How to move to Sweden for permanent residence from Russia in 2021

Standard of living in Sweden

The standard of living in Sweden consists of many indicators. In terms of economic and social components, it is in many ways ahead of its EU neighbors. Its stability and prosperity never cease to attract not only Russian emigrants, but also representatives of other countries.

Labor market . The unemployment rate is considered below the European average and is 5.5% for 2021. The government agency SwedishLaborMarketAdministration is engaged in the employment of citizens. A database of available vacancies is published on its website.
Salary . The average size before tax is about 3,300 euros; Swedes receive about 2,600 euros.
Pension . Workers go on vacation at the age of 61, regardless of gender. The country provides two types of payments. The state pension is available to everyone who has lived in Sweden for at least 3 years. It is 1000 euros. If a person has never worked, he will receive 800 euros, benefits for utility bills and a food package. The funded pension is paid through deductions from salaries. Citizens whose work experience is 40 years are entitled to maximum payments. Amounts for missing years of experience are adjusted by reducing factors.
Longevity . Swedish citizens live long lives. The age limit for men is 81 years, for women it reaches 84 years.
Real estate . This sector of life is quite expensive. Depending on the location of the property in the center or on the outskirts of the city, in Stockholm you need to pay an average of 3,000 and 1,900 euros per square meter when purchasing, respectively, in Gothenburg 3,500 and 1,500 euros, in Malmö 2,800 and 2,000 euros. Renting a one-bedroom apartment will cost 500-1000 euros per month in Stockholm, 350-750 euros in Gothenburg, and 500-800 euros per month in Malmo.
Prices . The price level for products and services is comparable to the European average. A liter of gasoline costs 1.46 euros, a loaf of bread or a carton of milk costs 1 euro, a dozen eggs costs 1.5 euros, a kilogram of cheese costs from 8 euros, and for a stick of sausage for 800 grams you should pay from 5 euros.
Medicine . Health care services are provided to the population at a high level and absolutely free, but they have their own peculiarities that are unusual for Russians. Medicines are expensive. In some cases, the wait in line for an appointment can be up to a week. An ambulance can only be called in emergency cases, so as not to receive a fine for a false call.
Education . Not only Swedish citizens, but also foreigners have the right to free education. The state provides interest-free loans to students, which can be repaid after graduating from university and getting a job. If the borrower does not have time to repay the entire amount before retirement, the remaining debt is forgiven. Places in kindergartens and schools are also provided free of charge. Moreover, all schoolchildren receive tablets and laptops as gifts from the state.

Getting around Sweden

Need for a car

According to the latest statistics for 2021, Sweden ranks first in the ranking of countries with the number of cars per person. Therefore, it is not necessary to buy a car - there is a developed public transport network and constant traffic jams. But if you have already decided to take this step, be prepared to pay.

Buy a C-class car - 19 thousand euros. Rent - from 30 to 50 euros per day. A liter of gasoline costs 1.46 euros, and the same amount of diesel costs 1.42. Parking here is mostly paid. For one place you will have to pay from 3 to 8 euros.

Development of public transport

Any resident of the country or tourist can purchase a so-called zone card for a cost of 1.5 euros. During the specified time, you can travel along it by any public transport in the region. City dwellers most often travel by metro - the network covers all major settlements, including Stockholm.

Travel between cities or to other European countries by high-speed trains. The regions are connected by comfortable buses that travel on schedule.

General condition of roads and sidewalks

Like any country, Sweden is divided into south and north. There are many cities in the southern part of the state. The main industrial part of the country is located here. The population density is quite high, all the plains and hills are built up with high-quality roads. But in the north there are fewer routes, since not so many people live beyond the Arctic Circle.

But regardless of territorial affiliation, all roads are in perfect condition. Every year the government approves a schedule for changing road surfaces and removing snow.

Pros and cons of moving to Sweden

First of all, Russians are forced to move to Sweden by the advantages of local life:

Good ecology. The state makes a lot of efforts to preserve and protect the environment and natural landscapes.
High quality of goods produced in the country.
Security of long-term investments.
Average European price level.
A developed social protection system, including free education and medical care, a high level of unemployment benefits and pensions.
No corruption. All government services are distinguished by efficient work and compliance with legislation.
Visa-free travel within the EU countries.
High incomes of the population.
Well-developed transport infrastructure.
Swedes' widespread fluency in English.
Measured, peaceful and calm way of life.

But we should not forget about the disadvantages inherent in life in Swedish society. Among them:

The need to learn Swedish.
High taxes, reaching 30% of income.
Imposition of additional excise taxes on luxury goods and alcohol.
Cold and wet climate.
High prices for real estate, transport, internet.
Lack of the usual opportunity for Russians to call an ambulance.
Calm and measured, bordering on slow, with a cold and reserved mentality of the locals.
The presence of a law requiring that sexual contact be agreed upon with a partner.
Government loyalty to migrants. The open door policy is exacerbating social problems as a result of the influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle East.
Exclusion from the period of legalization of time spent studying at the university, which significantly delays the moment of obtaining permanent residence.

