In Sweden, rules available now for Romanians are same rules available for all EU citizens.

Sunday, January 17, 2010, there was an Activ SPIRIT activity in which, at the request of Mrs. Elena Borca, president of the Romanian-Swedish Cultural Association FRATIA, was present Mrs. Adina Trunk , Est Europe Program Manager  - Christian Democratic International Center (KIC).

Ms. Adina Trunk was kind enough to provide some details about the issue of integration in Sweden, on which subject was previously documented for this particular activity, indicating that the information provided is general.

The event was held in Stockholm in the Swedish church conference room Bredang district, where is developed missionary activity of the Romanian Orthodox church dedicated to the Assumption-priest George Borca.

The subject of integration in Sweden is almost inexhaustible and is clearly more comprehensive than what we set out below.

It is however important to point out that the material data are indicative and not to have proposed to give definitive answers to many questions and problems that arise in life everyone seeks to live, work, match in Sweden .

For those who are less familiar with the realities of Sweden, we specify that rules, in this country do not involve any bargaining.

This is the meaning to be interpreted - information about situations faced by those who want to integrate into the Swedish society.

Theme has revealed a particular involvement of those present and the formula that will reproduce the information is a summary which has the form of a virtual interview in which questions are asked by all participants.

Clarifications made at the start of the meeting by Ms Adina Trunk contain themselves interesting information for theme.

We specify that these informations are NOT an incentive or encouragement to emigrate to Sweden.


Adina Trunk:

I Do not dwell on these issues every day but I was interested very much because when Mrs. Elena Borca called , she presented some cases of some Romanian that I have seemed quite shocking... They came here and They were promised to receive a job.This job has not been given because, ultimately, they did dot haved the personal identification number needed.


To obtain the personal identification number they needed a residence permit .The residence permit is not given until you have a job .


So there is a dilemma and a point where a man, however much it tries, can not receive data, documents, so that actually became a member of society.

The problem was not so much that they could not work but that the owner of bussines would have said - "Not having personal number you can not open bank account, I can not pay you, you can not pay taxes so you should suppose to be hired illegal '


In Sweden, employers in general and people are less willing than others to engage people illegal.


Such a thing can not be said that there is not happening at all, but overall, the Swedes will be fair and legal to employ people, somehow thinking maybe a selfless way, because in Sweden very much think that this is important not so much for them as employers but for that man that he should receive a pension, income support, to be a true member of society.I began looking for the truth that there seems to be possible in dozens of versions.

Not sure if I found that one really true, but, speaking with several people, apparently still is confirmed as I noticed that there are problems today. I talked primarily with people from the Office of Migration - Migrationsverket .


You will face at some point with these words that if you are not familiar, will become.This entity - Migrationsverket - is linked to the government, so there is not a private entity, and deals with all issues having to do with emigration in Sweden, including those who come here seeking asylum, etc.


I was pointed out that there seems to be new rules for Romanian citizens from January 1.


All those I talked to, said they have not heard something like that would be new rules for Romanians. The only thing they said is that the rules available now for Romanians are same rules available for all EU citizens.


So, there is not a special rule for Romanian citizens.


- What would be the rules?

Adina Trunk:

- These rules seem to be applicable in all EU countries, except for countries that have special restrictions for Romania, such as the United Kingdom, for example.


As a European citizen, therefore, as a Romanian citizen, you may live in Sweden and to stay here for three months without anyone aske you to present any document or evidence that you have money with which to support youreself, or that you find here, relatives , work, school, etc.


So, for three months, anyone, do not ask you anything.


After these three months, or after six months - if you can show that you actively seek work or someone promises you a job - have to go back to Migrationsverket for them to register in their system and get your free license residence,that, UPEHOLTISTON but should be proved that you are looking for a job, or that you are having a job or that you are studying, that you are enrolled in a school.


