How is life in Sweden for foreigners in 2022 | Swedish Immigration (2024)

FAQs

How is life in Sweden for foreigners in 2022 | Swedish Immigration? ›

Life in Sweden for foreigners can generally be quite good

The capital city of Sweden offers expats a great life quality, great employment opportunities, and a range of cultures to share. Gothenburg. Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden, surrounded by beautiful nature. It is cheaper than Stockholm and offers high-quality education and a healthcare system.

Key findings from an analysis conducted by the Canadian immigration agency CanadaCIS using immigration statistics from 2009 to 2021 show that Sweden is the top nation where non-EU residents can obtain citizenship easily, with one in ten applicants, or 9.3%, being granted citizenship.

In November 2023 a new requirement for labour migrants from third countries was introduced in Sweden: in order to obtain a work permit, labour migrants must have secured a monthly salary amounting to at least 80% of the gross median salary in Sweden, which is SEK 27 360 (approximately 2 200 EUR).

If you are granted a residence permit and you are a U.S Citizen you can enter Sweden with the decision from the Migration Agency and then submit the biometric data for the residence permit card in Sweden.

The cost of living in Sweden is lower than in Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark. In comparison to other European countries, Sweden is also cheaper than France, Germany and the United Kingdom. When comparing the cost of living in Sweden versus the U.S., you'll find that consumer prices are 13% lower in Sweden.

Renting in Sweden

Average rent in Sweden varies by city and size of the apartment. In major cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, expect to pay more. On average: A one-bedroom apartment in the city center can cost around SEK 10,000 to SEK 15,000 per month ($1,150 to $1,730).

How to Get a Job in Sweden as a Foreigner. Much like their housing, learning how to get a job in Sweden as a foreigner is tough, but ultimately rewarding. Standards are high and competition is stiff, but the work culture is extremely collaborative, hospitable, and salaries are high.

To become a Swedish citizen, you must have lived in Sweden for a certain amount of time. The time that you have lived in Sweden must be uninterrupted. How long you must have been a resident of Sweden varies.

Sweden is a country comprised of mainly ethnic Swedes, Finns, Danes and Sami people. Large waves of migration brought on by economic opportunities and liberal asylum law have included migrants from the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia and Lebanon.

Why do immigrants move to Sweden? ›

One of the most common reasons to move to Sweden, apart from work, is to reunite with close family members. The Swedish Migration Agency has more information and statistics on migration to Sweden.

The median salary is published annually by Statistics Sweden and refers to the previous year's salaries. In other words, the 2023 median salary is calculated based on the salaries for 2022. The median salary presented in 2023 is SEK 34,200.

Sweden used to be seen as one of Europe's most welcoming countries for refugees. However, a right-wing conservative government coalition propped up by a far-right party is changing Sweden's migration policy and hardening its stance towards migrants and asylum seekers.

Visa and Visa requirements

All US citizens must have an entry permit to travel and stay in Sweden for more than 90 days. Depending on your residence purpose, different types of visas are available. The most common type of visa is an extended-stay permit, which allows you to stay in Sweden for up to one year.

The two countries have been largely friendly to each other since. United States supports Sweden's NATO membership. Under a comprehensive mandate, Sweden's nonalignment policy has led it to serve as the protecting power for the United States and to represent Washington in North Korea on consular matters.

As in the rest of Europe and much of the world, the English has grown as an important foreign language in Sweden, especially since the Allied victory in World War II.