Introduction
Programmes and
Where to Live
Information
for asylum-seekers
Val av bostadsort, del 1 är utgiven av
Integrationsverket
Box 633
601 14 Norrköping.
© Integrationsverket, 2000
© Fotografi er: respektive fotograf, se bildtexterna.
Där inget namn anges, © Integrationsverket.
Tryck: Berlings Skogs AB, Trelleborg
To those who have recently applied
for a Swedish residence permit
You have applied for a residence permit in Below, we describe the picture that the
Sweden. You may be granted permission Swedish authorities have gained of the
to stay, but there is also a possibility that position and prospects of newly-arrived
you will have to return home. Whatever is immigrants. The National Integration
decided, you should use the time in hand Office is responsible for what is written
to prepare yourself both for settling here here. One of the Office s tasks is to strive
and for returning home. for the equal rights and opportunities of all
Preparing yourself may involve taking in Sweden irrespective of people s ethnic
advantage of the opportunities and activi- or cultural backgrounds. Another task is
ties available to you pending a decision on to sign agreements with local authorities
your case. While waiting, you are offered a on places in introduction programmes for
certain measure of education and training, new arrivals. The aim is to ensure that
tuition in everyday Swedish and English, introduction programmes are as beneficial
an introduction to Swedish society, practi- as possible for each individual. The Nation-
cal work experience and sometimes a job. al Integration Office takes the view that
Nowadays, many asylum-seekers choose small and medium-sized municipal areas
to live with friends and relatives during the have every chance of offering the kind
waiting period. Even if you would prefer of introduction that can match individual
to live in a big city, it is worthwhile finding needs and qualifications. We also feel that
out what other alternatives are available in such areas offer greater opportunities for
other parts of the country. Most of those closer contact with neighbours, with Swe-
who have lived as asylum-seekers in big- dish families, with the children s school,
city areas have found it very difficult to etc, during the first few years. In other
obtain accommodation of their own when words, the kind of start that may be crucial
and if their residence permits are finally in determining how good a future you can
granted. So it is a good idea to consider expect in Sweden.
what settling elsewhere in Sweden might
involve.
What does this brochure contain?
The brochure you are reading describes
Sweden and how your choice of where to
live can affect your chances as a newcomer
of learning Swedish, making contact with
people in this country, finding a job, etc.
The aim of this information is to give
you a rough idea of the kind of services
and facilities that are available in various
parts of Sweden - the kind of facts that
you could find useful when deciding where
to live should you be granted a residence
The main square in Landskrona.
permit.
1
I wouldn t advise newcomers to Sweden to
settle here in Fittja,« says Juan Damián, who
has lived in Sweden since the early 1990s.
The unemployment rate is high here and
many people are on social security.«
Juan Damián, who works in a project help-
ing unemployed immigrants in Botkyrka, says
that many residents feel insecure due to wide-
spread criminality in the area.
Photo: Johan Tibbelin
Sweden as an immigrant or have a parent
A place to live
who was born in another country.
Many new arrivals choose to live in one
Sweden is a long, narrow country with rel-
or other of Sweden s biggest cities, Stock-
atively few inhabitants. The distance from
holm, Göteborg or Malmö. There are of
north to south is 1,570 km. The present
course advantages in living in a major city
population is about nine million. Of these
where there are plenty of business com-
nine million, some seven million live in
panies and a wide range of jobs and train-
the provinces and two million in the met-
ing opportunities. But there are also many
ropolitan areas of Stockholm, Göteborg
disadvantages. Today, quite a few housing
and Malmö. Sweden is divided into 21
areas in big-city suburbs are occupied
counties and each county has a number
largely by people who arrived in Sweden
of municipal areas. In all, the country has
comparatively recently. Very few Swedes
289 local authorities (municipalities). Big
are to be found there. One result of the
cities, small towns, rural areas  all are
lack of Swedish pupils and classmates
divided into municipalities.
Some 160 nationalities are represented
in Sweden. Of the total population,
around 1 million migrated here and it is
estimated that within the near future one
inhabitant in four will either have come to
Examples of immigrant categories
in Sweden in 1998.
Bosnia 56,600
Chile 26,500
Ethiopia 13,000
Iraq 37,500
Former Yugoslavia 70,800
Lebanon 20,000
Romania 11,000
Somalia 12,000
Turkey 30,900
Source: SCB
2
at school is that newly-arrived children
often fail to learn Swedish or learn only
makeshift Swedish. When Swedes and
immigrants are only sporadically in touch,
it is of course difficult to absorb one
another s customs and traditions and
to understand what standards apply, for
instance in family life. A democratic society
presupposes that all present know about,
respect and understand the community
they live in. For this, a common language
is essential.
