Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a large number of Ukrainians have chosen Sweden as a new place of permanent residence. This is due to the high standard of living, stable economy and decent salaries. Learn more about the peculiarities of moving to Sweden in 2024

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More than 42,000 Ukrainians have found refuge in Sweden, including 13,000 children. The country provides refugees with temporary protection, housing, financial support, and access to work and healthcare. We have collected information on the rules of moving to Sweden and social support in this article.

You can find information about the most convenient routes from Sweden to Ukraine and the current border crossing rules in our previous article.

Residence permit in Sweden

There are 2 main types of residence permits in Sweden: permanent residence permit (uppehållstillstånd) and temporary residence permit (uppehållstillstånd). There is also a permanent residence card for family members of European Union citizens, known as uppehållskort.

To obtain a permanent residence permit in Sweden, several conditions must be met:

1. Continuous residence: reside in Sweden continuously for 5 years;

2. Residence permit: have a temporary residence permit or legal residence on other grounds for the previous 5 years;

3. Financial stability: to be able to support yourself and your family.

To apply for a permanent residence permit, you need to fill in the form “Ansökan om ställning som varaktigt bosatt, 138011” and send it to the Swedish Migration Agency. Each applicant, including accompanying spouse/partner or children, must submit a separate application. All applicants are subject to an individual examination.

Tip! To ensure a successful trip or relocation to a new country, take advantage of expert advice. Our qualified specialists with a legal education will help you prepare for obtaining a residence permit in another country and avoid unpleasant situations during your stay abroad.

You also need to provide the following documents:

1. Copies of your passport with personal data, signature, expiration date, and whether you have a residence permit in countries other than your country of origin;

2. Documents demonstrating the level of financial security: a certificate of employment, recent salary statements, pension payments, bank statements, income statements from the Swedish tax agency or income statement from your own company;

3. Documents demonstrating living expenses: lease agreements, purchase agreements and statements showing monthly living expenses.

To obtain a temporary residence permit in Sweden, applicants usually apply for the purpose of studying, working or visiting relatives living in the country. EU citizens wishing to obtain this permit must provide the following documents:

1. Passport;

2. Swedish job offer;

3. Salary offer;

4. Proof of health and life insurance and social security provided by the employer.

Usually, a temporary residence permit allows you to stay in the country for up to 2 years. The applicant's family members can also join the applicant, provided that they submit a separate application for their own visa.

It is worth noting that a temporary residence permit is not equivalent to citizenship. If the permit holder leaves Sweden for a long period of time, his/her permit may be revoked. The duration of this period varies from two to six years depending on the specific type of permit. In addition, committing a serious crime may be grounds for deportation and revocation of the permit.

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Temporary protection status in Sweden

Temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine are allowed to enter Sweden with a foreign passport, internal passport of a citizen of Ukraine or other identity document.

It is allowed to cross the Swedish border without a biometric passport (also for children) by car, bus and ferry.

Ukrainians who arrived in Sweden after February 24 or stayed in the country for some time before the war began are eligible for “temporary protection” status.  In order to obtain a residence permit in Sweden, you must provide a passport of a citizen of Ukraine or other documents that confirm your need for protection.

You can apply online or come to the office of the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) in person. The offices are located in six cities across the country: Boden, Malmo, Norrkoping, Stockholm and Sundsvall.

It takes several days to process the application and issue the status. Once the decision is made, the Migration Service will send you a letter to the mailing address you provided in your application.

Once you have been granted residence permit, you will be able to receive a Swedish personal number (Personnummer). It can facilitate contacts with employers, banks, public services, etc.

In the previous article, we talked about the relaxation of the rules for registration in the Swedish population register and the expansion of the support program for Ukrainian refugees.

How to obtain Swedish citizenship?

The Swedish government has recently proposed legislative changes that would introduce stricter requirements for citizenship and strengthen protection of vulnerable groups. These reforms may come into force on October 1, 2024, and are intended to prevent serious criminals from easily obtaining citizenship, as well as to protect victims of honor-related harassment.

