Living and working in Sweden

The Swedish Institute provides information about Sweden in several languages,

covering everything from geography, history and politics to the education system
and much more. Contact details: Box 7434, SE-103 91 Stockholm. Telephone:
+46-(0)8-789 20 00. Home page: www.si.se.

Official information about Sweden in many languages is provided on

www.sweden.se. Information on Swedish companies and authorities is available
from Gateway to Sweden: www.wwlink.se and statistical information on
www.scb.se/eng/.

For maps visit: www.sna.se/gazetteer.html.

Arrival/taking up residence
In accordance with the EEA Agreement Citizens of EU/EEA countries and their
families do not need permits in order to work in Sweden. They may stay in Sweden
for up to 3 months to look for work. After 3 months a residence permit is required.
This can be applied for before or after entering Sweden.

The Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) provides information concerning

residency in Sweden and how to apply. Telephone: +46-(0) 11-15 60 00, Internet:
www.migrationsverket.se.

Those who are entitled to unemployment benefits can apply to take their benefits
with them to Sweden in order to look for work for a maximum of 3 months. For
regulations and applications please contact your local employment office.

Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries who are not next of kin to a EU/EEA citizen
must have a work permit in order to work in Sweden. This must be applied for
before arrival.

More information is available from the Swedish embassy or consular services in

your home country.

Recognition of professional qualifications

Sweden and the other EU/EEA countries comply with directives regarding the
recognition of professional qualifications and authorization to practice certain
professions (Those which are subject to law or regulations and require authorization
or the equivalent). The basic principle being that anyone who is qualified to practise
a certain profession in their home country shall be allowed to do the same in
another member country. But there are exceptions and an application must always
be made.

These regulations are represented by sector directives and two general directives.
The sector directives apply to pharmacists, architects, midwives, physicians,
nurses, dentists and veterinary surgeons.
 Professions in Sweden primarily affected by the:

1st general directive

2nd general directive (92/51/EEC)
(89/48/EEC)
lawyers rescue service officers
occupational therapists firemen
audiologists fire prevention inspectors
biomedical analysts marine electricians
dieticians estate agents
speech therapists aeronautical technicians
teachers Ship’s Engineers, Class 1 and Class 2
Assistant ship’s Engineers, Class1 and Class
opticians
2
orthopaedic technicians prescription dispenser
psychologists shipmasters , Class 1 and Class 2
psychotherapists master chimneysweeps
accountants dental hygienists
rescue service supervisors dental nurses
radiographers driving instructors
physiotherapists .
medical physicists .
marine engineers .
sea captains .

Other occupations such as hairdresser’s electricians and plumbers may require

recognition in Sweden. The Employment Service can provide you with information.
Fore information on formalities and the relevant competent authorities, contact
Högskoleverket (The National Agency for Higher Education). Telephone +46-(0)8-
563 085 00 or the Internet: www.hsv.se or http://citizens.eu.int/.

The labour market in Sweden

More information is provided on www.ams.se or http://europa.eu.int/eures.

Finding work

If you are looking for work in Sweden, your first step should be to contact the
public employment service in the country you are in. There, they can give you
advice on finding a job in Sweden. As a second choice, you can contact a public
employment office in Sweden. A EURES adviser can give advice and help to
applicants looking for jobs, and to employers wishing to recruit personnel in
another Member State. EURES advisers are available at http://europa.eu.int/eures.

As a jobseeker in Sweden, it is assumed that you yourself will actively seek work
and use the self-help facilities on www.ams.se. Public employment offices have
customer work stations, where you can browse job advertisements and find out
more about jobs and employers.
Most jobs listed in the Jobs Bank include the employers name and contact details so
that you can contact employers yourself.
More information on the Internet: www.ams.se (Sweden’s largest job site on the
Internet) or EURES at: http://europa.eu.int/eures.

Private recruitment agencies are permitted in Sweden. The major international

recruitment organizations also operate in Sweden.
Newspapers advertise job vacancies: www.dn.se, www.svd.se, www.di.se. For local
newspapers, see www.gulasidorna.se, (yellow pages). Search for "newspapers"
under the British flag.
Most companies have their own home pages on the Internet. Use the common
search engines or the yellow pages.