With the residence permit, you can get all the social benefits that any Swedish citizen have: support for rent, if it is too high, support for. children, etc.. Temporary residence permit you can do to have almost the same rights as any Swedish citizen. But, if for three months did not find a job, you are not enrolled in any school, you can not prove that you actively looking for jobs, then they can not give you the residence permit, this permit can not be be extended.

- How to mark the beginning of those three months, because no longer put stamps in the passport of EU citizens?

Adina Trunk:

- You are asked, perhaps, at first, when you entered the country and if you can show a ticket.

- If you not have this ticket?

Adina Trunk:

-Then, eventually, they believe the word. On the other hand, may be taken into account the initial statement on arrival, included in the application for personal number. There is one detail which is very important to know .The person with whom I discussed the Migrationsverket told me this: If for three months you can not prove that you have a job or are not enrolled in school and you can not show that you will get a job in the following weeks, then what do is to go outside Sweden, even if it would be a short trip in Denmark.

So, should not go far and wide, just to cross the bridge to Denmark to see that you left the country and you come back.If you dont want to stay a night in a hotel in Copenhagen, you can return the same day and have the ticket.If you believe a person with whom I spoke, it is clear that there are not new rules.

To recapitulate:


Three months without any question, after three months of days, went back to Migrationsverket and proved that there is a job, a promise, or that is actively seeking a job - as you have been to several interviews that you have been to several employers, or that there is a school .


On this basis can receive the residence permit. With this UPEHOLTISTON, if you happen to lose your job you need to receive aid for housing and other kinds of help, you may receive this support from the Swedish cownty where you live.


The rules for such aid, how to give, as soon as you receive it, depend on each community. Stockholm is different from Goteborg, Malmo, etc..

The second major player in this is Skateverket, dealing this record wich is very important for all citizens of Sweden, recording the number of personal identity.


It is composed of date of birth plus four numbers. These records or personal number is the most important thing. It is perhaps the most important number in Sweden, more important than youre phone number. But to get that personal identity number, you must have a residence permit. This means that you must have either a job or go to school or to have a promise of employment.  The problem is that without this personnummer you can not open a bank account, which means that even if someone wants to hire you, can not do it because you can not pay the money, legally, can not pay taxes. I understand that there are happy cases when they received the ID number with no evidence of school, work, etc. It is a good thing, but apparently not correct, those people were lucky.

It is better to be happy that you made this personal number without having made that evidence, than to come here and think that is obtained so easily and then wake up with problems.Accurate information is most important even if at first seem more difficult and disappointing.


I asked, how can such a thing, does not bind, such citizen can not receive any job or personal number ... Then, there is something that resembles personnummer and called Samordningsnummer. This Samordningsnummer you can not just ask for him.


But, if you can prove that you are about to get a job or that you need that number, but you have not yet given proof of employment, then, as an institution, Skateverket isallowed to say ok, we can ask citizen working with your documents to receive an order to give you this Samordningsnummer.

- What is the difference?

Adina Trunk

Personnummer comprises born day plus four digits. These four figures say if you came from another country, if you are a man or woman, in what part of Sweden you are. This is similar but Samordningsnummer have born date number plus the number 60. So if someone is born on March 6 , last figure is 66.


With this Samordningsnummer can open a bank account and with that resolve many. Having a bank account you can pay rent, etc.


This account is very important in Sweden, without it you can do almost anything.


If you have not a chance to get personnummer you may receive this Samordningsnummer which is provisional, during which they feel that you need. With Samordningsnummer, you can go to the bank and open the account. There must be someone to prove identity, to confirm, because only then can you get from Skateverket evidence that, indeed, the name corresponds with a personal number.


In Sweden, a passport is not considered as part of identity, but this ID - Kurt that now is released from police before he was released in several places.


Upeholtilston is the residence permit. There is a residence permit as such that you can get him on the steps I listed above. After five years of stay here, you can get permanent residence permit. If you stay in Sweden five years and have paid taxes can receive a permanent residence permit. After five years allowed to vote nationally . Citizenship problem is a different o. If someone wants that, after five years of stay here, you can start the formalities for obtaining citizenship.

