Relocation
Moving to Luleå is an exciting step – and to settle in smoothly, there are a few important administrative tasks you need to complete. This guide gives you an overview of the essential steps.
1. Apply for a residence permit
If you come from a country outside the EU/EEA, your residence permit must be approved before you enter Sweden. This applies even if you already have a job offer, a study place, or family waiting for you in Luleå. The application is handled by Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency), and you need to wait for their decision before moving.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries may live, work, and study in Sweden without a residence permit.
Read more about the Swedish Migration Agency here External link.
2. Register with the Swedish Tax Agency
Once you arrive in Luleå, your next step is to register with Skatteverket.
Read more about the Swedish Tax Agency here. External link.
Skatteverket can be found at Swedish Government Service Center (Statens servicecenter) in Luleå.
This registration places you in the national system and allows you to receive your personnummer, the Swedish personal identity number. The personnummer is essential in everyday life – you’ll need it to open a bank account, sign employment contracts, access healthcare, and communicate with Swedish authorities.
If you are not yet eligible for a personnummer, you may instead need a coordination number (samordningsnummer). This number is used for identification when you temporarily need access to Swedish services, for example to open a bank account or handle official matters before you are fully registered.
Through Skatteverket, you can:
- apply for a coordination number
- reactivate an existing coordination number
- update registered information
- change your identity level
- report a new contact address
Apply for your Swedish ID card
When your personnummer has been issued, you can apply for a Swedish ID card (identitetskort) through Skatteverket. This ID becomes your main form of identification in Sweden and is needed for most everyday tasks – from banking and healthcare visits to collecting parcels or signing official documents.
Application information:
How to apply for or renew an ID card | Skatteverket External link.
These three steps are essential for becoming officially registered in Sweden. There are also other things to prepare before and during your move to Luleå. Finding a home and getting familiar with Swedish systems will make your relocation easier. Below, you’ll find additional guidance and recommended resources that are helpful to explore before moving.
Finding a job in Luleå
If you’re planning to work in Luleå, you’ll find a wide range of tools and services that can support your job search. There are different resources available to help your job search.
For more guidance on working in Luleå:
Work and studies - Flytta till Luleå External link.
Finding a place to live in Luleå
When relocating, it’s helpful to understand how the Swedish housing system works. One common option for newcomers is renting through a second‑hand contract (“andra hand”).
In Luleå, you can explore housing through municipal companies, private landlords, rental platforms, and local property agents. Whether you’re looking for student housing, a temporary place, or a long‑term home, there are several reliable ways to start your search.
Guidance on finding housing: Housing in Luleå External link.
Learning Swedish
Learning Swedish is important for integrating into Swedish society and the labour market – and often necessary to get the job you want. Some employers hire English speakers, but not all.
Luleå Municipality offers Swedish for Immigrants (SFI). You need to be officially registered at a housing address in Luleå to attend. This is a great opportunity once you’ve moved here.
You’ll find more information here:
SFI - Education in Swedish for immigrants - Luleå municipality External link.
Free online language courses to help you get started
Pronunciation of common Swedish phrases:
Practice with words, sentences and texts:
A collection of links to dictionaries and concordances of Swedish literature, maintained by the University of Gothenburg:
A dictionary between English and Swedish, including recorded pronunciations:
A free video course introducing the Swedish language:
“Swedish for All” is a website aimed at newcomers to learn Swedish on their own while waiting for SFI (Swedish for Immigrants):
Svenska för alla, Swedish for all - sfa.nu - sfi - Learn Swedish External link.
Additional useful resources for newcomers
There are several guides that are useful to read before moving to Sweden. They provide valuable information about the steps required when relocating to Luleå, as well as helping you understand how different Swedish systems work. We recommend taking the time to go through them to gain a broader understanding of what to expect and how to prepare for your move.
Information about practical steps after receiving a residence permit.
Informationsverige.se – Starting Your Life in Sweden External link.
A general guide covering rights, responsibilities, and practical matters.
A single entry point to several authorities. Here you can get help with e‑services, forms, applications, and booking appointments for ID cards or identity verification. You can reach Skatteverket, Arbetsförmedlingen, Försäkringskassan, Migrationsverket, and Pensionsmyndigheten here:
Swedish Government Service Center – Luleå Service Office. External link.
A series of short videos about being new in Sweden:
New in Sweden – films | Skatteverket External link.
Here is also a guide from the EU: