Moving to Scandinavia is an attractive proposition for many, and Sweden is an attractive choice. Whether it is for work, family, or any other reason, it is essential to understand a bit about the country.
Keep reading for our top 21 secrets about living in Sweden to help you make your mind up about your big move!
1. English is widely spoken
The vast majority of countries in Europe speak English and Sweden is one of them. Most ex-pats can appreciate the Swedish culture, go about their day-to-day lives, and have an easy first-days work without the added stress of not speaking Swedish.
It also gives ex-pats enough time to learn the Swedish language on their terms without feeling like complete outsiders.
2. The cost of living is high
The cost of living in Sweden is considered to be relatively high. This is mainly down to a housing shortage, with Sweden offering people an excellent quality of life, and many people are moving there.
Other costs help bring the overall cost of living down, with utility bills relatively reasonable, free education, and the world-class healthcare system being well priced.
3. The food is fantastic
Swedish food is excellent and pretty diverse. There will be something for everyone’s tastes. As well as their famous meatballs, you will be able to try other Swedish specialties, including pickled herring, lingonberries, räksmörgås (open sandwiches), pancakes, cinnamon buns, and much more.
4. Traditional celebrations
Sweden is a country of celebrations, and with so many throughout the year, there will always be something for you to enjoy on the horizon.
The famous Midsummer in June is always well celebrated, and the further north you go, the longer the days you get to celebrate with the sun not setting at all in June in the far north.
Other celebrations include the National Day of Sweden, the Crayfish Party, Halloween, All Saints Day, Walpurgis Eve, Christmas, and Easter.
5. They love their coffee
The Swedes love coffee and take regular fika breaks to enjoy it. Fika breaks are usually enjoyed a mid-morning and mid-afternoon to break up the day and consist of taking a coffee break to chat, snack, and relax.
6. Universal healthcare system for everyone
Swedish healthcare is decentralized, with each municipality taking care of its healthcare system. They all follow a set guideline by the Swedish Government but are allowed to achieve goals independently.
Taxes governed by each municipality fund the healthcare system, and Swedish citizens are entitled to universal healthcare. Expats from other European Union countries will be able to sign up for a personnummer (Swedish personal identity number) to take advantage of Sweden’s healthcare.
Non-EU ex-pats will need to take out private health insurance until they gain full citizenship. A Swedish private health insurance policy will set you back upwards of $400. However, this will depend on your age, the provider, the coverage you choose, and general health.
Swedish healthcare is in the top five best healthcare providers globally and is only behind Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland. The US can be found down in 18th place. For more information on the best healthcare rankings, click here.
7. Stunning natural places
Sweden is a beautiful country with stunning coasts, lakes, forests, and mountains. You will be able to explore any of the 30 incredible national parks dotted throughout the country.
With a diverse range of plant and animal life, heading out into Sweden’s natural beauty is recommended for anyone living there or visiting.
The north of Sweden also enjoys the mystifying Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), usually around the start of September.
8. They won Eurovision six times
The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition that sees European nations compete with each other by sending entries to sing a song. The traditionally camp and fun competition see everything from severe to novelty acts battling it out.
Sweden has taken the crown an incredible six times, with ABBA winning in 1974 before great global success.
9. Taxes are high
The Swedish Tax Agency is the national body in charge of collecting taxes. Swedish taxes are relatively high. However, the excellent healthcare system and infrastructure mean that you will see that any taxes you pay are well spent.
10. The work-life balance
Sweden is regularly cited as one of the best countries in the world for work-life balance. Flexible working hours and work from home allow workers to enjoy an outstanding balance between their workload, family life, and leisure activities.
11. They have some unusual laws
You will likely find strange laws in most countries if you dig deep enough, and Sweden is no different. Some peculiar rules in place include not being able to post pictures of their currency as it is copyrighted.
You will also have to obtain a license before painting your home a specific color. This helps ensure the towns and cities in Sweden maintain a consistent look.
12. The transport system in Sweden
The Swedish transport is good and rarely crowded, and services tend to be relatively fast between towns and cities. Some services are not particularly frequent because they are not as busy as heavily populated countries, but they can be managed by getting timetables and planning.
13. Universities are free for EU students
Swedish Education is among the best globally. University education is also accessible for Swedish citizens and EU students making it an attractive proposition for those looking to study or people with families.
14. Gender equality is a big deal
The 2017 inequality index by Oxfam named Sweden the most progressive country globally, affording its women every opportunity that men have.
One significant aspect of this is the 480 parental leave days given to mothers. This allotment of paid leave days can be used until the child is eight years old, with 90 days available for fathers to use.
