Key Steps & What to Expect When Moving to Sweden
- Obtain Work or Residence Permit Non-EU/EEA citizens generally need to secure a permit before relocating. EU nationals have freedom of movement but must register after a while.
- Register with the Tax Authority (Skatteverket) Once in Sweden, you need to register your address and legal presence (folkbokföring), which gives you a personal identity number (personnummer) — essential for nearly all services (banking, healthcare, tax).
- Get a Swedish ID Card After registration, you can apply for a Swedish ID card (identitetskort) which simplifies many transactions (bank, mobile contracts, pickups).
- Open a Bank Account & Digital Tools With your personnummer and ID, open a Swedish bank account. Also set up BankID (digital identity) and mobile payment apps (like Swish) which are widely used in daily life.
- Find Housing Rent is competitive in major cities (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö). First-hand leases (with the building owner) are harder to get; many start with second-hand / sublets.
- Search for Work or Set Up Business Once your permit allows, you can work or register a company. The website “Verksamt.se” is useful for business setup.
- Learn Swedish & Integrate Swedish language skills boost social, professional, and administrative integration. Many municipalities offer SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) courses.
- Understand Cost of Living & Adjust Sweden can be expensive — housing, utilities, food, and transport should be budgeted carefully. Salaries are generally higher to compensate.
- Cultural & Daily Life Tips Swedes love coffee breaks (“fika”), they respect order and queue systems, and rely heavily on digital services.
- Ongoing Compliance Keep your registration, permit renewals, taxes, and residence status in order. Avoid letting processes lapse.
How Dogpay Adds Value During the Move & Settlement
The relocation process involves many money movements — deposits, international transfers, paying services or fees abroad. Here’s how Dogpay can smooth those flows:
| Scenario | How Dogpay Helps |
|---|---|
| Transferring Relocation Funds | When you move money from your home country to Sweden (e.g. for deposit, home setup), Dogpay ensures transparent conversion, shows fees up front, and ensures the full amount arrives. |
| Paying Deposits & Rent from Abroad | If you need to pay a housing deposit or first month’s rent before arriving, Dogpay allows you to remit euro/SEK payments reliably. |
| Paying Application / Visa / Permit Fees | Many permit or legal steps require fees paid either in foreign currency or via bank transfer. Dogpay lets you pay exactly what is needed without hidden bank markups. |
| Paying for Relocation Services (moving, shipping, legal) | Movers, customs agents, translation, legal help—if you pay those providers across borders, Dogpay ensures smooth, auditable transfers. |
| Recurring Payments (rent, utilities, insurance) | Once settled, you can set up recurring rent or utility payments via Dogpay, reducing friction and exchange waste. |
| Proof / Transaction Logs for Compliance | For permit renewals, tax filings, or audits, Dogpay offers exportable logs, timestamps, and receipts to support any financial records you need. |
| Minimizing Hidden Bank Fees & FX Losses | Standard international transfers often incur wide margins and intermediary fees. Dogpay helps reduce those “leakages,” preserving more of your funds. |
