Get Local Guide

The Guide to living, working and studying in the Gothenburg Region.

Foto: Michael kerstrm

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

03 WELCOME TO THE GOTHENBURG REGION 03 THE CITY OF GOTHENBURG 03 Emergency information 03 BUSINESS REGION GTEBORG 04 DISCLAIMER 04 Notes 04 Interpreters 05 REGIONAL CONTACTS 06 CHECK LIST, PERMITS AND VISA 06 CHECK LIST 06 Prior to moving 06 Once you have moved 07 RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMIT 07 Registering right of residence 07 Documents required to register right of residence 07 Registering your residency in Sweden 07 Residence and work permits for non EU/EEA citizens 07 Required documents 08 IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND IDENTITY CARD 08 Registration and obtaining a personal identication number 08 Identity Card 08 CUSTOMS CLEARANCE 08 Import of personal goods into Sweden 08 Vehicles 08 Tobacco and alcohol 08 Pets 09 SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAL CARE 09 SOCIAL SECURITY 09 MEDICAL CARE 09 Health Centres for mothers and children MVC and BVC 09 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TELEPHONE 09 Sjukvrdsupplysningen 09 Medical assistance for children telephone 10 HOSPITALS 10 WALK-IN CLINICS 10 MEDICAL CENTRES 10 OTHER ALTERNATIVES 10 PHARMACY 11 DENTAL CARE 12 HOUSING 12 RENTING AN APARTMENT IN SWEDEN 12 First hand contract 12 Second hand conctract 12 Companies offering furnished rental apartments 12 PURCHASING AN APARTMENT OR HOUSE 12 RELOCATION COMPANIES 13 PRACTICAL ISSUES 13 ELECTRICITY 13 TELEVISION 13 TELEPHONY AND INTERNET 13 TELEPHONE 14 CELL/MOBILE PHONES 14 INTERNET

14 NEWSPAPERS 14 BANKS AND POST OFFICES 15 PUBLIC TRANSPORT 15 AIRPORTS 15 PORT 15 OWNING A CAR 15 Registering a new car 15 Annual roadworthy inspection 15 Speed limits 15 Drinking and driving 15 Winter tires 16 Safety: Dimmed headlights and seat belts 16 Pedestrian crossings 16 Parking 16 Idling 17 TAXES AND BUSINESS 17 TAXES 17 Salaries and trade unions 17 The structure of Swedish taxation 17 Tax on employment income 18 Tax on capital income 18 Tax relief for foreign key personnel 18 Corporate taxation 18 VAT (Value Added Tax) 18 BUSINESS 18 Establishing your own business, Patents and registration 18 Associations for entrepreneurs 18 Advisors 19 EDUCATION 19 THE INTERNATIONAL DAY CARE CENTRES 20 THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND BILINGUAL SCHOOLS 20 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM IN ENGLISH 20 BOARDING SCHOOLS IN SWEDEN 21 UNIVERSITIES 21 GRADES AND LANGUAGE COURSES 21 Translation of degrees and grades 21 Swedish language courses 22 SPOUCES LOOKING FOR A JOB IN THE GOTHENBURG REGION 22 BEFORE MOVING TO THE GOTHENBURG REGION 22 Contact the EURES-ofce in Gothenburg (EU/EES) 22 Recognition of qualications from abroad 22 Right to unemployment benets? 22 WHEN YOU HAVE ARRIVED TO THE GOTHENBURG REGION 22 Establish contact with your local Arbetsfrmedlingen 22 Register at a wide range of recruitment companies 23 CULTURE AND LEISURE 23 CONSERT HALLS AND MUSEUMS 23 ART GALLERIES 23 AMUSEMENT PARKS 23 GARDENS 23 SPORT AND EVENT STADIUMS 24 CHURCHES 24 CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS FOR EXPATS 25 TOURISM, SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS 25 READING 2

WELCOME TO THE GOTHENBURG REGION!

Foto: Shutterstock

THE CITY OF GOTHENBURG

othenburg is Swedens second largest city, with approximately 520 000 inhabitants living within the city centre and 930 000 living in the Gothenburg region. You will nd yourself feeling very much at home in Gothenburg after only a short time. It is a city that embraces a top quality of life, a rich cultural scene, a clean environment, good connections to the rest of Europe, a beautiful coastline and lots of accessible green areas. Gothenburg is a great place to work, live and enjoy. You have made a good choice. Welcome!

Gothenburg is both a historical and an international city. The climate in Gothenburg has been an international one since the city was founded in 1621. The citys rst council consisted of ve Dutchmen, two Germans, two Scots and three Swedes and the city had three ofcial languages at this time. Today the international feel of the city can be largely attributed to the inuence of people from abroad. English is widely spoken and television programmes can be viewed in Swedish (of course), English, German, French and many other languages.

BUSINESS REGION GTEBORG

Business Region Gteborg is a non-prot organization that works to promote and augment growth and employment in the Gothenburg region. Business Region Gteborg works with business development and investment and also assists with the establishment of new businesses. Business Region Gteborg aims to foster and sustain a diversied business climate in the Gothenburg region, which includes 13 municipalities; Ale, Alingss, Gothenburg, Hrryda, Kungsbacka, Kunglv, Lerum, Lilla Edet, Mlndal, Partille, Stenungsund, Tjrn and cker. Business Region Gteborg takes pleasure in inviting all newcomers to the Gothenburg region. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions: Petra Sedelius Head of Investment Service Phone +46 31 367 61 30 Mobile +46 705 26 08 28 petra.sedelius@businessregion.se Helen Teame Establishment and Investment Advisor Phone +46 31 367 61 39 Mobile +46 730 77 66 57 helen.teame@businessregion.se

112

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 112

This is a general number for all of Sweden. The operator will help you at all times with anything concerning, Ambulance, Rescue and Fire Brigade, Police, Medical Assistance, Poisons, Acute Dental Care or a Priest.

DISCLAIMER
Please contact the appropriate authorities, as listed in this guide if you have further queries or concerns. The companies and contact names used are examples only and their inclusion should not be seen as partiality. We advise you to look for other companies using the internet. All facts quoted are subject to change due to changing market conditions.

