Getting settled at Linnaeus University

The Getting settled at Linnaeus University guide is a support for new employees at Linnaeus University who are relocating to Sweden. The booklet gives you an overview on how the introduction of new employees is organized at Linnaeus University, how to open a bank account and where to start searching for accommodation. You will also find information on important governmental bodies such as the Migration Agency, the Tax Agency, Social Security, and the healthcare system. A digital version is available on Lnu.se

Linnaeus University is a two-campus university with five faculties, which offer about 200 programs and more than 1 500 individual courses. Our research is multifaceted, with well-developed collaboration between disciplines. The areas of inquiry span the humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and engineering. To meet current and future societal challenges, Linnaeus University has established knowledge environments where prominent research, education, and collaboration is gathered. Collaborating with nearly 700 partner universities in more than 60 countries, Linnaeus University offers a broad international study and research environment. At the same time, Linnaeus University is an important regional motor.

We meet the societal challenges of today and tomorrow in a spirit of openness, curiosity and creativity. By creating arenas for exchange of knowledge from different subjects, fields and cultures, we open up for new ideas and create new opportunities for long-term sustainable societal development. Linnaeus University – where people grow.

Introduction at Linnaeus University

The introduction is one of the first steps in your in-service professional development and it consists of several university-wide and workplacerelated activities and tools. A university-wide introductory day is normally arranged once per semester in English and in Swedish. The aim of this event is to provide knowledge and understanding about the University as an organisation and workplace, as well as to convey a sense of context for your work.

To make it easier for you as a new employee to familiarise yourself with the regulations, procedures and tools related to your employment conditions, the Office of Human Resources offers an information meeting that is held in both Swedish and English. These are held once a month.

The workplace-specific introduction provides you with information that will help you carry out your tasks in an efficient and safe manner. This introduction also facilitates your social involvement with your team. The Head of Department/manager has the overall responsibility for conducting your workplace-specific introduction. In cases where the responsibility is split between several individuals, this should be made clear.

Read more here: https://lnu.se/en/medarbetare/employed-at-lnu/newlyemployed/

Relocation Lnu

You are welcome to join the Relocation Group on Linnaeus University´s staff pages. The purpose of the group is primarily to offer a social forum for international employees at Linnaeus University. The group is open to all employees interested in meeting international staff and/or sharing their experiences of relocating to Kalmar or Växjö. You will find information about upcoming events, webinars, and other networking activities, some of which are open for accompanying partners as well. Many of the activities are digital, but we also organise physical meetings.

You can find information about relocating to Kalmar or Växjö here: Living and working in Sweden | lnu.se

Learning Swedish

We recommend that you learn some Swedish during your stay here. It will make it easier for you to integrate into your department as well as into Swedish society. Linnaeus University offers Swedish courses for international staff. For more information, please visit Swedish for beginners | lnu.se You can also find Swedish studies online at Sweden.se

If you are an accompanying partner to an employee, you can contact career counsellors at Linnaeus University; https://lnu.se/en/medarbetare/supportand-service/teaching/career-center/

Opening a Bank Account

Setting up a bank account in Sweden can be time consuming. If possible, keep your bank account in your home country for some time, so that we can pay the first months’ salary to that account.

Regardless of where you have your bank account, you must inform us about which bank account you would like your salary to be paid into. You can find more information here https://lnu.se/en/medarbetare/employed-at-lnu/ lon-and-replacements2/

If you are staying in Sweden for a short period of time, we recommend that you keep your current bank account. Depending on the bank, fees may be deducted for transferring your salary, which Linnaeus University will not cover.

If you plan to stay in Sweden for a long period of time, we recommend that you open a bank account in Sweden. The bank may ask for your personal identity number or Swedish ID, however, the possibility of applying for a bank account is open to everyone, regardless of your citizenship and personal identity number. Despite that, some banks say no. If they do, and you have tried more than one bank, please contact the Office of HR.

Once you have received your personal identity number, we recommend that you get a Bank ID. It is a service that you get from your bank, which allows you to make financial transactions digitally.

In Sweden you will be able to use your international credit or debit card in any store, bank, or cash machine/ATM. The use of cash is limited in Sweden. If you do not have a bank account in Sweden but need to pay a bill, you can, for instance, take your bill to a Forex bank, but please note that you will have to pay a fee for them to make the transaction. You need to notify your bank if you change your home address or leave Sweden permanently (to close your bank account properly).

Housing in Kalmar and Växjö

Getting accommodation in Sweden can be time consuming. There are municipal landlords in Växjö Växjöhem and in Kalmar kalmarhem.se Their queues are long, but both Kalmar and Växjö have agreements for new employees that you might be able to benefit from. There are also some private landlords to choose from.

You can read about different options here https://lnu.se/en/meet-linnaeusuniversity/work-at-the-university/living-and-working-in-sweden/come-tovaxjo-and-kalmar/

The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)

If you are a citizen of a country outside of the European Union, you will need a work or residence permit before coming to Sweden. The agency that that handles work and residence permits is the Swedish Migration Agency. We recommend that you look for information at their website: migrationsverket.se

Note that:

• Paper applications take more time to process. We recommend that you apply online.

• Make sure that all the documents in your application are in order. You may need documentation from Linnaeus University as well. Incomplete applications take more time to be processed.

• If your family is joining you, each family member will go through an individual application process.

• Your work or residence permit cannot last longer than the expiration date on your passport.

The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket)

In Sweden, income tax is deducted from your salary before you receive it. When you start working at Linnaeus University, you must send a tax registration certificate to the Office of Human Resources so that we can make sure that the correct tax is deducted from your salary. You can contact the Tax Agency to get the tax registration certificate; skatteverket.se

You are obliged to inform the Tax Office when you move to a new address within Sweden. They will forward your new address to other governmental bodies. You also need to inform them if you are leaving Sweden for a long period of time.

