Bringing your family
Sweden is said to be among the top five countries in the world in terms of democracy, safety and gender equality. The Swedish lifestyle combines closeness to nature, good housing, environmental thinking and culture – with a strong awareness of health and equality. Sweden has succeeded in creating a balance between social equality and economic growth. Sweden provide a work–life balance with family-friendly solutions. Education is free, healthcare is cheap and childcare is universal.
Accompanying partners
One of the challenges of moving to a new country as an accompanying partner is finding an occupation. A good starting point is the website Work in Sweden, which is the official source for information about working in Sweden.
Accompanying partners to employees at Linnaeus University are welcome to join some of the seminars within Relocation LNU, for example, Working in Sweden, Information from the Swedish Public Employment Service, Intercultural Communication and Digital Fika. Relocation LNU also sets up meetings specifically for accompanying partners. To find out when the next meeting will take place, please contact relocation@lnu.se
Right to work or study in Sweden
In order to have the right to work or study in Sweden, you must have a residence permit or right of residence as an EU citizen.
If you are a non-EU citizen, you are entitled to receive a residence permit if you are married to someone who lives in Sweden, and also if you have entered into a registered partnership with, or are the cohabiting partner of, someone who lives in Sweden.
Once you have either a residence permit or a right of residence, you have the same rights in Sweden as your partner working here. You can study, work or start your own business.
Looking for work
Everyone who has the right to work in Sweden also has the right to be registered and get service from the Swedish Public Employment Service.
On the Swedish Public Employment Agency’s website, you can find information, advice and support.
In case you need more specific information regarding the local labour market (shortages and surpluses), unemployment benefits, and job search, you can get in touch with a Eures adviser. Eures is a network formed by public employment services with the objective of facilitating free movement of workers within the European Economic Area (EEA). For more information, please visit Eures.
To get in touch with a local Eures adviser, please email banna.thioubou@arbetsformedlingen.se or call +4610-488 77 47
For support with writing a CV, preparing for an interview, etc., please contact the Career Counselling Service at Linnaeus University
There are also privately-run job sites like Adecco, Manpower, Ranstad and LinkedIn. To find a job in Sweden, you can upload your CV on their websites.
If you are interested in working at a specific company, it may be a good idea to apply for a job with them directly. Many companies include information on available positions on their websites.
Unemployment insurance
Unemployment insurance is included in social insurance in most countries. Sweden, Finland and Denmark have systems with full or partial voluntary insurance (A-kassa). If you are going to work in Sweden for a longer period of time, we recommend that you register with an insurance. See, for example, Akademikernas A-kassa, an unemployment insurance fund for academics.
To be eligible for unemployment insurance, you must have been working at least 50% of full-time for at least 6 months during the last 12 months. There are different types of A-kassa. Most of them are connected to a trade union. You can always make the choice of joining an A-kassa and not the union, or joining a union but not the A-kassa.
Learning Swedish
If you want to get started as soon as possible, you can take free online courses for learning Swedish.
If you intend to stay in Sweden for at least one year, you can study
SFI (Swedish for Immigrants). This is free of charge and arranged by Kalmar and Växjö municipalities. You can find more information here: SFI Kalmar,
SFI Växjö. You can also contact Emma Krig at the university.
You can also study Swedish at Linnaeus University. There are courses on different levels. You will find more information here.
Studying at the university
f you are accompanying someone who is employed at the university, you have the possibility to study for free at the university. For more information and to apply, please contact the Career Counselling Service at Linnaeus University
Starting a company
If you have a business idea that you would like to develop, you can contact Kalmar or Växjö municipality to get more information.
Recognition of foreign qualifications
The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) evaluates foreign qualifications in order to provide support for people looking for work in Sweden, people who wish to continue studying, or for employers who wish to employ someone with foreign qualifications. Learn more
International Dual Career Network
Join the International Dual Career Network (IDCN). A network that shares information and inspiration. Many of the events take place in other parts of the world but they also arrange online events.
Municipality of Växjö
See the website of the municipality of Kalmar for information regarding schools, preschool etc; Vaxjo.se
You can also find Växjö International School and English International School.
The municipality have a Department called Språk och kompetenscentrum. Contact them for questions concerning schools, daycare, health care and so on.