Advice on how to write job applications in Swedish is available on www.ams.se.

If you cannot write your application in Swedish, you can use the standard European
format for CVs, which you can find at www.cedefop.eu.int/transparency/cv.asp.

Labour Legislation

Employment in Sweden is either on a permanent basis or for a limited term.

Limited-term employment is allowed for temporary (stand-in) positions or non-
recurring projects. A trial period of employment for a maximum of 6 months is
allowed in most collective bargaining sectors.

Sweden has no legislation on minimum levels of pay.

Employment conditions and other terms between employers and employees are
regulated in Sweden to a large extent through collective agreements between trade
unions and employer organizations. A very high proportion of people working in
Sweden are trade union members.

Verbal employment contracts are valid, although in accordance with EU directives,

employers must, within one month and in writing, inform the employee about their
terms of employment. You are, however, strongly advised to obtain a written
contract of employment before moving.

Working hours: 40 hours per week.

Legislated vacation time: minimum 25 working days.
Normal age of retirement: 65

More information can be found at www.lo.se, www.tco.se, www.saco.se.

Starting your own business

Information about starting your own business is provided by NUTEK, the Swedish
Business Development Agency. They can be contacted via Startlinjen (Start-up
Line). Telephone 020-35 10 10 (inside Sweden only). Information is also available
on the Internet, at www.nutek.se. Enquiries can also sent by fax: +46(0) 8 744 06
77.

Internationella företagarföreningen (The Swedish Association of Ethnic

Entrepreneurs) provides information via the Internet in several languages on
www.ifs.a.se. Telephone +46-(0) 8 690 56 79.
Accommodation
The three most common forms of accommodation in Sweden are: own homes,
owner-tenancies and renting. Almost all own homes are detached, semi-detached
or terrace houses. Owner-tenancies and rental properties are usually flats, although
sometimes houses are available. Rents vary greatly depending on location,
situation, size and standard. Most rental accommodation is owned by municipal
housing corporations.

Purchasing owner-tenancy accommodation entails membership in an economic

association, which requires a financial investment. Prices for owner-tenancies and
own homes vary a great deal between the various regions of Sweden.

More information on housing: The Swedish Association of Local Authorities home

page with links to all municipalities and thereby to municipal housing companies:
www.svekom.se. The Swedish Association of Real Estate Brokers home page with
links to all member companies: www.fmf.se also www.hemnet.se.

For housing adverts in the national newspapers visit: www.dn.se, www.svd.se,

www.gp.se, www.sydsvenskan.se. Adverts in local newspapers can be found via the
yellow pages on the Internet www.gulasidorna.se click on the British flag and
search for "newspapers".

Child care
Municipalities in Sweden are obliged by law to provide childcare, where the demand
exists, in either nursery schools, after-school centres or day-care centres.

More information on child care facilities can be found at: www.si.se.

Schools
Information about the education system in Sweden is available on:
http://citizens.eu.int, www.si.se.

Income tax

To obtain a tax card and personal identity number in Sweden, you have to register
in person at your local Tax Office as soon as you are granted a residence permit. If
your intended stay in Sweden is less than 1 year, instead of being allocated a
personal identity number, you will be issued with what is called a "co-ordination
number". This works in more or less the same way as a personal identity number.
Take your residence permit notification, passport or identity card, any marriage
certificate etc. with you to the Tax Office. Your personal identity number will take a
week to 10 days to be issued, and it will be posted to you.

If you intend to work in Sweden for more than 6 months, you are obliged to pay
tax in Sweden. Your employer will deduct preliminary tax according to the official
table of tax rates. Tax is deducted for municipal (local) income tax (the rate of
which varies from one municipality to another, but is usually around 31%). On any
income above SEK 291,800/year (for the 2004 tax year), central government
income tax is charged at 20%, with the rate rising to 25% on income above SEK
441,300/year. The tax deduction also includes charges for social insurance.