There are also controversial issues that each individual person can classify as pros or cons depending on their own beliefs. This applies, for example, to the legalization of same-sex marriage or permission to euthanasia.

Ways to move to Sweden from Russia

Current legislation provides for several current ways to allow foreigners to immigrate to Sweden:

Family reunification. If relatives who have received legal status live in Sweden, their family members can also travel to this country and become permanent residents. The category of family members includes spouses, brides or grooms, cohabitants, parents and children under the age of majority.
Job. This method is suitable for those who want to live and work in Sweden. However, legalization can only be done on the basis of an invitation from an employer, who, in turn, must prove to the relevant government agencies that he has not found a suitable specialist among his fellow citizens.
Business. Available to those who want to open a company and provide jobs for Swedes.
Education. Any foreigner admitted to university has the right to legal status covering the entire duration of their studies.
Political refuge. Persons with compelling reasons can come to Sweden as refugees. He must be able to provide documents confirming that he has left the region that is dangerous to his life. Before the decision on legalization is made, the refugee is fully supported by the state and is accommodated in a specialized camp.

How to get a residence permit in Sweden

Obtaining a temporary residence permit is the first step towards the coveted European passport. In Sweden, the legalization procedure differs from the procedure provided for in other countries. Migration officials thoroughly study each specific situation, so the process often takes a significant amount of time.

It is important to remember that, unlike other EU countries, an applicant for legal status must submit an application to Swedish structures in advance, while still in their homeland. Citizens of Russia, Belarus or Ukraine must obtain a migration card from the Swedish consulate of their country. You cannot receive it upon arrival in Sweden.

If the applicant has a reason to stay in the country for more than 3 months, for example, in connection with admission to university or employment, he needs to follow the following algorithm:

Contact the Swedish Consulate with an application and a set of documents.
Pay the consular fee at the ticket office.
Go through the procedure of collecting biometric data;
Wait for a response from the Swedish Migration Department.
If the decision is positive, receive a plastic card with an approved residence permit.

Required documents

When planning to emigrate from their home country to Sweden, a foreigner must collect the list of documents required by law and submit them along with the application to the consular department. The kit should include:

Internal civil passport;
International passport valid for at least one year;
Proof of housing in Sweden in the form of a purchase or rental agreement, a certificate of allocation of space in a dormitory or university campus;
Medical insurance covering insurance risks up to 30 thousand euros;
A certificate from a medical institution confirming the absence of socially dangerous diseases;
Confirmation of financial solvency in the form of a bank account statement or sponsorship letter;
Photograph 3.5 by 4.5 cm;
Documents confirming the basis for moving for a long period of time. This could be an invitation from a university, a marriage certificate, or a contract with an employer.

Deadlines for obtaining a residence permit

Swedish Migration Service specialists carefully study each application before deciding to approve a residence permit. Depending on the specific case, the period for issuing a certificate can vary from 2 to 9 months or longer.

After the card is produced, the applicant is notified of the possibility of obtaining a document and is invited to the consulate to submit biometrics.

Price

The cost of moving for foreigners may vary depending on the reason for emigration.

Reuniting with family is the longest way to move to Sweden. Approval of the application may take from 8 months to 2 years. The cost of the procedure is about 160 euros for an adult applicant and 80 euros for a child under 18 years of age.
Business. Registering a company and hiring a Swedish manager will cost approximately 10 thousand euros. For each partner, issuing a residence permit will cost 1,250 euros; for approval of the status, all family members of the company owner must pay 2,250 euros.
Education. Consideration of an application for a residence permit will cost the student approximately 100 euros.

Russian visa for Swedish citizens

It is recommended to obtain a business visa for those citizens of Sweden who plan to visit Russia to sign contracts, conduct negotiations, make transactions, participate in seminars, conferences and auctions.

Read more: Business visa to Russia for foreigners

Complete step-by-step instructions for obtaining a Russian visa in all languages

There are three types of such invitation:

letter from the organization;
FMS form;
Telex.

Our company recommends that Swedish citizens issue an invitation letter from an organization, because:

A letter of invitation is cheaper than a telex and an invitation on the letterhead of the Federal Migration Service
It can be completed online in five minutes and sent to you by email immediately after payment.
In addition, the original invitation for submission to the Russian Consulate is not required and you will NOT spend money on postal services to send the original
With this type of invitation, if you have 2 or more previous business visas to Russia, you can receive an invitation to Russia and a visa for 3 years at once!