Notes
The internet provides a wealth of information. In the Get Local Guide we are giving you several useful web sites that will make moving and living in the Gothenburg region easier. The information presented in this guide should prove useful to expatriates, entrepreneurs, students or anyone relocating or moving to Sweden. The focus is on the Gothenburg region. Use www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se to nd telephone numbers or addresses in Sweden. These sites are in Swedish. For www.hitta.se the rst question is Vad sker du? (What are you looking for?). Here you can write a persons name, name of a company or branch (e.g. Relocation Companies) and the second question asked is Var? (Where?). Here you can write Gteborg or a street name or area. Another useful site is www.tyda.se , a site where you can translate words from Swedish to English and the other way around. NB: All sites referred to in this guide include some information in English, unless otherwise stated as (Swedish only). You can use Google (www.translate.google.se) to translate sites that are in Swedish into your language. Please also note that there is a considerable difference between the regulations covering EU citizens moving to Sweden and non-EU citizens. It is easier for EU citizens to move between any countries that are part of the European Union. They do not need a residence permit or a work permit. Non-EU citizens must apply for a resident and work permit before moving to Sweden. This distinction has been made clear in the text.

Interpreters
You are entitled to request the service of an interpreter when speaking with Swedish authorities such as police, lawyers or government municipal departments. You need to specify that you need an interpreter in advance. The government authority pays for the interpreters services.

Month of publication: July 2011

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Tjrn

REGIONAL CONTACTS Please contact the responsible municipality to obtain information about housing, schools, services etc in a particular town within the Gothenburg region. Here we provide you with contact information for the thirteen municipalities.

Gothenburg Mr Roger Strmberg Director of Business Establishment and Investment Phone: +46 31 367 61 22 roger.stromberg@businessregion.se www.businessregiongoteborg.se Ale Mr Jerry Brattsen Business Development Manager Phone: +46 303 33 02 77 jerry.brattasen@ale.se www.ale.se (Swedish only) Alingss Mr Peter Axelberg Business Development Manager Phone: +46 322 61 69 01 peter.axelberg@alingsas.se www.alingsas.se Hrryda Ms Jessica Waller Business Development Manager Phone: +46 31 724 63 06 jessica.waller@harryda.se www.harryda.se (Swedish only) Kungsbacka Mr Michael Fransson Business Development Manager Phone: +46 300 83 40 50 michael.fransson@kungsbacka.se www.kungsbacka.se

Kunglv Ms Anette Svahn Business Development Manager Phone: +46 303 23 90 88 anette.svahn@kungalv.se www.kungalv.se Lerum Mr Bjrn EK Contact Trade and Development Phone: +46 302 52 15 56 bjorn.ek@lerum.se www.lerum.se Lilla Edet Ms Kajsa Jernqvist Business Development Manager Phone: +46 520 65 95 40 kajsa.jernqvist@lillaedet.se www.lillaedet.se Mlndal Mr Lars Ekberg Head of Strategic Development Dept. Phone: +46 31 315 13 11 lars.ekberg@molndal.se www.molndal.se Partille Ms Nina Orback-Schultz Business Development Manager Phone: +46 31 792 11 35 nina.orback@partille.se www.partille.se

Stenungsund Ms Anette Oscarsson Business Development Manager Phone: +46 303 68 301 anette.oscarsson@stenungsund.se www.stenungsund.se Tjrn Mr Berndt Grnlund Business Development Manager Phone: +46 304 60 14 90 berndt.gronlund@tjorn.se www.tjorn.se cker Ms Katarina Stensryd Business Development Manager Phone: +46 31 97 63 63 katarina.stensryd@ockero.se www.ockero.se

CHECK LIST, PERMITS AND VISA

CHECK LIST Here is a check list with things to do to prepare for your move. Please note the differences for EU and non-EU citizens. You need to prepare well in advance for a move to a new country. The following is a suggested to-do list to prepare for a move to Sweden: Prior to moving
Inform the appropriate authorities in your home country that you are moving abroad. Collect ofcial documentation relating to your civil status, work experience, school and medical records etc. Renew your passport. Ensure that it is valid for at least 6 months as it could be difcult to obtain residence and work permits otherwise. Non EU citizens: Apply for a visa to enter Sweden (if applicable). See web site of the government (regeringen) www.regeringen.se for a list of countries requiring visas for Sweden. Non EU citizens: Fill in a TV740.42 form for customs relief on personal belongings to be imported into Sweden. This form can be found at the web site of Swedish Customs (Tullverket): www.tullverket.se. Make an inventory of all the household items you plan to ship to Sweden.

Once you have moved

EU citizens: Report to your local tax ofce, (Skatteverket) www.skatteverket.se in person, to apply for registration and a personal identication number (personnummer), if you intend to remain in Sweden for at least 1 year. Report to your local Social Insurance Ofce (Frskringskassan) www.forsakringskassan.se/sprak/eng to register for social insurance benets. (If you are in Sweden for at least one year and do not intend to remain in the social security system of your home country).

Non EU citizens: Apply for residence and/or work permits.

Enrol children in day care, schools and universities. (if applicable) Resolve housing and remaining utility supply issues. Open a bank account (see lists of banks under heading Practical issues). Install a telephone and internet (see list of providers under heading Practical issues). Resolve issues regarding special taxation for expats, pension funds, trade unions etc. (see information under heading Business and taxes). Enrol in a Swedish language course (see information under heading Education). Apply for a Swedish ID card. (see information below).

Non EU citizens: If you plan to stay in Sweden for less than 12 months, arrange a comprehensive health plan in your home country. EU citizens: Bring the European Health Insurance Card (or E111) issued in your home country with you. This form covers health benets until you are registered in the Swedish social security system.

EU citizens: Apply for an E101 form, in your home country, if you plan to remain in its social security system. Arrange housing. Research day care centers, schools or universities for your children. (if applicable) Ensure that your driving license is valid for the whole period when you will reside in Sweden. (Non-EU citizens see information below).

EU citizens: Register at the Migration Board (Migrationsverket) for right of residence. This form can be found at: www.migrationsverket.se . Non EU citizens: If you plan to stay in Sweden for at least 185 days you can apply to the County Administrative Board (Lnsstyrelsen) for permission to drive on your home countrys driving licence while living in Sweden. You may need to ask a Swedish speaking person with help for this. The address for the form is: http://www.korkortsportalen.se. You will need a personal identication number to apply for this form on-line. (Swedish only). EU/EEA citizens only: More detailed information can be found on www.migrationsverket.se .

NB: EU citizens have to register their residency in Sweden, whereas non-EU citizens have to receive a residence and work permit from the Swedish Embassy/ Consulate before they leave their home country. See below for more information.

RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMIT

You need to register right of residence. You will nd information about how to do that here.

Registering right of residence

EU citizens and their families must register their right of residence within 3 months of entering Sweden. Nordic citizens do not need to register. When entering the country all family members need to have a valid passport or identity card proving their citizenship. All members of the family are entitled to begin working immediately.

Documents required to register right of residence:

A lled in 140011 form - see the web site of the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) www.migrationsverket.se. A copy of your passport or identity card. A certicate of employment from your employer, stating the type and period of employment. This must be signed by the employer. It is advisable to use the Certicate of employment for citizens from the EU/EEA form. See www.migrationsverket.se.