Anyone working in Sweden for less than 6 months pays a special income tax at
25% and is not required to file a tax return in Sweden.
More information on tax rules and tax rates is available on the Internet at:
www.skatteverket.se. Brochures may also be ordered by calling the National Tax
Board?s service number, 0771-567 567 (from outside Sweden: +46-27 07 34 98).

Social Insurance

Anyone taking up residence in Sweden will be covered by the national social

insurance system. This provides health and parents Insurance, industrial injury
insurance and disablement benefits. You must register at the social insurance office
(Försäkringskassa) in the area where you live. Addresses can be found in the
telephone directory. You should register as soon as you receive your personal
identity/ co-ordination number.

You do not need to qualify in any particular way in order to be covered by the
Swedish social insurance system. Some benefits however require that certain
conditions must be met, such as specific periods of insurance, a specific residence
requirement or income from work. In some cases you may be able to take periods
of insurance in another EU/EEA country into account. This would need to be
confirmed via an "E-form" issued by the appropriate government agency in the
person´s country of origin. The Social Insurance office can provide more
information.

As a rule, sick pay will for the first 3 weeks be paid by the employer. If your period
of illness lasts longer than that, you will receive sickness benefit from the Social
Insurance office. Both sick pay and sickness benefit are generally 80% of your pay,
and are taxable. A doctor’s certificate is required after 7 days.

More information about health insurance is available on the Internet at

www.forsakringskassan.se. This information is given in several languages. In
addition, information is provided in the brochure Bra att veta om socialförsäkringen
("What you need to know about social insurance") which can be obtained at your
local Social Insurance office. The brochure is also available in several languages.

Unemployment insurance

Those who are entitled to unemployment benefits can apply to take their benefits
with them to Sweden in order to look for work for a maximum of 3 months. For
regulations and applications please contact your local employment office.

The Swedish unemployment insurance differs in some respects from unemployment

insurance in other countries. Unemployment insurance comprises two parts: a basic
insurance and a voluntary, income- related insurance. The basic insurance exists
for those who are not members of any unemployment benefit society (a-kassa) or
who have not been a member long enough.

In order to become a member of an a-kassa, you must have worked at least 17

hours per week for at least four weeks during a consecutive period of five weeks.
You must still be working to at least the same extent when you apply for
membership.

All unemployment benefit societies except one (ALFA) are linked to trade unions,
but it is not necessary to be a member of a trade union in order to get
unemployment insurance. It is sufficient if you work "within the benefit society’s
operational sector".
In order to obtain income-related benefits in the event of unemployment, you must
fulfil both a membership condition and a work condition, Note that in some cases
you are allowed to take time worked in other EU/EEA countries into account if you
have not worked in Sweden long enough.

More information is available on the Internet: www.iaf.se, Information in English.

Bringing a car to Sweden; driving licences

Vägverket (the Swedish National Road Administration) www.vv.se can provide more
information about the requirements that apply to bringing a car into Sweden as
part of your personal effects. Remember that you must obtain a car export licence
(usually from your country?s customs authority) before bringing your car into
Sweden, otherwise your insurance will not be valid.

Driving licences issued in the EEA do not have to be exchanged for a Swedish one.
Regulations on driving licences from other countries vary, depending on where the
licence was issued. Bilregistret (the Swedish Motor Car Register) provides more
information on www.vv.se. For information in several languages:
http://www.vv.se/templates/page3____954.aspx.

The Swedish health and medical care system

The purpose of this document is to provide a brief overview of the Swedish
healthcare system for professional healthcare personnel from other countries who
are seeking jobs, primarily from the EU/EEA countries. The list of addresses refers
to other bodies that can provide more detailed information.

Central

The Swedish health and medical care system is decentralised. The central level
comprises the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Socialdepartementet) and the
National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Their roles, besides work
with legislation, include providing objectives and guidelines and conducting
supervisory work related to quality and accessibility.

