Moving to Sweden: entry rules, temporary protection, social support, financial assistance
More than 42,000 Ukrainians found refuge in Sweden, including 13,000 children. The country provides refugees with temporary protection: housing, financial support, access to work and medicine. We have collected information about the rules for moving to Sweden and social support in this article.
Temporary protection status in Sweden
Entry to Sweden of temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine is permitted with a foreign passport, an internal passport of a citizen of Ukraine, or another identity document.
It is allowed to cross the Swedish border without a biometric international passport (including children) by car, bus and ferry.
There are no quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Sweden.
Ukrainians who arrived in Sweden after February 24 or stayed in the country for a certain time before the start of the war have the right to obtain the status of "temporary protection". To obtain a residence permit in Sweden, you must provide a passport of a citizen of Ukraine or other documents that will confirm your need for protection.
The application can be submitted online or come to the office of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) in person. The offices are located in six cities of the country: Boden, Malmö, Norrkoping, Stockholm and Sundsvall.
Processing of the application and registration of the status will take several days. When the decision is made, the Migration Service will send you a letter to the postal address you provided in your application.
After registration of the status, you will be able to receive a Swedish personal number (Personnummer). It can facilitate contacts with employers, banks, government services, etc.
Financial assistance to Ukrainians in Sweden
Ukrainians in Sweden can receive two types of financial assistance: per diem or targeted assistance. Money is spent on food, clothing and personal expenses.
The amount of the daily allowance depends on whether the applicant receives food from the state or is self-sufficient. It is from 24 to 71 crowns per day (from 2 to 6.5 €).
Targeted assistance is paid in the event that the applicant has an urgent need for something that is not covered by daily payments, such as making glasses, buying winter clothes or a baby carriage. You need to prove that the need is urgent and you are unable to pay on your own.
For more details about the amount of payments and registration, see the link.
Humanitarian support for refugees from Ukraine
In Sweden, there are many centers that provide humanitarian aid for Ukrainians:
Food, clothing, hygiene products - Food mission, Huldas hus, TrappaNér, Кафе Vasa, Farmers for Peace.
Volunteer centers - Centers Crossroads, Unga Station Söder, Källan Flemingsberg.
How to find housing in Sweden?
The Swedish Migration Agency provides housing for all Ukrainians who need it. On average, the search for housing lasts about a month, during which time you will live in one of the temporary accommodation centers. You cannot choose a region, you will be offered the housing that is available. It can be a separate apartment with its own kitchen, or it can be a room where you will share the kitchen with several other people, or a living space in which it is impossible to cook food and you will have to eat in the dining room.
If you work or have savings, you must pay for the housing you receive from the Migration Board or the municipality. If it turns out that you earned money without notifying the Migration Board or the municipality, you may have to pay housing compensation backdated.
Medical services for Ukrainians
Ukrainians who have obtained temporary protection status in Sweden have the right to emergency medical and dental care.
Emergency medical care is provided to everyone, without exception, free of charge. To call an ambulance, you must call 1177.
Children are also entitled to medical and dental care under the same conditions as all other children in Sweden. Child support is usually provided free of charge. Medicines for children are provided free of charge with a doctor's prescription. It is also possible to get free access to assistive devices if the medical staff deems it necessary.
The website contains information about the health care system in Sweden. Here you can find the phone numbers of medical centers and dental clinics located in the settlement where you live.
We draw your attention, if you are planning a trip abroad, you should take care of the insurance policy, because it is the guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine. In order not to have trouble abroad and to be calm for yourself and your loved ones, Visit Ukraine recommends taking out medical insurance in advance.
Work for Ukrainians in Sweden
To find a job, we recommend contacting the Swedish Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen).
When you find a job, you need to register for tax. To do this, you or your employer must send an application for registration for advance tax on the income of an employee (A-skatt) to the Tax Administration (Skatteverket).
Transport system of the country
Ukrainians can use public transport in Stockholm for free by showing their passport or ID card. In other settlements, we advise you to find out information on the spot.
From June 1, 2022, travel in intercity public transport is paid.
Language support
Currently, the Swedish government is working on access to free Swedish language courses (SFI) for Ukrainians who have received temporary protection status. For now, you can learn the language in the free Duolingo application, read short news in Swedish on the Klartext website or listen to Swedish radio.
Many volunteer organizations help refugees learn the language while communicating. You can find information about such courses on social media pages of public organizations that work in your municipality.
Walking around the city and going to the museum will help you learn more about the culture of Sweden.
About how to save on activities using in Stockholm the link.
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