Municipality of Kalmar
See the website of the municipality of Kalmar for information regarding schools, preschool etc; Kalmar.se
In Kalmar you can also find Nordic International School.
Inflyttarlotsen is part of Kalmar Kommun. They give support on how to find your way in the Swedish society, such as applying for a job, getting your children to daycare or school, getting accommodation, and so on.
Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)
The Swedish Social Insurance is an important part of the social security system for families. Swedish social insurance covers most people who live or work in Sweden. It is administered by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. In order to find out if you are entitled to any sort of social insurance benefits, contact Forsakringskassan Phone number: +46 (0)771-52 45 24
It is important that you inform Försäkringskassan when you move out from Sweden.
Two types of benefits
If your stay in Sweden exceeds 365 days, you are generally entitled to residence-based benefits. Examples of residence-based benefits are child allowance and parental allowance.
If you are employed in Sweden, you are generally covered by employment-based benefits, which cover sickness and parental benefits.
Here are the most common child and parental benefits:
Child Allowance (Barnbidrag)-children who are residents in Sweden, are entitled to child allowance.
Parental Benefits (Föräldrapenning) -when a child is born, the parents will receive parental benefits up to 480 days. The days of parental allowance are divided equally between the both of them.
Study Allowance (Studiebidrag)- children over the age of 16, receive an extended child allowance, known as studiebidrag (study allowance) which is paid every month until the student completes or discontinues with his or her schooling.
Temporary Parental Allowance (VAB-Vård Av Barn)- may be claimed by a parent in order to make up for loss of income when taking care of a sick child up to the age of 12.
Pregnancy Allowance (Graviditetspenning)- certain jobs can be difficult to perform during pregnancy. In such a case, your employer should assign you with other tasks. If this is not possible, you may receive pregnancy benefits.
Parenting and pre-school
Most of the responsibility for schooling rests with local municipalities. The majority of the budget for schools is financed by local taxes. The Swedish law states that children have equal rights to education regardless of gender, ethnic or political background and economic status of their families.
Most children in Sweden go to preschool. From the age of 12 months the child can attend preschool. Fees are calculated according to income. If you have children, you should locate a pre-school or school and apply to the municipality for a place as early as possible.
Open pre-school is a meeting place for adults and their children aged 0 to 5 year and a place where you, as a parent, can meet other parents. Parents are responsible for their children during the time they spend at an open pre-school. At the open pre-school, activities such as singing, reading stories, playing games, painting and drawing are organised. Pre-schools are free of charge. To get in touch with open pre-schools, contact municipalities in Kalmar and in Växjö.
School system and education
Education
Education is compulsory for all children from 6 to 15. Sweden offers free education. Pupils who pass exams in grade 9 may go on to 3 years in gymnasium- upper secondary school (high school). Students who have not passed grade 9 exams may study education programs tailored to their needs.
The school year runs for 40 weeks and has two semesters. Most schools are run by the municipality and provide free instruction, books, and lunches. There are, however, so-called independent schools that often have a particular focus such as arts or sports or a particular pedagogics such as Waldorf or Montessori. The number of Independent schools is increasing rapidly – about 20 percent of the Swedish upper secondary school students attend an independent school. Several controls are in place to ensure equal conditions for private and public schools throughout the country. Free education continues throughout university.
Primary School and Upper Secondary School
School hours vary by children's age and municipality. The schools also have after-school care for children in primary school, fritidshem. You pay an additional monthly fee for the after-school care.
Gymnasieskolan is an optional continuation of the nine-year compulsory school. There is a great variety of educational programs, and the period of study is usually three years.
There are also some international schools in Växjö and Kalmar.
The language of tuition at Swedish schools is Swedish, but the schools can offer study assistance in the children’s native language for those who are learning Swedish as a second language. Your child may also have the right to some mother tongue instruction in primary school, regardless of where you are from.
Leisure time
In Sweden, there is a strong tradition of organized cultural and recreational activities. It is, for example, common for children to be members of a sports club or play an instrument regularly with a band or orchestra. There is also a variety of organized leisure activities for adults and as a new inhabitant, it is a good way of meeting new friends. The municipalities have a department for culture and leisure management. They can provide you with a list of organized activities that you can choose from.
Culture and leisure management in Kalmar
Culture and leisure management in Växjö
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