Regional

The county councils (Landsting), which are politically elected bodies, are
responsible for financial and operational matters within their respective regions.
Their principal function is to provide citizens with health and medical care, including
everything from highly specialised medical care at university hospitals to primary
care at healthcare centres. There are 18 county councils, two "regions", Västra
Götaland and Skåne - and one "health-care-community", Gotland. Approximately
90% of all care is conducted by public healthcare providers. In recent years the
trend has been towards more outsourcing of care to private care providers,
companies owned by the county councils, or staff co-operatives.

Local

The healthcare centres (Vårdcentral), there are about 1000 of them, constitute the
foundations of Swedish healthcare. Normally 2-6 physicians work in teams together
with nurses, physiotherapists, midwives, medical secretaries, almoners and health
visitors at each centre. On average each physician working as a general practitioner
(GP), a specialist in family medicine known as a Distriktsläkare, has approximately
2 000 patients. The objective is to reduce this number to 1 500 patients per
physician by the year 2008.

The municipalities are responsible for the care of the elderly, people with disabilities
and also for some parts of the mental healthcare service. This care is provided at
nursing homes, service housing or in the form of home nursing, among other
places.

Training of physicians and nurses in Sweden

Undergraduate medical education in Sweden lasts 5,5 years and leads to

"Läkarexamen", the equivalent to M.D.(Medical Degree). In order to become
authorised to practice as a doctor (registration licence), candidates must also
complete at least 18 months general practice (AT) under supervision. The number
of AT positions is decided by the county council. These positions are advertised
twice a year in the journal "Läkartidningen" (www.lakartidningen.se), in February
and in October. Approximately 1 000 physicians are registered each year. Once the
doctor has got his licence, he/she can apply for a post to start the specialist training
(ST). This training takes at least five years and after a formal final examination the
doctor is granted qualification as a specialist (i.e. becoming a consultant) in one of
the 62 fields of medicine currently recognised.

The training of a nurse in Sweden lasts 3 years. This results in registration as a

nurse. Specialist training is available within, among other fields, anaesthesia,
paediatric care, district nursing, geriatrics, intensive care, surgery, psychiatry,
radiology and midwifery.

Shortage of healthcare personnel

The shortage is due to several related causes:

• Restructuring of the healthcare services, substantial financial cutbacks

during the 1990s.
• Reduced training places during this period.
• The average age of healthcare personnel will result in a high retirement rate
in the near future.
• Increased care needs for an ageing population.

The various projections that have been made for the county councils recruitment
needs, up to and including the year 2014, offer an unambiguous picture of the
future: within a few years a substantial shortage of manpower will arise within the
healthcare and nursing sector, unless there is a fundamental change in the current
situation. Already there are shortages throughout most of Sweden and this applies
particularly to physicians, nurses and assistant nurses. Furthermore there are, or it
is anticipated that there will be, recruitment problems, both locally and regionally
within other professional groups (e.g. dentists, pharmacists and physiotherapists).

Shortage of physicians

The National Plan of Action, introduced by the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) for the
development of health and medical care services, will have a bearing on the future
situation for physicians. The objective of the Plan is that the number of GPs in the
primary care services will increase by a total of 1 700 by the end of 2008, an
increase from the current 4 300 GPs to 6 000.
In the year 2002 there were in total 30 000 practising physicians in Sweden, of
which 85% were in the public sector. Of these, approximately 12 000 were
specialists (i.e. consultants) at hospitals. From the year 2005, a sharp rise in
retirement among consultant physicians is expected, both within general practice
and other specialist fields.

The projected recruitment need for physicians suggests that there will be a demand
for about 1 400 new physicians per annum. Each year approximately 800
physicians qualify from the Swedish schools of medicine but the reduction of
medical courses implemented in Sweden during the 1990s will continue to have an
adverse effect until around 2010.

The demand for nurses

The 1990s have seen a steady increase in the number of nurses within the county
councils and municipalities. A change in the structure of healthcare with new
technology and new methods means that the demand for nurses with specialist
training is expected to increase. The fastest growth will probably take place within
the municipalities, as the increasing number of older patients with multiple and a
chronic complaint imposes greater demands for more home nursing and primary
care.

