https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Sweden's government on Wednesday said it would cut welfare benefits for large families as part of its 2026 budget. It predicted the measure would affect around 5,000 families and increase the incentive to find work. https://www.thelocal.se/20250918/government-proposes-cutting-welfare-to-large-families Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:27:24 +0200 government-proposes-cutting-welfare-to-large-families Sweden is halving the price of monthly public transport tickets from July 1st until the end of the year, funded by a multibillion-kronor subsidy paid out to the regions. https://www.thelocal.se/20260526/sweden-to-cut-monthly-public-transport-tickets-by-50-in-all-regions Tue, 26 May 2026 14:19:42 +0200 sweden-to-cut-monthly-public-transport-tickets-by-50-in-all-regions Ukrainians in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive will soon be able to apply for a different type of residence permit without leaving Sweden. https://www.thelocal.se/20260526/sweden-opens-new-residence-permit-paths-for-ukrainians-in-sweden Tue, 26 May 2026 09:02:01 +0200 sweden-opens-new-residence-permit-paths-for-ukrainians-in-sweden Several municipalities across Sweden have banned presents and cash collections for school staff in council-run schools. https://www.thelocal.se/20260526/swedish-municipalities-at-least-some-ban-end-of-term-gifts-for-teachers Tue, 26 May 2026 08:55:02 +0200 swedish-municipalities-at-least-some-ban-end-of-term-gifts-for-teachers Telecoms giant Ericsson is moving its entire headquarters and their 8,500 employees from Kista to Hagastaden. https://www.thelocal.se/20260526/ericsson-vows-to-make-new-hq-in-hagastaden-a-great-workplace Tue, 26 May 2026 08:42:01 +0200 ericsson-vows-to-make-new-hq-in-hagastaden-a-great-workplace Ericsson vows to make new HQ in Hagastaden 'a great workplace', Swedish foreign ministry summons Russian ambassador, municipalities ban end-of-term gifts for teachers, and (some) Ukrainians will soon be able to switch permits without leaving Sweden. Here's the latest news. https://www.thelocal.se/20260526/today-in-sweden-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-248 Tue, 26 May 2026 08:34:07 +0200 today-in-sweden-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-248 It's taken them more than two years, but Sweden's government has finally published the list of jobs that will be exempted from the new higher minimum salary for a work permit which comes into force on June 1st. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.se/20260525/explained-swedens-new-higher-minimum-salary-for-a-work-permit Mon, 25 May 2026 17:18:00 +0200 explained-swedens-new-higher-minimum-salary-for-a-work-permit More than 100,000 people gathered in the university town of Lund on Saturday to attend the student-run Lundakarnevalen, which is organised every four years. https://www.thelocal.se/20260525/in-pictures-more-than-100000-people-celebrate-university-carnival-in-lund Mon, 25 May 2026 09:59:00 +0200 in-pictures-more-than-100000-people-celebrate-university-carnival-in-lund Danes and Norwegians are enjoying the day off because of Pentecost and Whit Monday. But not Swedes. Why? https://www.thelocal.se/20240517/why-is-pentecost-not-a-public-holiday-in-sweden Fri, 17 May 2024 10:17:52 +0200 why-is-pentecost-not-a-public-holiday-in-sweden Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson has his eyes set on roughly half of the seats in a future right-wing cabinet, including three of the following portfolios: finance, foreign, justice and defence. https://www.thelocal.se/20260525/sweden-democrats-aim-for-half-of-cabinet-seats-in-a-right-wing-government Mon, 25 May 2026 08:51:07 +0200 sweden-democrats-aim-for-half-of-cabinet-seats-in-a-right-wing-government Changes to work permit salary minimums, more types of bars on the horizon, and citizenship changes come into effect. Here’s what’s on the agenda for Sweden in June this year. https://www.thelocal.se/20260524/work-permits-citizenship-and-pubs-what-changes-in-sweden-in-june-2026 Sun, 24 May 2026 10:46:36 +0200 work-permits-citizenship-and-pubs-what-changes-in-sweden-in-june-2026 In Sweden, a sambo is a domestic partner – someone you’re in a relationship with and live with, but to whom you aren’t married. If you, as a non-EU citizen, are in a sambo relationship with a Swedish citizen, you can apply for a residence permit on the basis of that relationship. But meeting the requirements of that permit is not always straightforward. https://www.thelocal.se/20220720/reader-question-how-do-you-meet-the-maintenance-requirements-for-a-sambo-visa Wed, 20 Jul 2022 18:02:30 +0200 reader-question-how-do-you-meet-the-maintenance-requirements-for-a-sambo-visa What better way to enjoy summer in your apartment than by making full use of your balcony? The Local spoke to Henric Gartz, a lawyer who specialises on issues related to housing, to find out how to stay on the right side of the law. https://www.thelocal.se/20220728/nudity-to-bbqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-on-your-balcony-in-sweden Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:58:34 +0200 nudity-to-bbqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-on-your-balcony-in-sweden The last step before a citizenship application can be approved is the personal appearance at a Migration Agency office. The Local's Becky Waterton had her appointment last week – here's what happened. https://www.thelocal.se/20260518/the-final-hurdle-what-happened-at-my-personal-appearance-for-swedish-citizenship Mon, 18 May 2026 13:23:13 +0200 the-final-hurdle-what-happened-at-my-personal-appearance-for-swedish-citizenship With governments across Europe tightening citizenship and residency requirements, language and country knowledge tests are often framed as measures of integration. But are governments really talking to domestic political audiences? https://www.thelocal.se/20260523/are-government-language-tests-in-europe-integration-policy-or-just-political-posturing Sat, 23 May 2026 10:24:29 +0200 are-government-language-tests-in-europe-integration-policy-or-just-political-posturing Today's word of the day is the Swedish word for 'loneliness' – but why are Swedes considered some of the loneliest people in the world? https://www.thelocal.se/20220126/swedish-word-of-the-day-ensamhet Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:16:39 +0100 swedish-word-of-the-day-ensamhet Sweden's government has announced that it will exempt 27 professions from new higher minimum salary for a work permit which comes into force on June 1st. Here is the full list. https://www.thelocal.se/20260522/listed-all-the-jobs-exempted-from-swedens-higher-work-permit-salary Fri, 22 May 2026 14:48:59 +0200 listed-all-the-jobs-exempted-from-swedens-higher-work-permit-salary Sweden's government has decided to exempt only 27 professions from the new higher salary threshold for a work permit, with business groups complaining the list was less generous than expected and would make Sweden poorer. https://www.thelocal.se/20260522/swedish-government-exempts-27-professions-from-work-permit-salary-threshold Fri, 22 May 2026 11:43:25 +0200 swedish-government-exempts-27-professions-from-work-permit-salary-threshold The 'safety clause' Sweden's government has promised to announce this month to help teenagers and young adults facing deportation without their parents will not allow those who have already left to return, Migration Minister Johan Forssell has said. https://www.thelocal.se/20260522/teen-deportation-fix-will-not-help-those-already-outside-sweden Fri, 22 May 2026 09:50:35 +0200 teen-deportation-fix-will-not-help-those-already-outside-sweden In the first of two votes, the Swedish parliament voted to enable authorities to strip dual citizens of their Swedish citizenship in certain situations. https://www.thelocal.se/20260521/swedish-mps-vote-to-revoke-citizenship-over-crimes-that-harm-vital-interests Thu, 21 May 2026 09:35:56 +0200 swedish-mps-vote-to-revoke-citizenship-over-crimes-that-harm-vital-interests