Before you move

If you are considering or have decided to return to your country of origin, you will certainly have a lot of questions. We want to support you in making a well-founded decision, by telling you what things are important to think about.

Your health

• Find out about how the healthcare system works in the country you intend to move to.
• Find out whether the medicines you need are available to buy there.
• Find out whether the aids you may need are available there.
• Find out what vaccinations you will need before you travel.
• Request copies of your medical records and gather other medical documentation, as it is a good idea to have these with you. It may be useful to translate the documents if you think you will need them in your country of origin.
  

Work

• The Swedish Public Employment Service will help you to find a work placement with a company in Sweden, where you can acquire skills to prepare you for the type of work you want to do in the country you are moving to.
  
• Gather certificates, testimonies and references that may be important for your future job opportunities. It may be useful to translate the documents if you think you will need them in your country of origin.
• Make a list of contacts in Sweden who may be valuable to you, for example work and school.
• If you have already received a job offer in the country you intend to move to, you should be sure to obtain a certificate of employment from your new employer.
  

School

• Contact the authorities or similar administration in the country you are moving to, who can give you information about the country’s education system.
• Supplement the certificates you need to be able to continue your studies in the new country.
• Make sure you get your Swedish education, practice or similar, valid or confirmed.
• Gather and translate certificates and attestations from Swedish schools or courses.
  

Secu­rity

• Find out how you are affected by current laws in the country you are returning to. To get help, you can get in touch with the country’s nearest embassy or consulate.
• Find out what your rights and obligations are in the new country.
• Be aware of any risks in previous war areas, for example mines and grenades.
• Be aware of ethnic conflicts and similar that may still be ongoing.
  

Your accom­mo­da­tion in Sweden

• Find out what the notice period is and terminate the tenancy in good time before you move.
• Notify the Swedish Tax Agency of your move abroad. Complete the form Notification – Moving abroad (SKV 7665) on the Swedish Tax Agency’s website External link, opens in new window..
  
• If you want your post forwarded to you, you can do this at adressandring.se External link, opens in new window.
• Cancel telephone, newspaper subscriptions, other subscriptions and your home insurance.

Your accom­mo­da­tion in the country you are moving to

• Find out what the housing market is like.
• Make sure you have a certificate of ownership or rental agreement for the accommodation you will be moving to, and arrange legal assistance if you need it.
  
• Arrange the necessary repairs to the flat or house in good time.
• Let your friends, acquaintances and other people you want or need to stay in touch with.

Your finances in Sweden

• Find out the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s rules for pension savings, sickness benefit, child allowance and other allowances in case of repatriation. You also have to find out what happens to your benefits if you are not a Swedish citizen.
  
• Pay off any loans, or make agreements for repayment before your departure.
• Apply for aid for repatriation from the municipality in which you live.
• Apply for travel grant for your journey home from the Swedish Migration Agency. Read more about repatriation
  

Your finances in the country you are moving to

• Find out about how the social insurance system works in the country you intend to move to, for example agreements, pension and allowances.
• Find out how the education system works, for example whether it is free of charge or whether there is study funding or a student grant.
• Find out whether you are eligible for subsidies or allowances for accommodation, for example, or to start your own business or cooperative.
• Investigate whether there are non-governmental organisations in the new country that you can get help from.
  

Travel

• Plan your journey and transport of furniture in good time before your departure.
• Arrange the insurances that are necessary for the journey and transport.
  
• Gather the documents you need to take with you, for example, passport, birth certificate, identification documents, driving licence, curriculum vitae (CV), the most recent declarations, customs documents, and so on.

Expecta­tions of moving

Speak openly within your family about your repatriation plans and the expectations everyone has. It is especially important that you speak with your children. It could be that they have grown up in Sweden and may need your help to understand.

It is also important that you prepare your family and other relatives in the new country for your repatriation. It may make the planning easier if you tell your family and friends what you are thinking before you travel.

Also discuss what the consequences will be if it is not possible to carry out your decision to return, or if everything does not go as you intended.