Currently, 3 200-3 500 nurses qualify annually from the Swedish basic course, and
the number of course places will be increased over the next few years to just over 5
000.

In the year 2002 there were 83 543 nurses in county councils and municipalities.
The retirement rate of nurses will increase steadily and peak around the year 2015.

The projected need for more nurses suggests that there will be a demand for about
6 000-7 000 nurses per annum.

Recognition of qualification (diplomas)

Citizens of EU/EEA countries, who have undergone medical training in a Member

State, are entitled to have their diplomas recognised in Sweden.

17 professional groups are covered by the regulations on the recognition of

diplomas. Pharmacists, midwives, physicians, nurses and dentists are governed by
a sector directive. A translation of these certificates of accreditation is not normally
required.

Other regulated professions are: occupational therapists, chiropractors, speech

therapists, opticians, psychologists, psychotherapists, dispensers, radiology nurses,
physiotherapists, hospital physicist and dental hygienists.

Four professional groups, which are not accredited, have protected titles, namely
audiologists, bio-medical analysts, dieticians and orthopaedists. Standard forms
and instructions on how to apply can be obtained from the National Board of Health
and Welfare, which is the competent authority under the Medical Directives,
responsible for issuing medical qualifications. Specialist competence is recognised in
Sweden by the operational manager conducting an individual assessment of
qualifications/credentials, using the objectives laid down by the National Board of
Health and Welfare as a basis. Most specialist fields of medicine require longer
training in Sweden than in other countries, and this may mean that complementary
training is necessary before recognition as a specialist can be granted.

Swedish courses

No knowledge of Swedish is formally required to become registered in Sweden. It is

nonetheless necessary to be able to communicate in Swedish with colleagues and
patients while working.

AMS (National Labour Market Board) has a framework contract with the Folk
University relating to courses in Swedish for physicians and other healthcare
personnel who are recruited from EU/EEA countries. The courses comprise intensive
training oriented towards work within the Swedish healthcare services. These run
as full-time, three-month courses at various centres around Sweden. Alternative
course organisers, as well as other training schemes, also exist. The courses are
usually paid for by the employer, who is also responsible for ensuring that anyone
employed receives instruction in Swedish medical legislation.

Finding and applying for work (Health sector)

Under the EEA Agreement Citizens of EU/EEA countries and their families do not
need permits in order to work in Sweden. After 3 months a residence permit is
required.

Vacant positions are registered with the Employment Office (Arbetsförmedlingen),

www.ams.se. The Employment Office national job bank, at
http://platsbanken.ams.se, is the largest job database in Sweden and can be
accessed at any time of the day or night.

Vacancies in various EU/EEA countries within health and medical care, among other
fields, are registered in the European job bank, www.eures-jobs.com.

Advertisements for vacant positions for, among others, physicians also appear in
the weekly medical newspaper Läkartidningen (www.lakartidningen.se), and in
newspapers such as Moderna Läkare (www.sylf.se/Moderna_Lakare/) and
Landstingsvärlden (www.landstingsvarlden.com). These advertisements are written
in Swedish.

Vacant positions advertised in the various job banks or in newspapers can be

applied for by submitting a covering letter and a CV. The application may also be
sent to the employer by e-mail or regular post. If further information concerning
the position/job is required, the contact person nominated by the employer can be
approached directly.

As of June 2001, it is possible to submit a CV and application to the European

jobseeker bank, www.eurescv-search.com. The CV will then become available to
prospective employers within the health and medical care services throughout the
EU/EEA Area.

Pay

Physicians
According to statistics from November 2002, the median salary for an assistant
physician (AT) was SEK 22 000 per month. The majority of registered assistant
physicians (ST) is subject to the individual salary system and negotiates their
salaries personally on appointment. The median salary for an ST position was SEK
31 000 per month. For a chief physician the median salary was SEK 48 200 per
month and for a general practitioner (GP) SEK 48 000 per month. Additional
compensation is paid for on-call and emergency service duty. All the salary figures
concern physicians employed by county councils (Landsting).