Registering your residency in Sweden

It does not cost anything to register and the registration certicate is permanent. You can do this in one of the following ways: on the Swedish Migration Boards (Migrationsverket) website www.migrationsverket.se . by post to the Swedish Migration Board. at one of the Swedish Migration Boards Permit Units. Information about mailing and visiting addresses can be found on www.migrationsverket.se. You will need to ll in the No. 141011 form, irrespective of how you plan to apply. The following family members can be included: Husband, wife, registered partner or cohabitant. Children under 21 years of age.

Residence and work permits for non EU/EEA citizens (this includes Swiss citizens)
Non- EU/EEA citizens must have a work permit in order to work in Sweden. This must be entered in to your passport before your arrival in Sweden. You cannot travel to Sweden and wait for a decision here. If you plan to work in Sweden for more than 3 months, you also require a residence permit. An expert/specialist employed by an international concern, travelling to and from Sweden in this capacity, in order to carry out employment for temporary periods, does not require a work permit. This only applies if the duration of employment is less than 12 months.

Required documents
You require the following documents when applying for a residence and work permit in Sweden: (you do this at a Swedish embassy or consulate in your home country or country of residence. For a list of addresses, see www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/ ): A written offer of employment in Sweden. Your employer must ll this in and send it to you. (Form 232011) A passport, valid for the whole of your working period in Sweden. A lled in application form for a work permit (can be obtained from the Swedish Embassy or consulate in your home country). Two recent, colour photos (passport size). You will be notied by the embassy/consulate where you submitted your application. The procedure normally takes 6-8 weeks. Your spouse and children can also apply for a residence permit for the same period as yourself.

Extension of permits: You can apply to the Migration Board (Migrationsverket) www.migrationsverket.se .

IDENTFICATION NUMBER AND IDENTITY CARD Registration and obtaining a personal identication number: Entering Sweden: (both EU and non-EU citizens)
If you plan to stay in Sweden for more than one year you need to visit the local tax ofce (Skattemyndigheten), in person, as soon as possible, to apply for civil registration and to receive a personal identication number. You will ll in a form (Notication of Immigration into Sweden), which is needed to clear your personal goods through customs when they arrive. Take with you: Your passport Your residence permit/visa (if applicable) Documents relating to your civil status (eg. Marriage certicate) Birth certicates for children under 18 years of age The tax ofces in Gothenburg are located on: stra Hamngatan 16 (Nordstan), Angereds Torg 3 and Frlunda Torg. All members of the family need to be present to register. Note that you need to have an address before you can register. Within a week, the tax ofce will send you a personal number for all members of your family. It is important to learn these numbers off by heart as you will be asked for them quite often.

Identity Card
It is recommended that you have such an ID card. You can order an ID card from the tax ofce (Skatteverket) www.skatteverket.se . Applicants must have a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) and show a receipt that they have paid 400SEK to the Skatteverket account. You must personally visit the tax agency to prove your identity and to be photographed. You must have documentation to conrm your identity with you. Non EU citizens: Bring your passport with the residence permit in it. The tax ofce will then check this information with that registered at the Migration Board. EU citizens can use their EU passports as identication when obtaining a Swedish ID card.

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
Rules concerning import of personal goods, vehicles, tobacco, alcohol and pets. Import of personal goods into Sweden EU/EEA citizens do not need to declare their goods with Swedish customs. Non EU-EEA citizens must full certain conditions to be granted sales tax (VAT) relief. For more information see Swedish Customs (Tullverket) www.tullverket.se .

Vehicles
For information about importing vehicles, registration and inspection requirements, see the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) www.transportstyrelsen.se.

Tobacco and alcohol

Tax is payable on the import of alcohol and tobacco. For information see Swedish Customs (Tullverket) www.tullverket.se.

Pets
There are a number of things to consider before bringing pets to Sweden. See the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) www.jordbruksverket.se for detailed information.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAL CARE

SOCIAL SECURITY As soon as you have been registered (civil registration) in Sweden, Swedish social security will apply, covering benets like pension, medical care and health insurance. Social insurance is an important part of the Swedish social security system. The Swedish social insurance covers everyone that lives or works in Sweden. It provides nancial protection for families and children, for persons with a disability and in connection with illness, work injury and old age. Through the Swedish membership of the EU, you may also be eligible for social insurance benets in other EU member states. For more information about this, visit the web site of Frskringskassan www.forsakringskassan.se . MEDICAL CARE (Sjukvrd) The company you work for may organize medical treatment for you. If they do not then you can contact your local Medical Centre (Vrdcentral) if you need to see a doctor. You can also contact one of the walk-in-clinics as listed below. Note that you may not always be able to see the same doctor. You can nd your local Medical Centre at http://primarvardengoteborg.vgregion.se. (Swedish only) You can register with a doctor at any medical centre. For more information see: http://www1.vgregion.se/dinlakare/pdf/eng.pdf.

Health Centres for mothers and children MVC and BVC

You should contact your local Mdravrdcentralen (MVC) if you are pregnant or require information regarding birth control. If you have a child under school age (6) contact your local Barnavrdscentralen (BVC) to join the vaccination programme and to have your child examined regularly. You can nd your local Mdravrdcentral or Barnavrdcentral at http://primarvardengoteborg.vgregion.se . (Swedish only)

Dial 1177 for Medical Care Hotline

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - TELEPHONE Sjukvrdsupplysningen If you call 703 15 00 from the Gothenburg area you can speak to a nurse who can give you medical advice and advise you whether or not to seek further medical assistance. Most of these nurses speak English. You can also dial the number 1177 from anywhere in the country. Also see www.1177.se for on-line medical assistance. (Swedish only). If it is an emergency, however, always dial 112. Medical assistance for children telephone Call 343 40 00 after 4pm and before 8am if your child is sick and you need advice as to what to do.

WALK-IN CLINICS (Jourcentral) These are local medical centers with extended opening hours. The fee varies between 120 and 480SEK. You usually need to book an appointment in advance. MEDICAL CENTRES (Vrdcentral) Here we present some of the medical centres you will nd in the Gothenburg area.

