Moving To Sweden From The UK
Whether you are moving to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmo, Britannia Movers International has the expertise and the international resources to tailor the move to your individual needs.
Importing Personal Effects to SwedenAll shipments to Sweden from the UK will now have to clear customs on arrival and you must ensure you can provide all relevant customs documents required at destination. Your contact at your local Britannia office will assist you with which forms are necessary along with what supporting documentation you will need to provide. However, the responsibility for completion and submission of these forms now falls with the customer and it is advisable that all these formalities are prepared for prior to the move to avoid potential delays in transportation and additional charges. Britannia will advise you of the specific requirements prior to your move. |
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Sweden Customs Prohibitions and RestrictionsIn general, it is in your interest not to import the following items:
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Sweden Transit TimesTransit times can vary subject to the method of transport chosen, size of your consignment and the final destination. Britannia will advise you once this information is established. |
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Protecting Your Items for Transport to SwedenAll shared load consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the vehicle. This will ensure that no items are left at origin. |
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Moving to Sweden with PetsBritannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport. |
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Importing Motor Vehicles to SwedenImportation of cars to Sweden will be subject to compliance and duty tax may apply. However, if you have owned the car for at least a year before registering it in Sweden you might be exempt from paying duty tax. |
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Sweden Currency TransferWhen you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers:
More info on the IFX website. |
Moving to Sweden with Britannia
- Your Move to Sweden with Britannia – Britannia has been providing an excellent door to door removal service to Sweden for years, and can transport your effects by shared load or by sole use container load. We can transport your items to Sweden in various ways, by our removal vans, sea containers, or by air. To ensure the safety of your consignment, we also provide bar coding and computer tracking.
- Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a variety of additional removal services when moving to Sweden. We can arrange international insurance and international storage, and can also take care of your pet transport.
If you want to find out more about Britannia’s removal services and about moving to Sweden, read more about our European removals, additional moving services, and request a quote.
Living in Sweden
Whether you are relocating for professional reasons, or looking for a slightly different lifestyle, Sweden is an exciting destination. It has one of the world’s most highly developed economies, and is a highly innovative country, with strong technological and industrial sectors. Unemployment rates are low, and due to the strong economy and an excellent welfare system, Swedes enjoy a high standard of living.
Sweden is a Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, between Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel. The country is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, has one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU, and a unique, non-aligned foreign policy. The Swedish economic model rests on very strong public-private partnerships and has a heavily tax-subsidized social security network, which ensures a strong welfare system, an excellent quality of life and high life expectancy throughout the country. Sweden has an open and tolerant society, and while it might be initially difficult to find employment if you are moving to Sweden without a job, the country offers a wide range of opportunities and will give you unique experiences.
Whether you are looking for modern sophistication, and urban living, open spaces and parks, a more eco-friendly attitude to life or want to live in a rural area, Sweden is a really attractive destination. The country also offers unparalleled landscapes, stunning historical locations, and a moderate climate with long days in the summer and living costs that are not much higher than in the UK.
Sweden Visas
If you are moving to Sweden to work, you will need a working visa. To qualify, you will need to have secured a role with a Swedish company. They will start the application for your visa and inform you how to proceed to complete it. If you are granted a permit for more than 3 months, you will also be given a residence permit card.
If you are planning to move to Sweden permanently, you will need to register for residency. This will give you a Swedish identity number (personnummer) which will allow you to access services such as healthcare and banking, as well as for tax purposes.
Finding a Job in Sweden
The unemployment rate in Sweden is low and there is a wide range of employment opportunities. However, finding a job in Sweden as an expat can be challenging. The job market is competitive, and many people are drawn to Sweden’s high salaries and healthy work-life balance. In addition, Swedish employers will need to justify why they have employed a foreigner over a Swedish national, so roles will often require a high level of skills or qualifications.
Sweden released a job shortage list every year, where expats can find roles that might be suitable for them. The most recent list includes shortages of police inspectors, psychologists, systems analysts, dentists, and midwives.
Knowing the Swedish language will help expats to be successful in their job applications. There are English-speaking jobs available, but most employers will want their candidates to have a good knowledge of Swedish as well.
Cost of Living in Sweden
According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Sweden is 6.4% lower than in the UK, not counting rent. Rent prices alone are 33.6% lower than in the UK. Mirroring this, salaries are also a little lower in Sweden than in the UK – £2,235 per month vs £2,423 per month, a difference of 7.8%.
You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in Sweden below. Prices are shown in Swedish Krona and converted to UK pounds alongside the price in the UK so you can see how costs match up.
Item | Price in Sweden | Price in UK |
Milk (1l) | 15.96 kr £1.17 |
16.98 kr £1.25 |
Loaf of white bread | 28.20 kr £2.07 |
16.59 kr £1.22 |
Eggs (12) | 42.30 kr £3.04 |
39.98 kr £2.94 |
Bananas (1kg) | 25.99 kr £1.91 |
15.74 kr £1.16 |
Chicken breasts (1kg) | 119.81 kr £8.81 |
89.77 kr £6.60 |
Bottle of water (1.5l) | 14.66 kr £1.08 |
14.76 kr £1.09 |
Pair of quality jeans | 865.19 kr £63.64 |
865.09 kr £63.63 |
Chain store dress | 381.88 kr £28.09 |
433.26 kr £31.87 |
Mid-range trainers | 950.32 kr £69.90 |
1,010.48 kr £74.33 |
Cinema ticket | 159.00 kr £11.70 |
135.95 kr £10.00 |
Fitness Club Fees (1 month) | 394.64 kr £29.03 |
447.84 kr £32.94 |
Interesting Facts About Sweden
- Sweden is the third largest country by land area in the EU, and has a low population density, with just over 9 million inhabitants.
- Sweden has very high gender equality, with the smallest gender employment-rate gap in Europe, a high percentage of working mothers, and the highest proportion of female parliamentarians in the world.
- The Stockholm Globe Arena is the world’s largest hemispherical building, with a diameter of 110 metres.
- About 20% of the Swedish population were born in a country other than Sweden.
Choose Britannia for Your Sweden Relocation
If you are thinking about moving to Sweden and want to find out more about our Sweden removal services or request a quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.