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Europe · Swedish · updated 2026-10

Moving to Sweden: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,500 a month to live in Stockholm, and a family of four about $5,500, including rent. Sweden usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 4 yrs, with citizenship after 8 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Self-employment permit.

Monthly budget
$2,500
Moderate cost
Safety
71
Safe
Stability
89
Very stable
Family
87
Excellent
Main city
Stockholm
Language
Swedish
Permanent residence
4 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Sweden?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Sweden, per month in US$

One person
$2,500
Family of four
$5,500
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Stockholm centre
$1,150
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,150
Estimate
Price level
91
US = 100
Income per person
$5,251
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
71
Safe
Homicides per 100k
1.15
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.85
Rule of law+1.74
Control of corruption+1.96
Government effectiveness+1.82
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (89/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
87
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.795
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
2.4
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
84.1 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$6,485
per person / year
Education spending
7.3%
of GDP

Generous parental leave (480 days per child) and free childcare from age 1 at low capped fees. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Self-employment permitA viable business and savings to support yourself.
Job offer
Work permitSalary of at least 80% of the Swedish median wage.
Job offer
EU Blue CardDegree and a qualifying salary.

Who gets easier access to Sweden

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
4 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Raised from 5 on 6 June 2026, plus an income floor (SEK 250,200/year) and language and civics tests
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.migrationsverket.se

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Sweden?

About $2,500 a month for one person and $5,500 for a family of four in Stockholm, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,150 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,150. Prices are 91% of US levels. Sweden is the 60th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Sweden safe to live in?

Sweden scores 71/100 for safety (safe), ranking 33rd of 76. The homicide rate is 1.15 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Sweden politically stable?

Sweden scores 89/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 9th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Sweden good for families?

Sweden scores 87/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 7th of 76. Life expectancy is 84.1 years and under-5 mortality is 2.4 per 1,000 births. Generous parental leave (480 days per child) and free childcare from age 1 at low capped fees. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Sweden?

Usually 4 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Sweden?

Usually 8 yrs of residence. Raised from 5 on 6 June 2026, plus an income floor (SEK 250,200/year) and language and civics tests. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Sweden without a job offer?

Yes. Self-employment permit: A viable business and savings to support yourself.

Does Sweden have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Self-employment permit. A viable business and savings to support yourself.

Who can live and work in Sweden without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Sweden can move