MEDICAL CENTRES
Backa Lkarhus Visiting Address: Herkulesgatan 1K Web Site: www.backalakarhus.se (Swedish only) Phone: 031-744 23 30 Opening Hours: Mon-Friday 8am-10pm. Sat 10am-4pm.
Foto: Sahlgrenska sjukhuset

HOSPITALS (Sjukhus) There are three main hospitals in the Gothenburg area. These are: HOSPITAL Mlndalssjukhus (adults) Visiting Address: Gteborgsvgen 31, Mlndal Web Site: www.sahlgrenska.se Phone: 031-343 10 00 Sahlgrenska Sjukhuset (adults) Visiting Address: Gullhedsgatan 19 (Situated west of the city). Web site: www.sahlgrenska.se Phone: 031-342 10 00

Capio Vrdcentral Axess Visiting Address: Sdra Allgatan 6 (Situated close to Jrntorget) Web Site: www.capiovardcentral.se/axess (Swedish only) Phone: 031-725 00 75 Opening Hours: 7am-10pm every day. Cityakuten Nordstan Visiting Address: Nordstadstorget 6, 6th oor (Femmanhuset) Web Site: www.cityakuten.se Phone: 031-10 10 10 Opening Hours: Mon 9am-8pm. Tue Fri 9am-5pm. Closed weekends.

Hagakliniken Visiting address: Frsta Lnggatan 16 stra sjukhuset (adults and children) Web Site: www.hagakliniken.se Visiting Address: Smrslottsgatan 1 (Swedish only) (Situated east of the city. Drive along Phone: 031-380 20 20 the E20 towards Stockholm). Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 8am-8pm Web Site: www.sahlgrenska.se Fri 8am-6pm Phone: 031-343 40 00 Children up to the Sat 10am-5pm age of 19 has free healthcare. OTHER ALTERNATIVES Private Health Care (Privatlkare) There are also private doctors. You can search www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se for this information using privatlkare. The Mobile Doctor (Doktorn kan komma) This is a private doctor who makes home visits, see www.doktornkankomma.se PHARMACY (Apotek) There is no longer a government monopoly on pharmacies. Many of the pharmacies will have the word apotek somewhere in its name - like Medstop Apotek and Apoteksgruppen. However there are pharmacies without the word apotek such as Kronans Droghandel. You can also purchase pain killers and other non-prescription medicines at supermarkets and even petrol stations. There are two pharmacies in Gothenburg with extended opening hours. These are: PHARMECIES WITH EXTENDED OPENING HOURS Apoteket Hjrtat Visiting Address: Gtgatan 12 (stra Nordstan shopping mall) Phone: 0771 405 405 Opening hours: 8am-10pm every day. Apoteket Smrblomman Visiting Address: Smrslottsgatan 1, stra Sjukhuset Phone: 0771 450 450 Opening hours: 9am-10pm weekdays. 11am-10pm weekends. 10

DENTAL CARE (Tandvrd)

Children under 19 years of age have free dental care at the National Dental Service (Folktandvrden) www.folktandvarden.se. The national insurance also covers a small part of the treatment costs for adults. You can search for dentists on the internet (www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se) using tandlkare and Gteborg.

Akuttandvrden Visiting Address: Web Site: Phone: Opening hours: Tandakuten Visiting Address: Phone: Opening hours:

EMERGENCY DENTAL CLINICS (Akut Tandvrd)

Odinsgatan 10 www.vgregionen.se 031-80 78 00 8am-8pm weekdays. 8am-4pm weekends. Call in advance to make an appointment. Engelbrektsgatan 34C (City centre, near the Avenue) 031-16 54 49 8am-5pm (closed for lunch 1pm-2pm) weekdays. 8am-4pm weekends. Call in advance to make an appointment.

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Foto: Jonatan Fernstrm

HOUSING
Sweden generally has a high standard of housing and most homes are well furnished and equipped with modern appliances. Many apartments that are let/sold will include a dishwasher (if already installed), washing machine, dryer and wardrobes. If there is no washing machine or dryer in the apartment, you will most likely nd it in the basement of the building. RENTING AN APARTMENT IN SWEDEN In Sweden there are two types of rental contracts available. Both usually include the cost of heating and water in the rent. First hand contract (frstahandskontrakt) You rent directly from the owner of the building. It is currently difcult to obtain such a contract in the Gothenburg area, unless you are willing to pay a very high rent. First hand contract apartments are always unfurnished. You can also contact the Gothenburg Housing Association (Boplats Gteborg) www.boplats.se. Boplats Gteborg offers apartments to rent from all public real estate companies and man y of the private owned real estate concerns. Second hand contract (andrahandskontrakt) This is when you sublet from the individual who rents directly from the owner. Normally these contracts are for a limited period of time. The apartments can be rented furnished or unfurnished.

Companies offering furnished rental apartments You can also contact the following companies (these generally offer apartments for short term rentals): Apartment AB www.apartmentab.se (Swedish only) Design Apartments www.designapartments.se Fretagsbostder www.foretagsbostader.se SGS Veckobostder www.sgsveckobostader.se PURCHASING AN APARTMENT OR HOUSE When you purchase an apartment in Sweden you pay the purchase price and then a monthly charge which covers repairs, maintenance and sometimes electricity and heating. Almost all apartments and houses for sale in the Gothenburg area can be seen on www.hemnet.se. (Swedish only). RELOCATION COMPANIES Here is an incomplete list of the relocation companies in the Gothenburg area. These companies can help you with everything relating to your move to Gothenburg. Cito Moveo AB Human Entrance AB Key Relocation Center AB Nordic Relocation Group Probis AB Vstsvenska Industri- & Handelskammaren www.citomoveo.com www.humanentrance.com www.keyrelocation.se www.nrgab.com www.probis.se (primarily IT and India) www.handelskammaren.net

For a complete list of relocation companies, please visit the web site of European Relocation Association, www.eura-relocation.com . Note that relocation companies dont work directly with individuals, but with companies.

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PRACTICAL ISSUES

ELECTRICITY
Sweden has over 100 electricity providers. You are not free to choose your net provider but you may choose your electricity provider. The major providers in the Gothenburg area are: Fortum Gteborg Energi Mlndal Energi www.fortum.se (Swedish only) www.goteborgenergi.se www.molndalenergi.se

More information about electricity can be found at the web site of the Swedish Consumer Electricity Advice Bureau, www.elradgivningsbyran.se and at www.elskling.se (Swedish only). The electricity voltage in Sweden is 230 volts/50Hz.

TELEVISION
The Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (Sveriges Television) www.svt.se (Swedish only) is state-owned and nanced from compulsory license fees. For more information about the compulsory radio and TV fee, see www.radiotjanst.se. You can search the internet for information about cable and satellite television providers. Some of these are ComHem www.comhem.se (Swedish only), Boxer www.boxer.se (Swedish only) and Canal Digital www.canaldigital.se (Swedish only).

