Relocating to Stockholm: Mentor Talent Guide

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the most populous city in the Nordic countries. Stockholm is the cultural, media, political and economic centre of Sweden. Stockholm is an important global city and is the main centre for corporate headquarters in the Nordic region.

If you are reading this, we assume that you are thinking of or have received an offer of employment in Stockholm. First of all, congratulations. This guide is intended to give you a run-down of all you need to know about relocating to Stockholm.

Getting Started:

Before relocating to Stockholm, there are a number of things that you may want to take into consideration before you make the move.

1.    Accommodation

2.    Bank Account

3.    Tax Number

4.    Salary and Taxation Guide for the area

5.    Cost of Living

6.    Visas

7.    Other – Overview of the city, healthcare, transport, weather and useful websites.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Stockholm is competitive, so make sure to start searching early.

Despite having a small-town flair about it, Stockholm is a metropolis like any other city, which means that the search for accommodation is particularly competitive so it is worth giving yourself as much time as possible to search before making the move.

While living in Stockholm, you have the opportunity to rent an apartment with a first or second-hand rental agreement, however, expats usually face difficulties in obtaining a first-hand rental agreement. You may be expected to provide a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) or proof of guaranteed income.

To get a first-hand rental apartment, you need to register with your municipality and ask to be put on a waiting list. However, waiting lists in cities like Stockholm can be very long and you may be waiting months or even years on the waiting list.

Subletting an apartment is much more common, you do not have to provide your personal identity number and the rental agreement is signed with the owner of the apartment or the holder of the first-hand rental contract.

Signing a formal contract is essential, these contracts are always made between private individuals and should contain all formal information about the rental agreement.

An option for those unsure of searching for property on their own, or want to streamline the experience can visit www.spotahome.com and they will provide you with the help you need looking for a new place to call home. Just visit the website and input your search, you can then take one of their virtual tours and see what the place is like and check out the landlord policies.

When you make a reservation on a property, that property stays blocked until the landlord responds to your request (up to 24 hours). Once the landlord accepts, your payment method will automatically be charged. This is where you pay the first payment of the property as well as a small fee for the websites expenses.

They will then put you in direct contact with your landlord via email, so you can arrange a time to collect keys, move in time, and transfer any documents that have been requested by the landlord.

For more information visit their website.

Useful Links:

https://housinganywhere.com/s/Stockholm–Sweden

http://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/sweden/stockholm/accommodation-stockholm

Rental Prices:

As of 2018 please see the rental prices of an apartment in Stockholm.

Average cost of 1 Bed apartment in Stockholm city centre – SEK 11,860 (€1,143)

Average cost of 3 Bed apartment in Stockholm city centre – SEK 19,649 (€1,893)

Rooms for rent around Stockholm can vary – SEK 3,943-7,523 (€380-725)

Sources: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Stockholm

https://housinganywhere.com/s/Stockholm–Sweden

Supporting Documents:

It is likely that upon looking for accommodation to rent you will be asked for the following documents, so be sure to have them available when you begin your search to avoid any delays. When you are looking for accommodation, it is recommended that you have the following:

·      Copies of Photo ID, Permits and Visas

·      A bank statement

·      Proof of employment – Usually your contract

·      A letter of reference from your previous landlord

Fees, Keys and Deposits

Typically, you should expect to pay a deposit equivalent to 3 months’ rent. Any more than this should raise red flags. Once the deposit is paid you should arrange a suitable time and place with your landlord to pick up the keys. A tenant’s agreement is highly recommended in order to prevent any future disagreements with your landlord.

Utilities:

Make sure you are clear which (if any) utilities are included in the property. The landlord should be able to give you a good indication of how much you should expect to pay in utilities.

Bank Account

Opening a bank account upon arrival is one of the most important things you should do. Most employers will only transfer money into a Swedish bank account, so it is essential you set one up as soon as possible.

Text Box:

Most popular banks in Sweden:

·      Nordea Bank AB

·      Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB

·      Svenska Handelsbanken AB

·      Swedbank AB

Tax Number

In Sweden, the tax number or personal identity number is called the ‘personnummer’. You will need this to do almost anything while living in Sweden. When you have a personnummer you will be able to get gym membership, Swedish mobile, a job, and own or rent property. So it is vital that you apply immediately for a personnummer.

To apply you will need to go in person to the Statteverket Office with the following documents:

·      Passport

·      E111 Insurance Card

·      Proof of Address

The process of getting your personnummer can be long and tiresome, so if you have the offer of a job already, the process can move along a lot quicker. Individuals can get their application approved and receive a personnummer in a week but generally the wait is much longer.

Cost of Living

Please see below for the cost of living in Stockholm, as of June 2018.

Source: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Stockholm

Citizens of the EU:

As an EU citizen you have the right to live and work in Sweden without applying for a permit.

Citizens of all other states:

Generally, citizens of countries outside the EU must apply for a work permit to work in Sweden. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea aged 18-30 can also apply for a working holiday visa for up to one year.

For more information:

https://sweden.se/society/obtaining-a-work-permit/

Other

 Overview of Stockholm –

Quick Facts:

·      Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden, with a population of 952,058.

·      The city is often referred to as ‘The world’s smallest big city’.

·      Stockholm is the venue for the annual Nobel Prize Awards.

·      Stockholm is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites – The Royal Palace Drottningham and The Woodland Cemetery.

·      During the second half of June, it rarely ever gets dark. This is due to the midnight sun.

·      Stockholm is built on 14 islands and is connected by 57 bridges!

·      The Royal National City Park was the first National City Park in the world.

Cities Equality Ranking:

Stockholm is one of the top ranking cities in Europe when it comes to equality. It is currently ranked 2nd in Europe for equality based on research carried out on a number of factors such as; male/female labour force participation, income inequality, accessibility and a number of other factors.

For more information –

https://www.spotahome.com/equality-europe-city-ranking

Healthcare

The health care system in Sweden is mainly government funded and decentralised, although private care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is largely financed through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities, who are mainly responsible for carrying out the nationwide guidelines the government set out for them in their regions.

For private health care in Sweden, it is now becoming more common for county councils to buy services from private health providers. An agreement is in place where patients are covered by the same regulations and fees that apply to municipal care facilities.

Transport

The underground is the easiest way of making your way around Stockholm. Tickets can be purchased at SL Centres, underground ticket booths, newsagent kiosks, via SMS or via the SL App. It is not possible to pay cash for tickets on board buses in Stockholm. Failure to show a ticket on demand will result in a fine of 1,200 SEK.

A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes and costs 44 SEK (€4.23) or 31 SEK if you use a prepaid SL Card instead. It’s also possible to buy 24 hour, 72 hour, and 30-day tickets.

Residents in Stockholm are aware of their beautiful surroundings, and this has led to inner-city buses running on eco-friendly fuels. The Stockholm underground is also known as the world’s longest art gallery as so many of its stations are adorned with the works of different artists.

Useful Websites

Finally we would like to leave you with some links to some websites you might find helpful. You can click on the links below which we hope provide you with even more useful information.

https://www.internations.org/stockholm-expats/guide

http://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/sweden/stockholm/pros-and-cons-moving-stockholm

www.payscale.com