You find more information here: In English | Skatteverket

If you are staying in Sweden for at least one year, you and your family members need to register at the local Tax Office when you arrive. Contact them in advance to make sure that you know what documents to bring. At the tax office you should also apply for a personal identity number (personnummer). This is an important number in Sweden, used for all official transactions, such as opening a bank account or receiving health care. It also facilitates digital transactions.

If your stay is less than one year, you don´t have to visit the tax office and register. If your stay in Sweden is less than 6 months, you should apply for SINK tax. If your stay in Sweden is more than 6 months but less than a year, you should apply for preliminary tax. Both applications are done online, and you will receive a coordination number when you apply.

You can read more here: Work and employment in Sweden: a guide to taxes and population registration | Skatteverket

When you receive your personal identity number or coordination number, make sure to notify the Office of Human Resources and your bank. Once you have received your personal identity number, you can apply for a Swedish national ID card on the Swedish Tax Agency´s website. The ID card is helpful to have for your everyday transactions.

Here you can find information on Tax relief for foreign key personnel: https://forskarskattenamnden.se/andrasprak/ taxationofresearchworkersboard.4.14dfc9b0163796ee3e7743d9.html

Visit Skatteverket for webinars about tax for international employees at Swedish universities; https://www.skatteverket.se/foretag/drivaforetag/ webbseminarier.4.18e1b10334ebe8bc80001513.html?q=webbseminarier

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)

Social insurance is an important part of the social security system. If your stay in Sweden exceeds 365 days, you are generally entitled to residencebased benefits. Examples of residence-based benefits are child allowance and parental allowance. Children over the age of 16 who are still in school receive an extended child allowance (study allowance), which is paid monthly until the student finishes secondary school.

If you are employed in Sweden, you are generally entitled to employmentbased benefits, which cover sickness and parental benefits such as pregnancy allowance and temporary parental allowance. Once you have arrived in Sweden, you should contact Försäkringskassan to determine whether you are covered by Swedish social insurance; see forsakringskassan.se

It is important that you notify Försäkringskassan when you have decided to leave Sweden.

Healthcare centres (hälsocentraler/vårdcentraler)

We recommend you and your family to register at a local healthcare centre (hälsocentral/vårdcentral) as soon as possible after your arrival. There are several centres to choose from, and they are similar in terms of fees and booking procedures. If you move to a different address, you can remain with your local healthcare centre or change to a more convenient one. When you need medical care, always call in advance to schedule an appointment. Bring your ID and insurance documents/cards.

Find more information at regionkalmar.se for Kalmar or regionkronoberg.se for Växjö.

Medical Information

You can call the number 1177 for medical advice around the clock. Experienced medical staff can give you advice in English. You can find further information here: 1177.se

In case of emergency (in case of a fire or if you are in need of an ambulance or the police), call 112 Nödnumret 112 - SOS ALARM

The Swedish Dental Service (Folktandvården)

Dental care is not part of the general Swedish healthcare system, so you will need to register separately with a dentist. Dental care is partially subsidised by the Swedish government for everyone with a Swedish personal identity number, however, the costs are still quite high (children are treated for free until the age of 23).

You can find more information about The Swedish Dental Service (Folktandvården) here: https://folktandvarden.se/other-languages

You can also choose to register with a private dentist.

In case of a dental emergency after hours, on weekends, or during national holidays, please call 1177 and ask for the dentist who is on call (jourhavande tandläkare).

The Swedish Pension Agency (Pensionsmyndigheten)

As a government employee in Sweden, you will get a national retirement pension from several sources – general pension from the Swedish Pension Agency, and occupational pension from the Swedish National Government Employees Pensions Board (SPV). Most people have also set up a private savings scheme with an insurance company or a bank.

We recommend that you visit these webpages:

• The Swedish Pensions Agency’s website: pensionsmyndigheten.se

• The Swedish National Government Employees Pensions Board: spv.se

• European site: findyourpension.eu

Please note: It is important that you inform the Swedish Pensions Agency in advance once you have decided to leave Sweden, otherwise they may not be able to transfer your Swedish pension when the time comes.

You can find more information here:

https://www.skatteverket.se/servicelankar/otherlanguages/ inenglish/individualsandemployees/movingfromsweden/ pensionsfromsweden.4.7be5268414bea064694c5c0.html

Insurances

Employees at Linnaeus University are covered by insurance at the workplace and during travel to and from work. The university also provides insurance for business trips.

For private insurance for you and your family, we recommend that you contact a private insurance company. You can get a personal insurance in case of accidents, insurance for your apartment/house and if you have a car, you will also need car insurance. There are several major insurance companies that offer insurance for you and your family. All the insurance you need can be bought from the same company. Unfortunately, the insurance companies’ websites are rarely in English, but they will accommodate to you if you either call them or visit them in person.

Trade Union Membership and unemployment insurance

Being a member of a trade union in Sweden is voluntary, but very common. Union membership will give you additional benefits in different areas. As a governmental employer, Linnaeus University has agreements with the unions OFR, SEKO and SACO. A list of unions can be found here: Personalorganisationer | lnu.se

If you are going to work in Sweden for more than 365 days and consider a long stay in Sweden, we suggest that you register for unemployment insurance (a-kassa), to cover you in case you become unemployed at some point. Contact a union about registering for unemployment insurance. Each union manage their own unemployment insurance.

If you become unemployed, it is important that you register with the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) on the first day of unemployment. More information can be found at ams.se

Please send us an email at relocation@lnu.se if you have any further questions.

Contact information:

Helena Birath, HR Partner 0480-44 73 81

Helena.birath@lnu.se