Among the inhabitants of big-city sub-
urbs with a large proportion of immi-
grants, the unemployment rate is much
higher than among those living in other
parts of the city. Although Sweden s met-
ropolitan areas may have job opportunities
and are considered rich, some of their
suburbs have the poorest inhabitants in
the entire country. Big-city prosperity and
welfare is not equitably distributed. Many
Umeå. Photo: edelpix.com © Pål Hermansen
people find themselves living on the side-
lines, isolated from the rest of society. The
prove very difficult as the queue for a flat
city s resources do not find their way out
is extremely long in big cities. Nowadays,
to these under-privileged, segregated hous-
it may take many, many years before you
ing areas. The high rate of unemployment
can get a place of your own. Buying or
there means that young people often find
renting a flat are both highly expensive.
themselves in a vulnerable position and
Many people find themselves stuck in a
drift into criminality, drug abuse and an-
housing situation that they later regret. In
onymity.
other, smaller towns it is easier to find
Moving to another housing area can
accommodation.
Living in a smaller area
In Sweden, you can live in a smaller
area out in the country and still find the
same level of services, health care and edu-
cation as in metropolitan areas. As a newly-
arrived immigrant you may well be in con-
siderable need of public services. New-
comers who choose to live in the city
usually have to live in areas where many
people are dependent on, and compete
for, the services available, such as medical
care, childcare, libraries and Swedish tui-
tion for immigrants.
Communications are good throughout
the country, with extensive road and rail
networks. Express trains, coaches and air
travel reduce distances and special dis-
counts are often available that reduce costs
substantially.
The bus station in Ljungby.
When you live in a small or medium-
3
sized town, contact with the local com- a new face may well attract attention -
munity tends to be easier. You get to know the kind of attention that some people
your neighbours, meet acquaintances in may find troublesome but in others may
the shops, get to know other parents in generate a sense of security.
your children s school, and so on. When
you have a network of people around you,
Housing
you often find it easier to influence what
goes on in your daily life. The kind of Good housing is to be found all over
anonymity people experience in big cities Sweden. Except in metropolitan areas, it is
is not usually found in smaller places. In fairly easy to find a flat of the size you want
very small towns or villages, of course, in most parts of the country.
4
Raising children is easy here. I never have
to worry.The youngsters grow up side by side
throughout preschool and school.They know
their friends and their teachers.«
In many immigrant families here, both
the husband and wife have jobs.This is an
advantage when you want to buy a house,
which many of us have done. House prices
are low here.We bought a house in the
town centre in 1998,« says Cejko Kahteran,
a resident of Sollefteå who came to Sweden
in 1992.
Photo: Stefan Sundkvist
Half of the population in Sweden live
in rented flats (hyresrätt). This means that
they rent the flat from whoever owns the
building. You can also buy the right to
occupy the flat - this is known as an
owner-occupied flat (bostadsrätt). Others
buy their own separate house or terraced
house (radhus). The prices of houses and
tenant-owned flats are far lower outside
metropolitan areas.
To find accommodation, you can either
read the advertisements for vacant flats in
the newspapers or contact the landlord or
owner of the building directly. This may
be a municipal housing company, a private
company, an organization or a private indi-
vidual. Some local authorities have their
own housing agencies. These can help you
find accommodation. Other local authori-
ties may have both municipal and private
housing agencies.
The National Integration Office is well
informed about the various local authori-
ties possibilities of providing newcomers
with an introduction programme and
accommodation. If you are granted a resi-
dence permit, you can get the information
you need on this from your case officer
with the Migration Board. You can also
check out the introduction programmes
offered by local authorities by visiting their
Lake Orsa in Dalarna.
websites on the Internet, where other
Photo: edelpix.com © Pål Hermansen
kinds of information are also available.
5
Some average prices for single-
family houses and owner-occupied
flats around Sweden, May-June 2000.