15. Expat education
As well as English being widely spoken in Sweden, the country welcomes ex-pats with bilingual schools for children, helping to make a move less daunting for families.
16. Sweden is all about queuing
Queuing might not seem too alien a concept for those traveling from the US, but the Swedes take it to the extreme, with ticket dispensers adding another level to the orderliness.
Queue jumping is heavily frowned upon, and all expect good queuing etiquette to be adhered to.
17. The weather in Sweden
The Swedish weather and climate can go to both extremes with wonderful warm summers and bitterly cold winters.
The country experiences all four vastly different seasons and is well equipped for the winter’s heavy snowfall and extreme temperatures.
18. Swedes value punctuality
Punctuality, like queuing, is another thing that is important in Sweden. Whether in business or your personal life, you will be expected to be punctual.
Of course, hold-ups out of a person’s control can happen to anyone, but calling to inform the person you are meeting would be expected as a courtesy.
19. State-run liquor stores
Buying alcohol is not as simple as popping into your local supermarket or 7-11, and all alcohol is sold through a state-run monopoly called the Systembolaget.
You will have to be over 20 to buy liquor from these state-run stores, and you must provide an ID. The only alcoholic beverages available in supermarkets are below 3.5% in strength.
Opening hours for these stores are generally 10 am to 6 pm from Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 7 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.
Pricing is reasonable for alcohol in Sweden, and you can expect knowledgeable staff to help you out with recommendations when needed.
Major cities and towns tend to have several stores, while more remote locations may require you to order the drink you need.
20. Squeeze food out of tubes
When you visit different countries, there will always be some differences that might take you some time to get used to. It could be the food you get in tubes to squeeze out like toothpaste in Sweden.
Caviar is one tubed product that visitors or new inhabitants might look twice at.
21. It’s one of the safest countries in the world
Traditionally, the Nordic and Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland fare well in world safety rankings.
Low crime rates make Sweden an even more attractive option when considering countries to move to. The significant health and education systems and the excellent work-life balance Swedish citizens enjoy are also great reasons to relocate here.
FAQs
Is moving to Sweden a good idea?
Sweden is a great location to bring up a family or enjoy an outstanding work-life balance. With healthcare and education systems that rank among the best globally, it is clear to see why a move to Sweden is such an attractive option for many.
How long does it take to learn Swedish?
The FSI (Foreign Service Institute) rated Swedish as a category one language. This means that it should be as straightforward for English speakers to learn Swedish to learn Spanish or French.
It is estimated that roughly 750 hours of studying Swedish should allow you to speak Swedish fluently, which works out at under 15 hours a week. Thanks to regular interactions, living in a country also helps you pick up a language more quickly.
Where can I travel with a Swedish ID card?
A Swedish ID card is issued to Swedish citizens and can be used to travel to all European countries, excluding the UK, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, where you will need a passport.
Can a foreigner open a bank account in Sweden?
Anyone can open a Swedish bank account; however, non-EU residents that don’t have a Swedish tax number (personnummer) are likely to face some restrictions.
What is Swedish society like?
Swedish society is traditionally polite and friendly and strives for equality among its people. While Sweden is a hardworking nation, it also believes in enjoying time for home life. They are often described as being humble, honest, courteous, and creative as a community.
Why is Sweden considered a Western European country?
Located in Northern Europe, Sweden, its people, and its qualities are considered more in line with Western European culture than Eastern Europe.
Some facts that influence this opinion include Sweden’s neutrality through World Wars, unlike other countries that built an alliance with Russia.
Most of its trade is conducted with Western European countries, and it has a more liberal and affluent economy.
Western European culture has also strongly influenced Sweden, including its Royal Family.
Final Thoughts
If you consider moving to Sweden from the US for work or family reasons, we hope our guide helped you understand a bit more about the country.
Those planning to move to Sweden will require a residence permit to allow them to stay for longer than the 90 days afforded to casual visitors.
Applications will be submitted to Swedish consulates, excluding New York, Philadelphia, or Boston.
You will have to provide two copies of;
- A completed application form
- Notarized passport or permit copies
- Return tickets
- Bank Statements
- Insurance confirmation certificate covering a minimum of $37,000
- Family Details Appendix or Appendix D
- Application fees
- Any other required documents
Work permits can also be obtained by providing an official offer of employment for a position with a minimum of a $1300 monthly salary and a valid passport.
To become a citizen, you must live in Sweden for a minimum of five years, have no criminal record, and have a valid passport.
With many great cities, beautiful natural areas, and beautiful people, moving to Sweden is famous for many EU and non-EU nationals. Thanks to the excellent infrastructure in place, it is relatively easy to fit in.
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