TELEPHONY AND INTERNET

Telia www.telia.se Tele2 www.tele2.se ComHem www.comhem.se Bredbandsbolaget www.bredbandsbolaget.se Glocalnet www.glocalnet.se Telenor www.telenor.se All Tele www.alltele.se 3 www.tre.se Comviq www.comviq.se Telephone installation Cell/mobile Internet phones subscription

Note: Several of these providers offer Swedish website only

TELEPHONE
There are about 40 different companies that can install a telephone for you. These are listed at www.telepriskollen.se . The most common providers are listed above. All information about names, addresses, telephone numbers etc. (for both companies and private persons) can be found on www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se. These are both in Swedish but relatively simple to understand anyway. You can dial 118 118 for directory assistance.

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CELL/MOBILE PHONES
Europe has a GSM 900/1800 system. Gothenburg adapted the 4G network as one of the rst cities in the world. The city centre is well-equiped with WiFi hotspots. Cell phones must be able to use the GSM or 3G network. There are plenty of shops selling mobile phones. The personnel will be able to assist you and answer your questions. You can buy a phone and then buy a prepaid phone card or you can pay less for the phone and then sign a contract for 12-48 months and receive a monthly bill. See the list for some of the major providers.

INTERNET
There are several internet providers. See www.telepriskollen.se . See the list for some of the major providers.

NEWSPAPERS
Daily Swedish newspapers in English on the web Gteborg Daily, www.goteborgdaily.se , offers Swedish news in English on the web from a Gothenburg point of view. The Local, www.thelocal.se , offers Swedish news on the web for all of Sweden. Rather Stockholm oriented but presents general information as well. The Gothenburg Region - daily newspapers in Swedish Gteborgs-Posten (GP) - www.gp.se Other Swedish daily newspapers (Swedish only) are Svenska Dagbladet www.svd.se, Dagens Nyheter www.dn.se, Sydsvenskan www.sydsvenskan.se and Dagens Industri www.di.se .

BANKS AND POST OFFICES Banks

There are four major banks in Sweden; Handelsbanken Nordea SEB Swedbank www.handelsbanken.se www.nordea.se (Swedish only) www.seb.se www.swedbank.se

Other banks are represented in the Gothenburg region, such as DnB Nor (www.dnbnor.se) and Danske Bank (www.danskebank.se). You will nd many more by searching on the internet.

Post ofces
You can send letters and parcels and collect parcels at supermarkets and petrol stations. Contact the Post Ofce (Posten) www.posten.se to nd out where the nearest postal centre to you is.

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PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The public transport in the Gothenburg Region is provided by Vsttrak. The system is well developed and the commuting area is expanding every year. On www.vasttrak.se you nd general information about commuting in the region as well as information about journey planning and where you can buy your transport tickets.

AIRPORTS

Gteborg Landvetter Airport Gteborg Landvetter Airport, the international airport of Western Sweden, is situated about 25 kilometers from the city centre and is easily accessible by bus or taxi. For more information see Swedavia, www.swedavia.se (all Swedish airports). Gteborg City airport Gteborg City Airport is situated 15 kilometers from the city centre and is primarily for low-cost airlines. For more information see www.goteborgcityairport.se .

PORT

Port of Gothenburg This is the largest port in the Nordic area. Almost three million passengers pass through the port annually, mostly via ferries to Fredrikshamn (Denmark) or Kiel (Germany). See www.stenaline.com for more information.

OWNING A CAR
If you have a company car then the practicalities will be looked after by your company. If you purchase a car, yourself, you will have to register the car etc; Registering a new car Once you have purchased a car you need to report this to the Trafc Registry Department at the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) www.transportstyrelsen.se . The dealer will usually assist with this. You will receive a registration certicate verifying that you own the vehicle. You will need to pay an annual registration fee. This information will be sent to you.

All motor vehicles, including mopeds, must be covered by third party liability insurance. You can obtain a list of insurance companies on www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se by searching for bilfrskring Gteborg, such as: Folksam IF Lnsfrskring Trygg-Hansa www.folksam.se www.if.se www.lansforsakringar.se www.trygghansa.se (Swedish only) (Swedish only)

Annual roadworthy inspection (bilbesiktningen) All motor vehicles older than 3 years old must be inspected annually to ensure safety and environmental standards. See the web site of the Swedish Motor Vehicle Inspection Company (Svensk Bilprovning)- www.bilprovningen.se. Speed limits There are speed limits on all roads and these vary considerably from 20km/h in some tightly built up areas to 110km/h, on some highways. Common speed-limits are 50 km/h, 70km/h and 90km/h. It is essential that you observe these limits. Look for the speed limit signs. Drinking and driving Sweden has very strict laws regarding drinking and driving. The legal limit is 0.02%. A police ofcer can stop you and ask you to take a breathalyzer test at any time. Winter tyres (vinterdck) In Sweden you need a summer and a winter set of tyres. There are two different types of winter tyres that are approved in Sweden. One is with steel studs (dubbdck) and the other is without. Your car must be tted with winter tyres from December 1 until March 31, if winter conditions are in force (if there is snow or ice on the roads). You are not allowed to have winter tyres (with studs) on your car before October 1 or after April 15. Some European countries have banned these tyres (with studs) on their roads. The Trafc Registry Department at Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) www.transportstyrelsen.se will give you more information about this. There are certain streets in Gothenburg (Odinsgatan and Friggagatan) where you are not allowed to drive with studded tyres. More streets will be included in the winter of 2011. See: www.goteborg.se for more information.

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Safety: Dimmed headlights and seat belts All cars must have their lights on, even during the day. The law also requires that everyone in the car wear a seat belt. Children under the height of 135cm must be secured in a childs seat. Pedestrian crossings Pedestrians have right of way at pedestrian crossings. Parking www.europark.se presents a list of parking areas. Chose Gteborg where it says Vlj Stad. Some of them are: Heden P-Hus Aveny and Kungsgaraget P-Hus City P-Hus Nordstan (Outdoor parking area) www.europark.se www.kompassen.se (Swedish only, shows a map) www.nordstan.se

If you live in the city you are eligible for a residential parking permit (Boendeparkering). You need to have a personnummer (personal identication number) and a registration plate number to obtain one of these. Go to www.goteborg.se and see under Travel and Transport/Parking permits for more information. Idling (tomgngskrning) Drivers are not permitted to leave their engines idling for more than one minute.

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Foto: Jonatan Fernstrm

TAXES AND BUSINESS

TAXES Salaries and Trade Unions
Swedish salaries are greatly inuenced by the trade unions (fackfreningar). There are different unions but they are all part of a central organization. See www.sweden.se/eng for more information about the unions and working in Sweden, in general. Look under the heading Work and then Labor market.

The structure of Swedish taxation

The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), www.skatteverket.se will provide you a lot of information regarding the Swedish tax system. You may need to consult a tax specialist if you have income or property in both Sweden and in your home country. You will nd more information on www.sweden.se/eng under the heading Work and then under The Swedish System.

Tax on employment income

For employment income the main taxes are municipal income tax and state income tax. The municipal income tax rates vary slightly according to in which municipal the person lives in. In Gothenburg the municipal income tax for year 2011 is approximately 32%. Based on progressive tax rates the highest tax margin rate in Gothenburg is approximately 57%. Tax rates applicable to resident individuals in 2011 (in SEK): Taxable income over 0 395 600 560 900 Not over 395 600 560 900 and above State income tax 0% 20% 25% Municipal income tax Approx. 32% Approx. 32% Approx. 32%

An individual who is resident in Sweden is liable to pay Swedish taxes on his/her worldwide income. A person will be considered as resident in Sweden if he/she is domiciled in Sweden (i.e. has a permanent home in Sweden), stays continuously in Sweden for more than six months or has an essential connection to Sweden. Taxable income includes all remuneration received from employers, whether in cash or in kind, such as free food, free accommodation, company cars etc. Pensions, unemployment benets etc. are also included in the taxable income. It is permissible to deduct certain costs from the income, e.g. travelling costs between work and home. An individual who is nonresident (for example is working in Sweden for less than six months) is subject to Swedish income tax only on income arising from sources in Sweden. There is no longer any wealth tax on assets in Sweden.

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Tax on capital income

Capital income is taxed separately from employment income at a at rate of 30%. Capital income is for example interest, gains from the sale of capital assets and dividends. Interest expenses and capital losses can be set off against capital income. 30% of a net capital loss (or 21% when the total net capital loss exceeds SEK 100,000) can be set off against tax on income from employment.

Tax relief for foreign key personnel

Special rules on taxation apply to foreign experts and key personnel. This legislation entitles a 25% reduction on taxable income during the rst three years of employment in Sweden i.e., only 75% of the individuals income, including benets, will be taxed. Some benets, e.g. school fees for children are tax exempt. In addition, employers will receive a 25% reduction on the base on which social security contribution is calculated. In order to qualify for tax relief you must be able to prove that: a) You are a specialist, scientist or expert with competencies that are not available or difcult to nd in Sweden. You can also be a senior executive or belong to the senior management group of a company. b) You are employed by a Swedish company or a foreign company which has a permanent establishment in Sweden. c) You are not a Swedish citizen and have not been a resident in Sweden during a 5 year period prior to the assignment in Sweden. d) Your stay in Sweden is not expected to exceed more than 5 years. Application forms and more information can be found on the web site of the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) www.skatteverket.se and Forskarskattenmnden www.forskarskattenamnden.se. This special tax relief for experts must be applied for within 3 months from the start of the employment in Sweden.

Corporate taxation
Sweden has a corporate tax of 26.3%.

VAT - Value Added Tax (moms)

VAT is generally charged with 25% on the sale of goods and services (for example for clothes and household appliances). The amount of taxation varies according to the type of goods and services. A lower tax rate, 12%, applies on e g food products. Books, newspapers and entrance to sporting and cultural events are taxed at 6%. For expertise regarding international tax issues you may wish to contact a company that offers nancial and taxation support. You are welcome to contact Business Region Gteborg www.businessregiongoteborg.com or search the internet (www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se) using skatt/nanskonsulter and Gteborg.

BUSINESS
Establishing your own business, Patents and Registration
The Swedish Patent and Registration ofce (Patent- och Registreringsverket, PRV) www.prv.se can assist you with the following: Starting up a business Registering a new business Applying for a patent Registering a trademark Providing competitor information The Swedish Companies Registration Ofce (Bolagsverket) www.bolagsverket.se can help with information regarding different types of legal business entities.

Associations for entrepreneurs (Fretagarfreningar)

The Swedish Association of Ethnic Entrepreneurs (Internationella fretagarfreningen i Sverige) www.ifs.a.se can assist with starting up or expanding a business in Sweden. The information on their site is available in a number of languages. The Centre for New Entrepreneurs, (Nyfretagarcentrum) www.gbgnfc.se (Swedish only) can assist those considering starting up their own businesses.

Advisors
Business Region Gteborg, www.businessregiongoteborg.com can assist anyone interested in developing business in the Gothenburg region. You will get the right contacts, nding professional advisors, and developing networks that suit your particular business needs. Invest Sweden, www.investsweden.se can provide you with a wealth of information regarding the costs of establishing a business and the advantages of establishing in Sweden. 18

EDUCATION
In Sweden schooling is compulsory for all children between the ages of 7 and 16. Pre-school is offered from the age of 6. The school year begins in August and ends in early June. The majority of schools in Sweden are publicly nanced and all children have the right to a free education.

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Foto: Shutterstock

INTERNATIONAL DAY CARE CENTERS

Sweden has many well-equipped day care centers that are of a high standard. Both of the parents must work, study or be looking for a job, in order to keep their children at a day care center. The child must be between 1 and 5 years of age and have a personal identication number. You can obtain more information at the web site of Skolverket www.skolverket.se (Swedish only). There are a number of international day care centers in Gothenburg: ABC All About Children Preschool www.abcallaboutchildren.com Centrally located in the city. The English School Gothenburg, ESG www.theenglishschool.se Day Care and Nursery school. Located in Vstra Frlunda.

The French School www.franskaskolangoteborg.se Swedish school with a French prole. Located in the city.

Happy Kids Education www.happykids.se Bilingual pre-school. Two locations Kllered and Kungsbacka.

My Little Tribe www.childactivitycentre.se Bilingual pre-school. Located in the western part of Gothenburg.

The International Preschool www.theinternationalpreschool.com Three locations Gullheden, Biskopsgrden and Majorna.

Vittra www.vittra.se A bilingual school and pre-school (Swedish and English). Four locations in the Gothenburg region City Central, Mlnlycke, Alingss and Kungsbacka. 19

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND BILINGUAL SCHOOLS

The Swedish school system: Pre-school for 6 year olds Primary and Junior High School education (compulsory) for children between 7 and 16 (Grades 1 to 9) Senior High School (Gymnasium) Grades 10 12. This is not compulsory but a prerequisite for anyone wanting to study at a tertiary level. There is one international school in the Gothenburg region and several bilingual schools: The International School of the Gothenburg region, ISGR (Grades 0-9) www.isgr.se Two locations in the city.

The English School Gothenburg, ESG www.theenglishschool.se Located in Vstra Frlunda. Internationella Engelska Skolan, IES www.engelska.se/gothenburg/ Located in Gothenburg, close to Mlndal.

The German School/Deutsche Schule www.tyskaskolan.nu Located in the city center.

The French school www.franskaskolangoteborg.se Swedish school with French prole. Located in the city.