- There are recipes for success in Sweden?

Adina Trunk:

- Success is something very subjective. For some it means to have a quiet life, and have an apartment in which to be able pay their debts.


If success is to have a calm life in which money is not a major problem, if this is the recipe of success we're talking about, plus integration into Swedish society, I think the recipe for success is to leave behind you what you know from the country in which`you left, not necessarily to forget what you learned there, but to keep an open mind for the Swedish society values, to be open to learn, to accept the good and bad things. You chose to live here. The key to integration into Swedish society is language but also the willingness to adapt to life style in here.


Swedes, however open, still want people to interact as they used.Contact with the Swedes, not only with other nationalities here, is very important. There are many social rules that are not written anywhere and to be learned.


Learning the language means a huge effort and may be the greatest effort to be made to integrate into Swedish society.


One does not expect a newcomer to speak perfect Swedish . If you have a chance to speak one language and English, is easyer to integrate. Language is very important. There are free courses for those who have received the residence permit, which is called SFI (Svenska For Invandrare), Swedish for immigrants.It depends where you are, these courses may be more or less good.

- It is recognized diplomas obtained elsewhere?

Adina Trunk:

- Yes, more than this, can be found at SFI, courses taken for the specialized language . For trades, too.


For many, employment is one of the best ways to have an income at first. However, it is not a good solution. It's better practice, from which to show that you're looking work, than undeclared work.Practice is very important. You go to Arbetsförmedlingen institution in charge of hiring and tell them that you have experience in a field and you need practice. Or, there are companies dealing with certain areas. One can ask, can practice on your own, limited speaking Swedish? I worked for a while, I have a similar experience and I want to start a new life in Sweden. Have all explained very frankly.


For those with children, one thing to know is that the company does not pay for child care vacation or for practice .Many are reluctant to use this as believing that the company pays. This is paid by social insurance.


Regarding bringing other family members, it seems that from April 1, 2010, to bring the family must prove that you have a job or income maintenance.

- When and how we should live and not live in Sweden?

Adina Trunk

- The ideal situation would be? As a person who comes to Sweden to be well informed about what it means to live in Sweden.Very well to do research as far as possible that exist for each . To contact the people living in Sweden and to explain what exactly is the situation , to think, I have a profession, to look on the internet, there are companies who work in this area, that even have an idea about the situation in the coming.If you live and not know anybody, you have a job, he'll be very difficult. A lot of people here spending money saved, go back to the country disillusioned.


Most studying the country where they would leave is important to be made before coming here.


Have to be studied the possibility of going to interviews at some firms, potential employers, before coming here.


It depends on what field you are, you can find a job in Sweden, speaking only English. In many areas having to do with manual work, often you get to speak English.


You have to make yourself understood, this is the idea. For some work, have to communicate. It is a good idea to put the Swedish up before you leave the country.


There is not a situation where you can go door to door. First, the Swedes are reluctant to hire someone whose culture, language, do not know and do not understand.


Romanians - Few who live here. For some, Romania means an interesting, positive, but for others also means problems. You have to put up a good CV to get a job. This CV must be ordered, made by the book. There must be at least two people to recommend you, to work in that area. You can send them by mail or Internet. After a week or two may call for confirmation and be asked if it appropriate to present at an interview. There are sometimes discrimination based on name. Now, increasingly, more jobs applications are anonymous. Arbetsförmedlingen is a site where you can find all the jobs, in fields. It is a source of information on the subject.There are also private companies working in temporary employment for some firms.

- How important are the recommendations and supporting documents?

Adina Trunk:

- The recommendations are very important but most important is personal contact. If someone sees you as an individual are serious, do not ask for the moon and want to work, gives you a chance.It is very important to get to that interview, no interview is more difficult. Again, the recommendation is important from someone who stays here for a long time and speaks Swedish. Recommendations are good as long as those who gave their recommendation can be contacted by phone.