Moving to Gothenburg

There are some things to be considered before packing your things and making the leap to moving to Gothenburg. Here you find a brief guide with the steps to follow as soon as you land in the city.

Find a home

The sooner you know that there is a housing shortage in Gothenburg, the better for you and your nerves!

Suppose you're planning on staying in Gothenburg in the long term. In that case, your search should start at Boplats and Home Q. These are the leading portals for rental apartments in the Gothenburg region and you are advised to register in housing queues even before you have begun thinking about moving.

You can also look at the Blocket website, which would be like a Swedish Digital Free Marketplace. You'll find sublets, lodgings, and even houses to rent. Always do your searches carefully because some ads may be fake. Another alternative is to rent through websites that function as Real Estate Agencies. In this way, you pay the agency the monthly rent, and they pay the owner. Some of these agencies usually charge a one-month-rent commission or some subscription or fee. Some real estate companies are Bostak Direkt, QASA and Housing Target.

If you’re lucky enough to have your company helping you out in this matter, relocation companies could be the definitive solution. Check out Nordic Relocation Group, Human Entrance or Cito.

Social Security Number (Personnummer) or Coordination Number (Samordningsnummer)

Everybody who is registered in Sweden is given a personal identity number. You get the social security number from the Swedish Tax Agency. On the other hand, the Coordination number is an identity designation for persons who have not been registered in Sweden.

This process is crucial because, without the Personnumber, you won't be able to open a bank account, sign up for the city housing queues, get a membership at your preferred supermarket or gym, etc.

The registration is completed at the Tax Office (Skatteverket), and you will have to provide some documentation such as a job contract, your flat/house contract and a couple of payslips. It can take anything from 3 to 16 weeks.

There is a bit of contradiction when trying to get either of these two numbers as you'll be asked to present them when you're offered a job, but you won't get the number so quickly unless you already have a job!

Even if you find yourself in this circumstance, don’t panic! There's still hope. Explain the situation to the person who interviews you. Some employers will understand it, and they will apply on your behalf. By doing it this way, you'll get the number in no more than two weeks.

Set up a bank account

Although you can stay in Sweden for a while without having a bank account, you're strongly recommended to set up one to save money on fees and allow you to get paid by your Swedish employer.

To set up a bank account, you'll be required to bring along the following documentation to one of the central bank branch offices:

• Passport or ID card

• Social Security Number or Coordination Number

• Work contract

If you present a Coordination number instead of the Social Security number, you should be allowed to open a basic account. Once the Tax Office issues your Personnumber, you can apply to get the Bank ID at your bank office.

The BankID is the largest electronic identification system in Sweden. With this ID, you can sign agreements, loan documents, register on any public service websites or collect packages from the postal office.

Among the best-known banks we can name Nordea, SEB, Handelsbanken, Swedbank.

Banks in Sweden are generally open between 10 am - 4 pm, with some larger offices open until 6 pm.

Health system

The Swedish healthcare system is publicly funded and with your Personnumber, you can access healthcare at the exact subsidised cost as Swedish residents.

It is informally divided into eight sections: "Close to Home Care" (Primary Care Clinics, Maternity Care Clinics, Psychiatric Clinics, etc.), Emergency Care, Elective Care, Inpatient Care, Outpatient Care, specialist care and dental care.

The National Healthcare Guarantee states that a patient must get an appointment with a primary care physician within 5 days of contacting the clinic. If the GP refers you to a specialist, they must get an appointment within 30 days, and if the treatment is considered necessary by the specialist, it must be given within 90 days. However, urgent cases are always prioritised over emerging cases.

The main criticism levelled at Swedish health care is that waiting times are too long, so perhaps you might consider getting life and accident insurance with adequate coverage for your lifestyle.

Your kids' learning (if you have any)

To apply for a place in the children's school, it is not mandatory to have a Social Security number, but they must be registered in Sweden.

Children older than one year old and younger than six can attend what is called Förskola (preschool). When they turn 6 years old, they must attend Förskoleklass (pre-primary school). From the age of 7, children start Grundskola or primary school.

When applying for a place, you need to pick five options of preschools you'd be interested in sorting by any personal preferences.

You can find all the information at Göteborg Stad.

There's much more than work

In 2017 Gothenburg was designated the most sociable city in the world and let me tell you: it has gotten much better since then.

It is a fantastic city for social experiences and interactions. Eating out, partying, going for hikes in the most majestic forests in Sweden. Everyone finds their place when it comes to enjoying their free time and have fun.

If you want to meet like-minded people, you can join our MeetUp group. We organise different events like the summery outdoor activity Unlock the City or winter walks in the Delsjön Lakes area.

Check out also some of the Kultur Föreningar (Cultural Associations) in Gothenburg. You'll find anything from music, dance and theatre to art crafts, baking, photography, yoga and meditation groups. There will be a spot for you. Guaranteed!!

Photo Banner: Per Pixel Petersson/imagebank.sweden.se

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This Is Gothenburg [2021]

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