Introduction to the Swedish society

Support from your municipality

In Sweden, there are 290 municipalities, each of which is geographically defined. Each municipality has its own decision-making organisation. Municipalities are responsible for schools, care for the elderly and family support, among other things.

The municipality in which you are placed will support you in starting your life in Sweden. Municipalities work in different ways and the support they provide may differ.

Register as a resi­dent in Sweden

When you arrive in Sweden, you must register as a Swedish resident. You do this at the Swedish Tax Agency. This means that the Swedish Tax Agency enters your personal data in its register of Swedish residents. Registration is mandatory and a requirement for obtaining a Swedish personal identity number and an identity card. You need the identity number and identity card to use most public services.

It may take some time after you register before you receive your personal identity number and identity card. Therefore, it is important that you register as soon as possible.

Read more about starting your life in Sweden External link, opens in new window.

Health examination

After your arrival in Sweden, you will be offered a health examination, with an interpreter present. This is voluntary and free of charge.

It is important you provide information about any medical conditions or health problems that you may have, both physical and mental, so that you can receive the correct help and care. The doctor and the interpreter are required by law to keep all information about your health and your private life confidential. This means that they cannot share such information with anyone else without your permission, not even with your family members.

You must provide information about any medication that you need as soon as possible, either during your health examination or to municipality staff when you arrive. In order to buy certain medicines in Sweden, you must speak to a doctor first.

Establish­ment programme for adults

All adults between the ages of 20 and 64 are covered by the establishment programme, which you participate in through the Swedish Public Employment Service.

The establishment programme includes various activities, and the goal of the programme is for you to learn Swedish as quickly as possible, find a job and support yourself.

The programme includes studying Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), participating in a social orientation course and undergoing education at various levels. You may need to develop or build on your skills, validate your qualifications or previous work experience, possibly get an internship, or receive support when looking for a job.

You normally participate in the programme full-time, which means five days a week, Monday through Friday, for eight hours per day. You can participate for a maximum of two years. All quota refugees attend the programme regardless of gender, previous education or work background.

If you have a child under the age of one, you will not participate because you will be at home caring for your child. When your child starts preschool, around the age of one, you can start or resume the introductory programme.

It is possible to take part in the programme part-time, for example, if you have an illness or disability.

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Finan­cial support

Many quota refugees need financial support at first in order to meet their living expenses. The goal is that you will eventually be able to support yourself and you are expected to be active in finding work.

The most common form of financial support for adult newly-arrived quota refugees is establishment allowance. You can receive this allowance if you participate in the Swedish Public Employment Service's introductory programme. An application for the allowance is made to the Social Insurance Office. The allowance will only cover your most basic needs, such as rent, food, doctor's appointments and medicine, some clothes and travelling by public transport.

There are other forms of financial support in Sweden. What support and how much you are entitled to depends on, for example, if you have children and what your housing costs are. Allowance payments are usually paid out once a month and require you to have a bank account.

In Sweden, most support is paid separately to each adult person in the household. This means that every adult needs to have their own bank account and needs to submit their own application for financial support. The municipality can guide you in how to open a bank account and how to apply for support.

In Sweden, financial support and public services are financed through taxes. Everyone who lives in Sweden participates in the welfare system and is required to pay taxes. Residents of Sweden are also expected to do their best to contribute to society and create good conditions for themselves and others. How much you pay in tax differs among municipalities, but the average tax is 32 percent of your income.

Read more about establishment allowance External link, opens in new window.

Read more about and apply for establishment allowance (in swedish) External link, opens in new window.

Childcare and educa­tion for children and young people

Sweden has compulsory schooling, which means that school is mandatory for all children from “preschool class” up to 9th grade. This is usually between the ages of 6 and 16. Most children continue their education at upper secondary level. Going to school is free, including all schoolbooks and essential school materials. There is no registration fee and no school uniform requirement.

Children and young adults start school soon after arriving in Sweden. Most young people who are aged between 16 and 20 years are also offered educational opportunities.

When newly-arrived children start school, teachers assess their skills to decide which class in the Swedish school system suits them best. The school takes the child's age into account and, in most cases, children are placed in a regular class with peers of the same age and also participate in a preparatory class. The preparatory class prepares the child so that the child can follow the regular teaching. The amount of time spent in the regular class and the preparatory class is different for each child.

Children with disabilities or learning difficulties can receive extra help and support at school.

Activities and support for adults over the age of 65

If you are over 65, you will not participate in the introductory programme. If you are over 65, you will receive financial support from the government. You are not prevented from working; on the contrary, in many ways, it is an advantage for you if you can work. Work provides a better financial situation and a good opportunity to be active and learn the Swedish language.

Even if you do not work, there are many things you can do, for example, learn Swedish, find hobbies and make friends. You can ask your municipality for information about activities and groups that could be of interest to you.