Newly Arrived
> The Swedish administrative system
- Personnummer (Swedish National Registration)
Whether you are in Sweden as a student, job seeker, asylum seeker, for a job because of your significant other, the very first step would be to apply for a Swedish national ID card at Skatterverket (Swedish tax agency).
This is critically important as one needs this identification to receive services in almost every aspect of Swedish life from inclusion into the healthcare system, schooling (for oneself or one's children- along with numerous other services), taxes and financial transactions.
- Arbetsförmedlingen (National Employment Agency)
After receiving your Swedish national ID card and personal number it is important to register yourself at Arbetsförmedlingen (employment agency). This registration is crucial to be eligible for internships, support activities, job matching, unemployment funds and other services. The timeline to receive support from Arbetsförmedlingen varies based on one’s Swedish residence permit/visa type. This depends on your country of origin (EU or non EU) and the reason you moved to Sweden (Asylum seeker/Swedish partner/spouse’s job/other reasons)
If you have a Swedish bank account with a Bank ID, you can register yourself in the link (below) using your electronic identification (mobile bank ID for example). After you have registered, you should make an appointment for a planning discussion with an employment officer.
If you do not have a bank account you can call or visit your local Arbetsförmedlingen office and fix an appointment with an agent and register yourself manually online or call them on: 0771 416 416
- Försäkringskassan (National Social Security System)
It's also a good idea to register with Försäkringskassan (social insurance agency) at the earliest. They assess your right to financial support based on your current situation. You may be eligible for financial support, for example, if you have a young infant, you are a student, if you are a part of an establishment program/job & development program, sickness benefit etc.
- Bank ID / Digital ID
A digital electronic identification is a common tool to log into digital platforms such as Arbetsförmedlingen, Försäkringskassan account etc. You could get a digital bank ID if you open an account in a local bank.
Depending on the waiting list, the queue to open an account may go up to 2 months. Very often a bank may refuse to open an account in your name if you are unemployed. In this case, one can open a bank account with a student certificate if enrolled for an SFI program.
> Helpdesks
- Migrationsverket (National Integration/Migration Board)
The Migrationsverket is available to newcomers and those planning to come to Sweden. They provide general information about the Swedish social/welfare system. They also help wiith registering for SFI (Swedish for immigrants), how to look for a job, how enroll children into a school, etc.
More information of integration centers in others cities will be coming up shortly
- Civic / Community Orientation Programs
You can enrol for a Civic orientation program free of cost. They are short programs organized by the Integration center that provide general information about the Swedish society and culture.
> Education
- SFI – Swedish for Immigrants
What is SFI? Why study Swedish? Who can study SFI? What does it cost? What are the levels to SFI programs? Click on the link below to learn more.
How to enrol for an SFI program? Please see our 'LANGUAGE & JARGONS' section for additional information.
- Arkitektsvenska- Architectural Swedish
"Arkitektsvenska" is an online course aimed at foreign architects who want to improve their Swedish language skills within the field of architecture. The course focuses on industry-specific terminology and communication, which facilitates professional life in Sweden. It includes lectures, exercises, and practical tasks.
- UHR - Universitets Och Högskolerådet (Assessment of Foreign Education)
Do you have a foreign education and are applying for a job or education in Sweden? The Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universitets- och högskolerådet) is a government agency organized under the Ministry of Education and Research. They provide an assessment service that evaluates what a foreign education corresponds to in Sweden. This assessment helps one understand if your education is sufficient to work in Sweden, if you need to complete additional Swedish language programs, or if you need to attend a bridge program to link your previous education to the local requirement. You can get an assessment of your foreign education by sending your degrees / training documents to certify your foreign education.
(This may not be necessary for seeking employment, rather if one intends to apply for the SAR title at Sveriges Arkitekter and/or if one is working with a program through the Arbetsförmedlingen. We will evaluate this aspect later)
It can take up to 6 months for the Universitets- och högskolerådet to send an assessment of your certificates.
> Job search
- Sveriges Arkitekter (the Swedish National Architecture Association)
"Sveriges Arkitekter’ is a professional organization, a union for architects, interior architects, landscape architects and spatial planners. Here you’ll find information about the association and its activities. You also find information about the Swedish architectural market for employees and how to become a member of Architects Sweden.
