https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Anna Metreveli, a Russian PhD student in sociolinguistics, had her application to switch to a new residence permit rejected on the grounds that she did not leave Sweden to reapply, which has left her education and her son's right to specialised education and healthcare in the country up in the air. https://www.thelocal.com/20260420/phd-student-refused-swedish-permit-and-told-to-apply-from-abroad-despite-sons-disability Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:28:36 +0200 phd-student-refused-swedish-permit-and-told-to-apply-from-abroad-despite-sons-disability As the EU's Entry and Exit system (EES) comes into force, Italy’s international residents say they've found themselves waiting much longer at the border than tourists - despite being exempt. https://www.thelocal.com/20260416/ive-had-three-different-answers-ees-causes-delays-and-confusion-for-italys-residents Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:20:42 +0200 ive-had-three-different-answers-ees-causes-delays-and-confusion-for-italys-residents The Local Sweden's editorial team held a live Q&A with members about Sweden's proposed changes to permanent residency status. We've pulled out some of the key questions and our team's responses. https://www.thelocal.com/20260410/your-questions-answered-on-swedens-proposed-permanent-residency-changes Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:03:33 +0200 your-questions-answered-on-swedens-proposed-permanent-residency-changes With less than six months to go until the general election in Sweden, we are asking you to tell us how The Local can serve you best. https://www.thelocal.com/20260326/how-would-you-like-the-local-to-cover-the-swedish-election Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:10:47 +0100 how-would-you-like-the-local-to-cover-the-swedish-election Chandra and Vibha are one of many highly educated – and high-earning – working families reevaluating their commitment to Sweden in light of the government's plan to apply big citizenship rule changes even to those who applied years ago. https://www.thelocal.com/20260402/we-can-go-elsewhere-skilled-workers-question-future-in-sweden-over-citizenship-reforms Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:27:43 +0200 we-can-go-elsewhere-skilled-workers-question-future-in-sweden-over-citizenship-reforms Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya's circular-system hydroponics startup was already providing locally-grown produce to a major grocery store in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, when his business visa was denied by the Swedish Migration Agency. He has now left Sweden. https://www.thelocal.com/20260312/i-chose-my-mental-health-indian-entrepreneur-leaves-sweden-after-deportation-order Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:33:54 +0100 i-chose-my-mental-health-indian-entrepreneur-leaves-sweden-after-deportation-order Austria is embracing the digital world but many foreign residents still report having difficulties setting up or renewing their Austria ID. Here's what readers had to say. https://www.thelocal.com/20260220/worst-thing-ive-ever-used-foreign-residents-struggle-with-setting-up-id-austria Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:47:11 +0100 worst-thing-ive-ever-used-foreign-residents-struggle-with-setting-up-id-austria At the start of 2026 France unveiled a new price structure for its national museums - including the Louvre and Versailles - that charges higher prices to non-EU visitors. Readers of The Local share their thoughts on this new law. https://www.thelocal.com/20260119/its-discrimination-reactions-to-frances-museum-price-hike-for-non-eu-members Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:03:14 +0100 its-discrimination-reactions-to-frances-museum-price-hike-for-non-eu-members France has unrolled a new policy which involves charging higher prices to non-EU citizens to visit tourist attractions such as the Louvre and Versailles - and we want to hear your views on that. https://www.thelocal.com/20260113/share-your-view-what-do-you-think-of-frances-higher-museum-prices-for-non-eu-visitors Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:04:45 +0100 share-your-view-what-do-you-think-of-frances-higher-museum-prices-for-non-eu-visitors Difficult immigration departments, tricky paperwork and language barriers: getting a residence permit in Austria is a feat for many foreigners. We've compiled readers' advice on how to navigate the system. https://www.thelocal.com/20260112/learn-german-the-best-advice-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:41:11 +0100 learn-german-the-best-advice-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria From outrage to support, our American readers in Denmark shared their views about US President Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland. https://www.thelocal.com/20260107/angry-and-embarrassed-what-americans-in-denmark-think-about-trumps-greenland-threats Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:43:57 +0100 angry-and-embarrassed-what-americans-in-denmark-think-about-trumps-greenland-threats From securing digital ID to taking advantage of the public transport, here are the things that make life in Austria that bit more convenient for international residents living here – and what Austria could do better. https://www.thelocal.com/20251217/get-the-id-austria-what-makes-life-in-austria-easier-for-foreigners Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:08:53 +0100 get-the-id-austria-what-makes-life-in-austria-easier-for-foreigners Dual-national American readers across Europe say they would give up their US passports to stay European if they were forced to, with many citing political disillusionment, fears for safety, and the feeling of belonging to their adopted country. https://www.thelocal.com/20251213/i-feel-alienated-american-dual-nationals-in-europe-ready-to-renounce-citizenship Sat, 13 Dec 2025 12:06:30 +0100 i-feel-alienated-american-dual-nationals-in-europe-ready-to-renounce-citizenship The festive period in Germany offers tradition, excitement and occasional chaos. So how do the country's foreign residents celebrate, and what do they really think about the highs and lows of the season? https://www.thelocal.com/20251125/lantern-walks-and-baking-how-do-foreigners-celebrate-the-winter-holidays-in-germany Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:42:31 +0100 lantern-walks-and-baking-how-do-foreigners-celebrate-the-winter-holidays-in-germany If Germany's labour shortages are so bad, why do so many foreign skilled workers struggle to find work? We asked our readers to shed light on the mystery – and share the tips and tactics which worked for them. https://www.thelocal.com/20250715/dont-lose-hope-how-to-navigate-germanys-painful-job-market Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:35:54 +0200 dont-lose-hope-how-to-navigate-germanys-painful-job-market Getting divorced or separating in Sweden is much simpler than in most readers' home countries, and men and women are treated much more equally, according to the readers who answered our survey. But not everyone welcomed these differences. https://www.thelocal.com/20251104/not-seen-as-a-taboo-or-failure-what-its-like-getting-divorced-in-sweden Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:43:32 +0100 not-seen-as-a-taboo-or-failure-what-its-like-getting-divorced-in-sweden Travelling from Austria to Sweden by train for a work conference might not be the choice of many but Valéria Schörghofer-Queiroz decided to avoid flying and stay on the rails. Although her trip wasn't without its problems. https://www.thelocal.com/20241021/would-you-travel-from-austria-across-europe-by-train-for-work-it-can-be-done Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:37:01 +0200 would-you-travel-from-austria-across-europe-by-train-for-work-it-can-be-done From over-crowded sites to over-rated attractions, not everyone loves France's tourist offering. https://www.thelocal.com/20250818/tell-us-what-is-the-most-disappointing-french-tourist-attraction Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:44:31 +0200 tell-us-what-is-the-most-disappointing-french-tourist-attraction Stockholm or Skellefteå? Luleå or Lund? We asked our readers for their thoughts on the best place to live for foreigners in Sweden. Here’s what they said. https://www.thelocal.com/20240927/readers-reveal-the-top-swedish-cities-for-foreigners-to-move-to Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:48:10 +0200 readers-reveal-the-top-swedish-cities-for-foreigners-to-move-to Francisca Leonardo, or Frankie, shares the story of how a major health scare, just a couple of years after arriving in Sweden from Canada, sparked a radical career change: from biotechnology to running her own, unique travel brand in Stockholm. https://www.thelocal.com/20250609/my-swedish-career-you-can-influence-the-way-people-behave-towards-foreigners Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:11:59 +0200 my-swedish-career-you-can-influence-the-way-people-behave-towards-foreigners