The Japanese school Contact Sue Lindstedt-Shinohara Phone: 0704-303866 Note that this school is open 2 hours a week Fridays. Children attending this school also attend either a Swedish school or an international school. Located in the city.

The Swedish-Finnish school www.sverigenskaskolan.org Located on Hisingen, Gothenburg.

Vittra www.vittra.se Bi-lingual school, Swedish and English. see under heading for Day Care Centers.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM IN ENGLISH

The following are Swedish schools that offer the International Baccalaureate Program in English: Arans High School www.aranasgymnasiet.kungsbacka.se Search for baccalaureate on the web site. Located in Kungsbacka. The International High School of the Gothenburg Region, IHGR www.ihgr.se Located in Gothenburg.

Hvitfeldtska Gymnasiet http://www.gymnasium.se/International_Baccalaureate_IB_61231.htm Located in Gothenburg.

BOARDING SCHOOLS IN SWEDEN

The Grenna school www.grennaskolan.se The Lundsberg school www.lundsbergsskola.se The Sigtuna School www.sshl.se 20

Foto: Jonatan Fernstrm

UNIVERSITIES
Sweden has approximately 61 universities and colleges. The Gotenburg region has 7 institutions of higher education with University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology being the largest and most well known. All university education in Sweden is free. Foreign students must pay a fee from July 1, 2011.

Chalmers University of Technology

www.chalmers.se This university is world-renowned for its high quality of technical education.

University of Gothenburg www.gu.se This university is one of the most popular in Sweden and offers a huge variety of courses (in both English and Swedish). The university has 8 faculties: Creative Arts www.konst.gu.se/english Social Sciences www.samfak.gu.se/faculty_of_social_science Natural Sciences www.science.gu.se/english Humanities http://www.hum.gu.se/english Education www.ufn.gu.se/english Information Technology www.itufak.gu.se Business, Economics and Law http://www.handels.gu.se/ Health Sciences www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/english GRADES AND LANGUAGE COURSES Translation of degrees and grades
The International Department of the National Agency for Higher Education (Hgskoleverket) www.hsv.se can assist with translations of degrees and grades. See also www.studyinsweden.se for more information.

Swedish language courses

Introductory courses in Swedish (Swedish for Immigrants/SFI) are offered by the government, free of charge. See: http://www.vux.goteborg.se/s_sprak/s_engelska.pdf . For more information about which schools in the Gothenburg Region that is offering SFI-courses, see www.goteborg.se The following also offer Swedish courses: Berlitz Languages EF Corporate Language Training Folkuniversitetet Lorensbergs Medborgarskolan Wllgren Information & PR www.berlitz.se www.ef.se (Swedish only) www.folkuniversitet.se/goteborg www.lorensbergs.se www.medborgarskolan.se www.wallgren.se

For schools offering free language education for immigrants (SFI-courses) see www.goteborg.se and choose other languages for translation of the website.

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Foto: BananaStock

SPOUCES LOOKING FOR A JOB IN THE GOTHENBURG REGION

Swedes tend to speak English very well and many of the companies operating here are global with English as the corporate language. Nevertheless Swedish skills are often required. Your ability to speak Swedish will improve your career prospects and help you to get more out of life in Sweden. There are Swedish courses offered free of charge, such as the ones offered by SFI; www.goteborg.se/wps/portals/s . You can also start studying Swedish by distance learning: http://www.si.se/English/Navigation/Learning-Swedish/Web-course-in-Swedish .

BEFORE MOVING TO THE GOTHENBURG REGION Contact the EURES-ofce in Gothenburg (EU/EES)
Contact the EURES advisers (European Employment Services) in Gothenburg (for EU/EEA citizens) by sending an e-mail to: goteborg-eures@arbetsformedlingen.se. They can provide information about the labour market and about living and working conditions. You can also visit the EURES mobility portal: http://eures.europa.eu to see available jobs in the Gothenburg region. Select Sweden for country and Vstra Gtaland for region. However, a great majority of the adverts are written in Swedish and most likely you will get further in your job search when you contact the EURES advisers before you leave your home country or upon your arrival in the Gothenburg region. You can nd basic and general information in English about living and working conditions in Sweden on www.eures.se.

Recognition of qualications from abroad

Hgskoleverket (Swedish National Agency for Higher Education) provides information about how international studies can be recognized in Sweden, which professions that are regulated by law and addresses to the competent authorities for recognition. See www.hsv.se for more information. The EURES ofce in Gothenburg can also give information concerning this.

Right to unemployment benets?

If you are entitled to unemployment benets in your home country (EU/EEA member states including Switzerland) you can apply, before leaving for Sweden, to keep this benet during 3-6 months when looking for work in Sweden. Ask at your employment ofce for more information. Please note that you cannot apply for Swedish unemployment benet until after having worked in Sweden.

WHEN YOU HAVE ARRIVED TO THE GOTHENBURG REGION Establish contact with your local Arbetsfrmedlingen
Arbetsfrmedlingen (The Swedish Public Employment Ofce) has 16 ofces in the Gothenburg region. The EURES ofce (see above) can inform about what ofce to contact and the name and contact details to an employment ofcer where you can get an appointment. You will then get information on what kind of service you can expect from Arbetsfrmedlingen.

Register at a wide range of recruitment companies

Job-seekers are encouraged to market themselves in a broad spectra, not only by registering at Arbetsfrmedlingen, but also by contacting private recruitment companies and temporary employment agencies like for example Manpower, Profce, Monster etc. Dont hesitate to con tact employers directly and market your skills. This method is frequently used in Sweden.

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Foto: Shutterstock

Foto: Jonatan Fernstrm

Foto: Michael kerstrm

CULTURE AND LEISURE

Cooperation, consensus and teamwork tend to characterize the Swedish workplace. The dress code is relatively informal. Working hours are usually exible and Swedes tend to take at least 5 weeks holiday, usually in July. The family is very important and leave is granted for parents to look after their sick children or to spend a day with them at school. Maternity and paternity leave is the norm in Sweden.