Houses:
Västernorrland SEK 530,000
Dalarna SEK 580,000
Jämtland SEK 600,000
Stockholm SEK 1,900,000
Skåne SEK 1,000,000
Västra Götaland SEK 900,000
Owner-occupied flats
Central Stockholm SEK 1,750,000
Greater Stockholm SEK 940,000
Göteborg region SEK 460,000
Malmö region SEK 260,000
Source: Swedish Association
of Municipal Housing Companies
Municipal introduction
programmes
Those who are granted permission to
settle in Sweden are offered an introduc-
tion programme in the town or municipal
area where they have chosen to live.
If you have been granted a residence
permit and have been registered at a
Migration Board centre, you are entitled
to a place in an introduction programme
in a Swedish municipality. The National
Integration Office has reached agreement
with a number of local authorities on how
introductions are to be prepared.
Introduction programmes include such
things as Swedish language tuition, voca-
tional guidance with practical workplace
training, and a review of leisure-time ac-
tivities run by local associations. Where
necessary, further training or supplemen-
tary training are also included in the plan-
ning. Introduction programmes are based
6
An SFI lesson. Photo: Johan Tibbelin.
on the needs and qualifications of the indi- so that they can rapidly enter and become
vidual, which means that previous educa- part of the regular school system.
tion and job experience are properly taken It is important for both children and
into account. For some people, introduc- adults to begin their introduction pro-
tion programmes are quickly completed, grammes quickly - an introduction leading
for others it takes longer. On average, an as soon as possible to a job/study course,
introduction programme lasts about two a means of subsistence and a chance to
years. influence the course of their lives.
The children s introduction programme All local authorities, whether in a city
involves things like preparatory schooling or a small or medium-sized town, offer
We re never going to move from here,« says
Azziz Walai. He lives in Hallen in Jämtland
together with his wife Magda and their two
children, aged seven and two, in a large house
that was once a school. Feeling like a human
being is what matters.That s why we chose
to live in the country up here in northern
Sweden.«
The school in Hallen is excellent, says Azziz
Walai.The children know one another and the
adults know the children.There is no bullying.The
children are relaxed and secure and do well at
school.
Photo: Kjell Persson
7
introduction programmes when you settle Swedish, which in turn may create difficul-
in their area. The prospects for finding a ties when the time comes to train for a
flat of your own, however, are better in profession or find a job. In small/medium-
smaller places. Another major difference sized places, it is natural for children who
is the situation for children. In big-city have recently arrived to meet both chil-
schools, some classes consist entirely of dren who have lived a long time in Sweden
children who speak a mother tongue other and children who were born here. Besides
than Swedish. For many children and speaking Swedish at school, the children
teenagers, this means rarely getting the learn to speak and understand Swedish and
chance to speak Swedish either at home to understand one another through being
or at school. Such a lack of language train- together in their daily lives.
ing contributes to an inadequate grasp of
Work
A good basic education is required for New arrivals who settle in  immigrant
virtually all occupations in Sweden these areas in big cities often have difficulty
days. Everyone attends nine-year compul- finding work as unemployment there is
sory school and most pupils go on to widespread. Only 30% in these areas have
three or four years at upper secondary jobs. The average employment rate for
before entering college or university or the country as a whole, however, is much
finding a job. greater: over 70%.
Construction site, late summer of 2000. Photo: Johan Tibbelin.
8
At employment offi ces, you can look for a job, find information about education and training programmes, or find
out how to open your own business. Photo: Johan Tibbelin.
Introduction programmes are designed contacts are important when you look for
to prepare people for employment in a job in Sweden  having someone who
Sweden. They are supposed to start with can tell an employer what you can do and
whatever occupation you had in your vouching for you as a professionally skilled
former country and show what you need and reliable person. Job-seeking can be
in the way of extra training or the like a demanding business. It involves getting
before you can expect to pursue the same in touch with employers yourself, hunting
line of work in Sweden. As part of the pro- out vacancies in the newspapers and at the
gramme, the grades you acquired during local employment office, acquiring con-
your education in your former country are tacts and networks, and so on.
translated. Many people have a solid pro-
fessional background but have no docu-
mented grades. One approach is to use
tests to assess a person s professional
capacity in relation to what is required in
Sweden.
The Swedish public set-up, with its child
benefit system, parental insurance, health
insurance, pension system and so forth,
is based on the premise that both men
and women work outside the home to
the same extent. This also applies when
the children are young. To this end, well-
developed childcare facilities are available
wherever you live  north or south, in a
big city or in a small town.
Just as in most other countries, personal Photo: Johan Tibbelin.