- Introduction Program for Expats
Kick start program- The job program is based on 10 informative sessions on how to optimize your job search as an international talent in Sweden. These sessions have a different theme targeting, e.g. Swedish work culture, CV writing and interview tips and even starting your own company just to name a few.
More information about kick start programs for expats in others cities will be coming up shortly.
- Networking
Networking is a key factor in Sweden to help you integrate in the society. It also opens more career opportunities through referencing. Here are some opportunities to meet and interact with locals within your profession.
Please see our 'NETWORKING' section for additional information.
- Mentorship Programs
What is a mentorship program?
Being a newly arrived academic in Sweden, having no contacts in a new country might make it hard to network, get contacts and learn about the culture and labor market. In a mentorship program aims to match a foreign-born academic (adept) with people who are established in the Swedish labor market (mentors). The matching is done after careful mapping of both mentors and trainees. Here are the list of organizations that offer a mentorship program.
For additional information about mentorship programs please see our 'JOB HUNTING' section.
> Internship
- Internship Eligibility
Do you need to gain work experience to increase your chances of getting a job? Then a work experience placement, arbetspraktik, could be right for you. Experience in a workplace can also be a useful option if you are preparing to start your own business. Click the link to learn more about the eligibility to do an internship.
For additional information about mentorship programs please see our 'JOB HUNTING' section.
- Internship Opportunities
> CV and Portfolio
- Resume & Cover / Introduction Letter
For additional information about resumes, covering letters, architectural portfolio and interviews please see our 'JOB HUNTING' section.
- Portfolio
For additional information about resumes, covering letters, architectural portfolio and interviews please see our 'JOB HUNTING' section.
- Interviewing in Sweden
The interview process and questions are quite different in Sweden compared to other countries. Here are a few sample interview questions. You can also fix an appointment with a person who will help you practice your interview.
> Arbetsförmedlingen (National Employment Office)
You can read more about it on the Swedish Public Employment Service's website via the link, and also make a calculation regarding the support.
- Jobb och Utveckling (Job and Development)
- Introduktionsjobb (Introductory job)
- Rusta och matcha (Equip and match)
- Korta vägen
- Aktivitietsstöd och utvecklingsersättning
This is financial support one can get when on an unpaid internship/praktik. Försäkringskassan also offers compensation for travel expenses that exceed 600kr per month.
- Establishment Program
It is a programme that consists of activities adapted to your needs in combination with you actively looking for work. The aim is for you to learn Swedish, find a job, and become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.
You can take part in the establishment programme if you are over 20 but under 65 years of age and have recently been granted a residence permit as a refugee, person with subsidiary protection status or family member.
- Nystartsjobb
Depending on one's residence permit, people who have been enrolled in Arbetsförmedlingen, etableringsprogrammet and have been unemployed for 12 of the last 15 months (if 25+yo) and who were granted it within the last 36 months are entitled to it. The employer that hires this newcomer gets compensation for 12 months to cover part of the employee’s salary. The employer is the one who applies for it to Arbetsförmedlingen. There are exceptions on how the unemployment time counts for certain grounds (refugee, person in need of protection or in some cases due to affiliation) or if the person has turned 20 and has not reached the age of 25.
You can read more about it on the Swedish Public Employment Service's website via the link, and also make a calculation regarding the support.
Rusta och matcha (Equip and match)
- Korta vägen
- Aktivitietsstöd och utvecklingsersättning
This is financial support one can get when on an unpaid internship/praktik. Försäkringskassan also offers compensation for travel expenses that exceed 600kr per month.
- Establishment Program
It is a programme that consists of activities adapted to your needs in combination with you actively looking for work. The aim is for you to learn Swedish, find a job, and become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.
You can take part in the establishment programme if you are over 20 but under 65 years of age and have recently been granted a residence permit as a refugee, person with subsidiary protection status or family member.
- Nystartsjobb
Depending on one's residence permit, people who have been enrolled in Arbetsförmedlingen, etableringsprogrammet and have been unemployed for 12 of the last 15 months (if 25+yo) and who were granted it within the last 36 months are entitled to it. The employer that hires this newcomer gets compensation for 12 months to cover part of the employee’s salary. The employer is the one who applies for it to Arbetsförmedlingen. There are exceptions on how the unemployment time counts for certain grounds (refugee, person in need of protection or in some cases due to affiliation) or if the person has turned 20 and has not reached the age of 25.