CONSERT HALLS AND MUSEUMS

Gothenburg has many theatres, cinemas, museums, an opera and a large concert hall (home of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra). Visiting English theatre groups come to Gothenburg and perform plays in English. Check www.goteborgdaily.se to see what is happening in Gothenburg. There is an English speaking theatre company called GEST (The Gothenburg English Speaking Theatre) See www.gest.se for information about their coming productions. Some of the concert halls and museums that Gothenburg has to offer: Gteborgsoperan Gteborg Concert Hall Aeroseum Gotenburg Marime Adventure Center (Maritiman) Gothenburg Art Museum (Gteborgs Konstmuseum) Gothenburg City Museum (Gteborgs Stadsmuseum) The Maritime Museum (Sjfartsmuseet) Museum of World Culture (Vrldskulturmuseet) The Rhsska Museum (Rhsska museet) Universeum www.en.opera.se www.gso.se www.aeroseum.se www.maritiman.se www.konstmuseum.goteborg.se www.stadsmuseum.goteborg.se www.sjofartsmuseum.goteborg.se www.varldskulturmuseet.se www.designmuseum.se www.universeum.se

ART GALLERIES
There are a number of galleries in the Gothenburg area. You can use www.hitta.se and write konstgallerier (where it says vad sker du?) and then Gteborg (where it says Var?). Check out www.kulturnat.goteborg.se. This site has lots of good information about what is happening on the culture scene in Gothenburg. (Swedish only)

AMUSEMENT PARKS

Liseberg www.liseberg.se is the largest amusement park in Scandinavia and worth a visit. It has a great Christmas market.

GARDENS
There are many parks and gardens in Gothenburg. The largest and most frequented are: The Botanical Gardens (Botaniska Trdgrden) The Garden Society of Gothenburg (Trdgrdsfreningen) Slottsskogen (Where there are also animals, a childrens zoo and pony rides) www.gotbot.se www.tradgardsforeningen.se www.goteborg.se/slottsskogen (Swedish only).

The largest arena is Nya Ullevi (New Ullevi). A huge variety of different events are held here. Gamla Ullevi (Old Ullevi) is mainly used for soccer. Scandinavium is an arena used for ice hockey and other sports as well as international concerts.

SPORT AND EVENT STADIUMS

www.gotevent.se www.gamlaullevi.se www.gotevent.se

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CHURCHES
The following is an incomplete list of the churches in the Gothenburg area which offers service in other languages than Swedish. St Andrews English Church The Catholic Church Holds service in English, Spanish etc. Christina Church German Church Smyrna International Church Fishers Creek International Church The Tabernacle Baptist Church Church services are interpreted into English. Opalkyrkan Holds service in Arabic. Dansk Koloni og Smandskirke (Danish Church) Sjmannskirken (Norwegian Church) www.svenskakyrkan.se/goteborg/st.andrews www.kristuskonungen.se/ www.svenskakyrkan.se/tyska www.smyrna.se/centrum/moetesplatser/smyrna-international www.sherscreek.net www.tabernaklet.se www.opalkyrkan.se www.dkig.se www.sjomannskirken.no/goteborg

For orthodox and other churches/temples please use www.hitta.se or www.eniro.se and search for information. Some of the Swedish city churches are: Domkyrkan (Dome church), Vasakyrkan, Hagakyrkan, Masthuggskyrkan. For more information visit the web site of Swedish Church (Svenska Kyrkan) - www.svenskakyrkan.se .

CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS FOR EXPATS

The Gothenburg region has many clubs and associations aimed at bringing foreigners together. The following is an incomplete list of clubs that may be of interest to expats:

The American Womens Club Anglo Swedish Society Gothenburg The British Club Gothenburg The Canadian Club of West Sweden English speaking Play Group The Expat Thursday Club (For all expats) The French-speaking Club (Club Francophone) International Friends of Gothenburg The International Womens Club The Mirrabooka Club (Club for Australians) Professional Womens Group (For all nationalities) Toastmasters (Communication skills in English)

www.awcgothenburg.com www.angloswedish.se www.britishclub.se enostedt@gmail.com (Elizabeth Nostedt) www.englishspeakingplaygroup.com www.expatthursday.com www.clubfrancophonegbg.org http://ifgothenburg.ning.com/ www.iwcgothenburg.com lucyandchris@yahoo.com.au (Lucy Lines) www.pwggothenburg.org www.toastmasters.se

There are a number of on-line discussion groups for expats moving to Sweden. Check out: www.expatexpert.com , www.escapeartist.com, http://www.expatinterviews.com/sweden . If you would like a buddy (someone who has lived here for quite some time and who can meet up with you for a chat), please send an email to: buddygothenburg@yahoo.com and you will be contacted shortly after. A useful site for mothers with small children is www.mumsinsweden.com . Right Management offers a support programme for spouses looking for employment. See www.right.com . 24

Foto: Michael kerstrm

Foto: Pl Hermansson/edelpix

Foto: Jonatan Fernstrm

TOURISM, SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS

There are many beautiful and interesting places to visit in and around Gothenburg. Some informative sites are; www.goteborg.com www.citygbg.se www.virtualtourist.com www.gothenburg.world-guides.com www.visitsweden.com www.wikitravel.org/en/gothenburg www.ilovegoteborg.se

The Gothenburg Tourist bureau (Turistbyrn) www.goteborg.com is located at Kungsportsplatsen in the city. If you would like to see Gothenburg from a boat - take a trip on Paddan between April and October. These boats leave from just opposite the Tourist bureau. See http://www.stromma.se/en/Sightseeing/Gothenburg/.

SHOPPING
There are plenty of places to go shopping in the Gothenburg area see www.goteborg.com and the links below: Arkaden Avenyn Gothenburg City Shopping (Fredsgatan, Kungsgatan, Nordstan, Avenyn) NK Nordstan www.arkaden.nu www.avenyn.se www.gbgcity.se www.nk.se www.nordstan.se

RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS, BARS & NIGHT CLUBS

For restaurants, see www.restaurangguiden.com . Vasagatan and nearby Haga are very popular caf areas. Several restaurants, pubs and coffee shops are also to be found on Linn gatan, in the city center and on the Avenue. The Language Coffee Shop (Sprkcafet) www.sprakcafeet.com attracts people from different nationalities and of all ages. For clubs, pubs, bars, casino see www.goteborg.com .

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Business Region Gteborg AB - Marknad & Kommunikation

READING
The Public Library in Gothenburg (Stadsbiblioteket) www.goteborg.se/wps/portal/stadsbiblioteket , near Gtaplatsen, has a huge number of books in English. Ask for help to nd Swedish books that have been translated into English. There are many books you can read about moving to Sweden. Here are just a few suggestions:

Modern-Day Vikings - Christina Johansson Robinowitz and Lisa Werner Carr Sweden The Secret Files - Colin Moon (humorous and probably best read once you have been in Sweden for a while). Xenophobes Guide to the Swedes - Peter Berlin Culture Shock Sweden (A survival guide to customs and etiquette) - Charlotte Rosen Svensson On My Swedish Island: Discovering the Secrets of Scandinavian well-being - Julie Catterson Lindahl Of Swedish Ways - Lily Lorenzen The Emigrants series - Wilhelm Moberg will also give you some insight into the Swedish people and their history Simon and the Oaks, and Hannas Daughters - Marianne Fredriksson Give you some background about Gothenrg in the 40s.

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www.businessregiongoteborg.com