Currently, candidates have an unconditional right to citizenship after meeting relatively lenient criteria. However, the amended law will give the authorities the power to deny or revoke this right from individuals suspected or convicted of crimes that threaten Sweden's security. This will prevent dangerous individuals from using the low entry barrier to obtain the rights and protections associated with Swedish citizenship.

The reforms will also affect individuals with proven links to groups and organizations considered a threat to national security. In addition, new legislative changes will make it more difficult to forcibly deprive vulnerable groups of citizenship.

In November 2023, Sweden has already introduced measures to tighten family immigration rules and reduce the issuance of humanitarian residence permits to combat exclusions. Minister Stenergaard noted at the time that these reforms were aimed at stopping the surge in the number of people obtaining residence permits in Sweden through family ties.

Details of the citizenship reform

The proposed amendments to Swedish legislation provide for a ban on Swedish citizenship for persons suspected or convicted of certain crimes. These crimes include offenses under the Criminal Code, drug-related offenses, social security fraud punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, and tax evasion for more than two years.

In addition, individuals who pose a threat to national security or have links to terrorist groups and organizations banned by the European Union will also be denied the right to citizenship. 

In terms of protection of rights, the new reforms will limit the possibilities of renouncing Swedish citizenship if it leads to statelessness. This step is intended to prevent the forced deprivation of citizenship of vulnerable persons against their will. Thus, the changes are aimed at ensuring security and protecting human rights, while making it more difficult for those who may pose a threat to society to obtain citizenship.

Employment opportunities for Ukrainians in Sweden

The labor market in Sweden is open to foreign workers, especially in the fields of information technology, engineering, healthcare and education. Sweden has enterprises of various sizes, including startups and large international companies. There is a demand for Ukrainian workers with high qualifications and specialized skills.

Popular professions for foreign workers in Sweden include:

1. IT specialists: software developers, data analysts, engineers with knowledge of various programming languages;

2. Engineers: electricians, mechanics, electricians and civil engineers;

3. Healthcare professionals: doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals;

4. Teachers: teachers of English and other foreign languages, as well as teachers of science, math and other subjects;

5. Financial professionals: auditors, accountants, financial analysts and risk management specialists;

6. Marketing specialists: marketing managers, digital marketers, public relations specialists;

7. Management consultants: strategic management, project management, and management consulting consultants.

8. Restaurant and hotel business: Cooks, waiters, hotel and restaurant managers.

Sweden regularly holds various job fairs where companies and recruiters can meet with potential candidates. This is a great opportunity to find a job, meet employers and establish professional contacts.

Here are some of the most famous job fairs in Sweden:

1. Stockholm Job Fair. This large job fair takes place in Stockholm, bringing together companies from various industries. Visitors have the opportunity to meet with company representatives, submit a resume, have an interview, and learn more about the available positions;

2. Gothenburg Career Fair. This job fair is held in Gothenburg and attracts students, graduates and professionals from various fields. It provides an opportunity to meet with company representatives, learn about career opportunities and build a network of contacts;

3. Lund University Job Fair. Aimed at students and graduates of Lund University, this job fair is held in Lund. Visitors have a chance to find jobs, internships or workshops in leading companies and organizations.

These events help job seekers to gain valuable information about the labor market, find suitable vacancies and establish useful professional contacts. They also contribute to career development and integration into the Swedish professional environment.

Remember that one of the prerequisites for staying abroad is to have health insurance. Thanks to an insurance policy, you can get high-quality medical care without having to pay for it anywhere in the world.

You can buy insurance online in a few clicks here. A ready-made insurance policy will be sent to your mail in a few minutes. 

We remind you! Western countries are increasingly taking a more decisive approach to the issue of their military's activities directly on the territory of Ukraine. Some NATO members want to shield the western part of Ukraine from russian missiles. Read more about the ongoing discussions within the Alliance and who is ready to take a significant step forward in helping Ukraine.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Daria Rogova, Head of Insurance at Visit Ukraine

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