Take three simple steps:

fill in the form
pay by credit card or paypal
receive an invitation instantly after payment to your email

Order an invitation letter online!
Price from €49.28 To obtain a business visa, a Swede will need to present a business invitation at the embassy (consulate). Such an invitation can only be issued by someone accredited by the Federal Migration Service or the DCS of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation . Such an invitation can be issued on the letterhead of the Federal Migration Service, on the letterhead of the inviting organization itself, or in the form of a Telex.

An invitation on FMS letterhead can only be received by an accredited organization whose representative has submitted an application in the appropriate manner. When submitting such an application, a foreign citizen is checked for fines, criminal records or deportation from the country.

An invitation on the letterhead of the inviting organization is a request from this organization to the Russian Consulate to issue a visa to a specific foreign citizen. Such an invitation is issued one day in advance.

An invitation in the form of Telex is an instruction from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Russian Consulate. If there is such an invitation, the foreign citizen will only have to provide the embassy with the number that was given to him by the inviting party.

Read more: How does Telex differ from an original invitation?

A business visa can be issued to a Swedish citizen for a period of up to 5 years.

Issue a business invitation to Russia for Swedish citizens in the form of a letter

Proceed to issue a business invitation

Issue a business invitation to Russia for Swedish citizens on the form of the Federal Migration Service

Proceed to issue a business invitation

Issue a business invitation to Russia for Swedish citizens by Telex

Proceed to issue a business invitation

How can a Russian become a Swedish citizen?

The following categories of foreigners can count on permanent residence and acquisition of Swedish citizenship:

Citizens of Nordic Council countries who have lived in Sweden for at least 2 consecutive years.
Representatives of any country who have legally resided permanently in Sweden for 5 years.
Refugees who have been in the country for at least 4 years.

A candidate for citizenship must meet certain requirements:

Be of legal age;
Have no problems with the law of Sweden and your home country;
Live in Sweden on the basis of a current permit;
Have sufficient financial resources to independently adapt to society and support a family.
Fluent in Swedish.
Have a positive conclusion from a medical institution in Sweden confirming that the applicant does not have such dangerous diseases for society as AIDS, schizophrenia, tuberculosis, drug addiction;
Respect the Constitution of the Kingdom;
Know the legislation, traditions and history of Sweden;
Be ready to integrate into society.

Swedish legislation establishes several options for foreigners to become citizens of the country.

Birth or adoption . If a child was born in Sweden, and at least one of his parents is a subject of the kingdom, he automatically receives citizenship status. Children of foreigners born in Sweden do not have this privilege. A child without parents found on the territory of the kingdom, as well as a foreign child under 12 years old adopted by Swedish citizens, also receive citizenship. Children over 12 years of age who have been adopted into a family must submit a corresponding application in person.
Naturalization . This path is the longest. It begins with obtaining a national visa category D, followed by obtaining a residence permit. A foreigner must live in the status of temporary resident for 5 years, and in the last year he cannot be absent from the country for more than 3 months. After this, he can apply for permanent residence and subsequently apply for citizenship. In total, naturalization can take 10 years or more.
Marriage . The most effective path to citizenship. To obtain a passport, you must be married for 2 years and live in Sweden for at least 3 years. The Kingdom's legislation does not distinguish between same-sex and opposite-sex marriages. However, the union must not be fictitious, otherwise its participants will be prosecuted.
Refugee . Migration of people from disadvantaged regions of the world is becoming increasingly large in Sweden. Foreigners who have lived in Sweden as refugees for at least 4 years can become subjects of the kingdom. They are exempt from taking tests on Swedish language proficiency and knowledge of the country's history and traditions. Once they become citizens, they have the right to bring their family into the kingdom.
Special merits to Sweden . A Swedish monk may, by personal decree, grant citizenship to persons whose contribution to the prestige of the country he considers sufficient for such a decision. These could be scientists, athletes, artists.
Restoration of citizenship . Persons who have lost Swedish citizenship for any reason can regain it. To do this, it is enough to present documents confirming that the repatriate has a Swedish passport. Restoration of status does not require passing language exams and does not provide for continuous residence in the country for a period established by law.

How to move for family reasons

The easiest way to settle in the country is considered to be a positive response to the submitted application in order to unite with family. It is undertaken if there are relatives who live in Sweden for permanent residence. First, the applicant is provided with a residence permit, then documents for permanent status are gradually obtained.

You need to decide to move in the following cases:

a spouse or common-law husband lives in the country and invites him to live;
marriage with a Swedish citizen is expected;
parents are waiting for their minor children.

Relocation is possible to relatives who permanently legally live in the country. Whatever the reason, it must be proven. The relationship with the partner must last for at least two years, family ties are confirmed by evidence, as is the presence of jointly owned property. You need to leave after receiving permission from the migration commission.