Current salary statistics: www.slf.se

Nurses
Nurses salaries are fixed individually. Consequently, salaries vary depending on
position, responsibility, the level of expertise required, and experience. For
example, during 2002, the median salary for a nurse working with in-patient care
(at a hospital) was SEK 19 500 per month.

Advice in conjunction with salary negotiations is provided by the respective trade

union.

Current salary statistics: www.vardforbundet.se

Important addresses and websites

National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen)

106 30 Stockholm
Tel +46 (0)8 555 530 00
Fax +46 (0)8 555 532 52
e-post: sos@sos.se
www.sos.se

Swedish Medical Association (Sveriges Läkarförbund)

Box 5610
114 86 Stockholm
Tel +46 (0)8 790 33 00
Fax +46 (0)8 20 57 18
e-post: info@slf.se
www.slf.se

Swedish Society of Medicine (Svenska Läkaresällskapet)

Box 783
101 35 Stockholm
Tel +46 (0)8 440 88 60
Fax +46 (0)8 440 88 99
e-post: sls@svls.se
www.svls.se

Federation of Salaried Employees in the Hospital and Public Health

Services (Vårdförbundet - SHSTF)
Box 3260
103 65 Stockholm
Tel +46 (0)8 14 77 00
Fax +46 (0)8 411 42 29
e-post: info@vardforbundet.se
www.vardforbundet.se
Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO) (Sveriges
Akademikers Centralorganisation)
Box 2206
103 15 Stockholm
Tel +46 (0)8 613 48 00
Fax +46 (0)8 24 77 01
e-post: kansli@.saco.se
www.saco.se

The Employment Office (Arbetsförmedlingen)

www.ams.se

Platsbanken
http://platsbanken.ams.se

EURES Jobsearch
www.eures-jobs.com

EURES CV-search
www.eurescv-search.com

Migration Board (Migrationsverket)

www.migrationsverket.se

Federation of Swedish County Councils (Landstingsförbundet)

www.lf.se

Swedish Association of Local Authorities (Svenska Kommunförbundet)

www.svekom.se

Läkartidningen
www.lakartidningen.se

MORE INFO

The following information gives Internet addresses of a number of web-sites

providing up-to-date information of living and working in Sweden

How to Access Jobs in Sweden:

AMS Public Employment Service www.ams.se

AMS Public Employment Service (Job-Bank) http://platsbanken.amv.se/region
EURES EU Commission Website http://europa.eu.int/jobs/eures
Jobline www.jobline.se
StepStone www.stepstone.se
Jobfinder www.jobfinder.se
Manpower www.manpower.se
Proffice www.proffice.se
Poolia www.poolia.se
Swedish Association of Temporary Work www.spur.se

Newspapers´

Dagens Nyheter www.dn.se

Svenska Dagbladet www.svd.se
Sydsvenska Dagbladet www.sds.se
Göteborgsposten www.gp.se
Dagens Industri www.di.se
Västerbottens Folkblad www.folkbladet.nu

Official Sites

Government of Sweden www.regeringen.se

Immigration, Work Permits www.migrationsverket.se
Social Security, Health and Children www.rfv.se
Recognition of Professional Qualifications www.hsv.se
Swedish Institute www.si.se
Sweden Portal www.sweden.se
Taxation www.rsv.se

Approximate net salary after statutory deductions with a local rate of 30 % (Skr/Month)

Gross Salary Net Salary Gross Salary Net Salary

12 500 9149 22 500 15 709
15 000 10 795 25 000 17 460
17 500 12 440 30 000 19 995
20 000 14 086 40 000 24 819

Other Sources of Information

Accomodation and Tourism www.hemnet.se

www.turism.se
www.merasverige.nu
Dialogue with Citizens www.citizens.eu.int
Eryica Guides www.eryica.org/infomobil
Education www.hsv.se
www.eurydice.org
ESTIA www.estia.educ.goteborg.se
Yellow Pages www.gulasidorna.se
Embassies World Wide http://www2.tagish.co.uk/Links/embassy1b.nsf
Labour Legislation http://naring.regeringen.se/bestallning/arbetsliv/index.htm