreements with some third countries and regions regarding urgent medical care, so you should check with your home social insurance office before you leave. Generally speaking, if you are resident, employed and paying taxes in Sweden for 12 months or more, you are entitled to social insurance cover including medical care. Once you register with the tax office, the Social Insurance Office will be informed and they will write to you with a decision on your social insurance status. The Invest in Sweden Agency has a useful assortment of factsheets.
I am soon to arrive from Australia and will be a visiting researcher to Sweden for two months. Do I need to arrange my own medical insurance during my stay in Sweden?
Sweden has reciprocal agreements with Algeria, Australia, Israel, Turkey and Québec (but not the rest of Canada) regarding medical care that becomes necessary during, and not prior to, your stay in Sweden. You need only show your passport and a certificate from your home social insurance office to qualify for subsidised care here in Sweden. You can find information in Swedish here from Försäkringskassan, or in English here at Vårdguiden. It is advisable to check with your home country’s social insurance office to find out precisely the terms of the agreement with Sweden, and take out insurance before you leave for care not covered by that agreement.
Living, banks, language courses, driving, etc
How do I open a bank account?
To open a bank account you normally need a national registration number, personnummer in Swedish. However, some banks will open a bank account, with an ATM debit card, even without this number. Take your passport with you as well as a certificate from your employer.
Can I use my Spanish driving licence in Sweden?
Yes, all EU/EEA driving licences are valid in Sweden until their expiry. Non EU licences can be used for one year only, after which time they must be replaced by a Swedish licence
I have just arrived in Sweden and would like to enrol on a Swedish language course. How do I find one?
Your university is likely to have in-house Swedish language courses for students and researchers. Otherwise, you can enrol with SFI (Svenska för Invandrare, Swedish for Immigrants). Your local council (kommun) can provide details. Also check he pages on language and leisure on this site.
How much will it cost for me to live in Sweden? Can you give me examples?
The cost of living depends on where in Sweden you live. The absolute minimum (for example, for a student living in cheap student accommodation) is a budget of around 700 EUR (6,500 SEK) per month. However, a researcher could spend this amount each month on accommodation alone, particularly in the bigger cities. Below are some daily items and their costs (1 EUR = 10 SEK, approx.)
Milk: SEK 8/litre
Bread: SEK 10-20/loaf
Cornflakes (box): SEK 30
Margarine/Butter: SEK 20 /500g
Cheese: SEK 50/kg
Lamb: SEK 60-90/kg
Beef: SEK 70-140/kg
Pork: SEK 50-100/kg
Chicken: SEK 30-50/kg
Eggs: SEK 2 each
Rice: SEK 30-35/kg
Pasta: SEK 12/kg
Soda: SEK 5/33 cl
Cigarettes: SEK 35.50/packet
Beer: SEK 6-10/33 cl (at food shop)
Wine: SEK 55- /75 cl bottle (at Systembolaget - the Swedish alcohol retailing monopoly)
Newspaper: SEK 12
Cinema: SEK 85
Theatre: SEK 50-200
(source: Sweden.se)
Website
Could you please publish details of our conference on your website?
It may be possible to publish details of some conferences. For more information, please contact Euraxess Sweden.
I have an apartment to rent in Umeå which would be of interest to visiting researchers. Can I place an advertisement on your website?
We suggest you contact the accommodation office at a university or universities closest to you in order to advertise your property.
I would like to advertise my researcher job vacancy on your website. Is that possible?
This may be possible. Please send details to the Euraxess Sweden.
Disclaimer: The main task of Euraxess Sweden is to provide general information and guidance regarding practical issues for researchers coming to Sweden. Please be aware that we cannot assume liability for any information given and that our advice is no substitute for that of an expert in the specific field.
