FAQ new employees from abroad

I have questions about residence /work permits. Where do I turn?

Information is available in English. You will also find information about their international contact centre.

How long does it take before I receive a decision from the Swedish Migration Agency?

The decision time varies, depending on the kind of permit you apply for, the country you come from, etc. It takes from 2 weeks up to a year for some decisions.

Will the University pay for my application fee at the Swedish Migration Agency?

In general, the University does not pay for application fees.

What do I need to do first when I arrive in Sweden?

Visit the page "Your first weeks" in the menu to read all about it.

I have a driver’s license from another country. Can I drive in Sweden?

You are allowed to drive in Sweden with a driver’s license from most other countries for a period of twelve months without needing to validate your driver’s license at the Swedish Transport Agency. You might need to get an official translation of your driving license to Swedish or English. Contact the Swedish Transport Agency for more information.

How does the healthcare system work in Sweden? 

Read all about it on 1177.se, which is the Swedish healthcare system’s dedicated website with guidance and information. It is also a helpline telephone number for healthcare advice for the whole family.

How do I register myself in the Swedish social insurance system?

All information is available in English. They also have an international customer centre that can assist you.

What happens if I get ill?

For the first 14 days of sick leave, Karlstad University pays out 80% of your salary. (The first day of illness is a qualifying day, which means that you are not payed.) From day 8, you must provide the HR Office with a doctor’s certificate that you can get at any healthcare service provider. From day 15, the Swedish Insurance Agency pays out 80% of your salary. The maximum amount of time you can receive payments from the Swedish Insurance Agency varies, depending on your medical condition.

Where can I go if I get ill?

In Karlstad, there is a hospital called Centralsjukhuset (the Central Hospital) which can help you with almost anything or refer you to the correct healthcare providers. (In Värmland, there are also hospitals in the towns of Arvika and Torsby.)

The primary healthcare provider visited first by most Swedes when they are ill is called vårdcentralen, the local clinic. There are 10 clinics in Karlstad and you can find one in almost every Swedish town. Clinics employ doctors and nurses just as at any hospital, but they usually handle medical issues that are not emergencies. In general, if you have a medical issue that is not acute, you go to a clinic. If you experience a lot of pain or a medical emergency, you go to the hospital’s emergency room.

How do I get a SIM card for my mobile phone?

In Sweden, we have two types of SIM-cards. One is the so-called Cash card (kontantkort) which you can buy at almost any store (including food stores). You charge a certain amount of money to the SIM card, put it in your phone and it starts working immediately.

The other kind is a mobile subscription where you sign a contract with a mobile company and pay a monthly amount to be able to call/sms/surf/etc. To be able to sign a mobile subscription contract you need a Swedish personal identity number.

Information about a-kassa (unemployment benefit while looking for work)

A-kassa is an unemployment insurance, optional to purchase for anybody working in Sweden.
Having an unemployment insurance through an A-kassa can provide you with safety in case you lose your job. You will be able to claim unemployment benefit and still have an income while looking for a new job. How much you can get depends on how many hours you have worked, and how long you have been a member (up to 80 percent  of your salary). To be eligible for unemployment insurance (a-kassa) you must fulfill certain requirements.