9
 The Employment Office (Arbetsförmed-
Employees in certain occupational
lingen, Af) is a government agency that
sectors (spring 2000):
has branches in virtually every municipal
Construction 228,000
area and provides information about job
Retailing and communications 807,000
vacancies throughout the country. It can
Agriculture, forestry and
also offer you advice and support with
fisheries 102,000
respect to study courses, job training or
Public administration 222,000
starting your own business. In addition,
Manufacturing and engineering 800,000
there are private employment agencies and
Health and community care 776,000
private staff rental firms, often specializing
Source: Statistics Sweden, SCB
in a particular line of work.
Education and training
Wherever you live in Sweden, you are If you live far from the school, you can
likely to be close to a school and educa- travel free on the school bus or be given a
tional opportunities. Universities and col- free pass for the regular bus service. Chil-
leges are found in most counties. Upper dren who speak a mother tongue other
secondary schools all over Sweden offer than Swedish at home qualify for special
both young people and adults a range of tuition in that language (modersmåls-
courses. undervisning).
Basic education is compulsory in this In the big-city housing areas where
country, which means that all children many newcomers settle, a lot of children
wherever they live must undergo nine and young people are in need of extra
years of elementary schooling (grund- assistance and training in school. There
skola). Children begin compulsory school are not always enough municipal funds
when they are seven. From the age of six, for providing the kind of supplementary
however, they can begin attending pre- teaching that may be needed.
school classes if the parents wish. Com- After compulsory school, almost all
pulsory schooling is free of charge and young people move on to upper secon-
schoolbooks and meals are free as well. dary school (gymnasieskola). This, too, is
Admira Kahteran is 19 and lives with her
parents and two brothers in Sollefteå. She
wants to become a nurse and hopes to
enter a nurses training programme in Sol-
lefteå in 2001. That would be nice, then I
wouldn t have to move,« she says.While wait-
ing for her studies to begin, she is currently
working in the municipal old-age care sector.
Photo: Stefan Sundkvist
10
Almost all school-leavers go on to upper secondary school. Photo: Johan Tibbelin.
free of charge. At present, upper secondary subjects or upper secondary programme
offers 16 different training programmes. subjects at municipal adult education cen-
Not all local authorities provide each and tres, known as Komvux. The courses are
every one of these programmes. If a pro- free of charge.
gramme is not available locally, the pupil
may attend an upper secondary school
elsewhere.
Some 20 places around Sweden have
government-sponsored universities and
colleges. These are in principle open to
all who have completed their upper secon-
dary education or have some other form of
qualification entitling them to admission.
All local authorities offer Swedish tuition
 Swedish for Immigrants (SFI)  to all
newcomers in Sweden over 16 years of age.
In every area, adults who did not com-
plete their basic education or upper secon-
dary education can enter adult education Many young people take jobs on the side while study-
courses. They study compulsory school ing.
11
Care of
the elderly
Elderly people who have difficulty looking
after themselves at home are offered help
by municipal staff. This may consist of
cleaning and cooking, for example. Those
who can no longer manage on their own
are offered special municipal accommoda-
tion for the elderly. Many local authorities
care services employ staff who speak a
mother tongue other than Swedish. How
much each individual pays for the services
provided may vary somewhat depending
on which part of the country he or she
lives in.
Medical care
The county council is the authority with
overall responsibility in each region for
health and medical care, hospitals and
medical centres, and for private clinics.
Wherever you live in Sweden, you have
access to the same level of health and med-
ical care and pay only a part of the real
cost. The remaining costs are paid for out
of the public purse.
All hospitals and medical centres are
required to provide interpreters to those
who need them. All county councils have
special staff trained to help people who
have undergone traumatic experiences.
Almost all children in Sweden are born
in hospital. The requisite expertise and
support is available there for safe delive-
ries. Wherever they live in Sweden, all
women are offered free checks at the mat-
ernity clinic (mödravårdscentralen, MVC)
throughout the pregnancy to ensure that
both mother and child are progressing
well. After the birth, the parents are given
support and help in caring for their child
at the child health care centre (barnavårds-
centralen, BVC).
12
Sweden
Winter in Skåne. Photo: edelpix.com © Lars Erik Steinick
More information!
Besides the material provided here, a more detailed version is
available offering further information.
Information in many languages
This information can be found at
the National Integration Office s website in Albanian,
Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, English, French,
Persian, Somali, Sorani and Spanish.
It is also available in easy Swedish.
www.integrationsverket.se, click on Starting Out in Sweden.