Stockholm is a premiere Scandinavian city - a hub of cultural, media, political, and commercial activities.
Geography and Climate
Located in the south central east coast of charming Sweden, Stockholm is found to the east of Lake Mälaren. The city consists of fourteen islands, with the city center right in the middle of the bay Riddarfjärden.
Much of the city is made up of bridges and waterways, earning it the nickname of ‘Venice of the North'. These waterways lead up to the Baltic Sea and the neighboring Salt Bay (Saltsjön). This kind of city structure not only makes it a picturesque sight, but also gives a feeling of spaciousness.
Stockholm's original core is the Gamla Stan (Old Town), which has been the city's center of trade and culture since the 16th and 17th century. Unique and historical structures like the Royal Palace, the Storkyrkan, also called the Cathedral, the House of Lords, and many government offices fill this area.
The city's climate is humid continental which means summers can be rather warm and damp with thunderstorms while winters are very cold with possible frequent snowfall.
Due to the city's northerly altitude, the amount of daylight it receives varies from 18 hours in midsummer to as little as six hours in December. Despite the lack of daylight for much of the year, Stockholm's climate is generally pleasant.
During the summer, temperature ranges from 13 °C to 22 °C while winter temperatures may range from -5 to 1 °C. Snow mostly occurs from December to March.
Demography and Economy
The city of Stockholm is known all over the world as one of the most beautiful capitals. Its numerous parks and elegant architecture is a sight that many find a pleasure to behold. It is home to about 22% of Sweden's population.
The city has about 765,044 inhabitants, with a foreign-born population of about 12%. The history of migration to Stockholm dates back to the 1950s and 1960s when most of the migrants came from neighboring Nordic countries like Finland for employment purposes.
At present, a considerable number of migrants to Stockholm are also asylum seekers from southeastern and eastern Europe. The formation of the European Union has allowed the free movement of EU citizens to the city.
Other languages widely spoken in Stockholm aside from Swedish are Finnish and English. Due to the increasing number of immigrants in the city, Bosnian, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Spanish, and Croatian are also widely used.
Sweden's capital is fast becoming a favorite expat destination not only for its beauty, but also for its solid economy. The city of Stockholm accounts for about 28% of the country's GDP.
Stockholm ranks 24 in the Global Cities index which shows its importance in the global economic system. Stockholm owes a large portion of this significance to the city's service sector, which accounts for 85% of jobs in the city.
Recent years have seen the rise of the technology sector in Stockholm, with companies like IBM, Electrolux, and Ericsson setting up shop in Sweden's capital. The city is also undoubtedly a center of finance, housing banks such as Swedbank, Handelsbanken, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken.
Getting a Visa
EU and EEA nationals are not required to have a visa to enter Stockholm. Those who do not fall into this category and are not Nordic citizens must secure a visa in order to enter and stay in the city for a period of 90 days or more.
Visa applications can be made in any Swedish consulate or embassy. Basic requirements include a completed and signed visa application form available at http://www.migrationsverket.se, two color passport sized photos less than 6 months old, a valid passport, proof of travel insurance, and proof of sufficient funds for your stay. Information regarding the purpose of your stay in Stockholm may also be requested.
If you plan to stay in Stockholm for more than three months, or to temporarily live or work there, then you need a residence permit or a Personnummer, an identification number that is also needed to do basic things such as opening a bank account. To obtain this, go to your local Skatteverket office (Swedish Tax Agency) with your ID and a completed application for residence form.
What to Pack
Any expat wouldn't want to be caught without a jacket and an umbrella in Stockholm. The city's daily weather is mostly pleasant, but it can get bitterly cold sometimes, and rain showers are often expected.
During the summer, sunglasses are best to fight off the glare while mid-weight casual clothes (clothes made of cotton or linen) are usually advised.
Thick clothes, and dressing in layers is the way to go during the winter. Comfortable walking shoes, especially sturdy ones, are also recommended to stay safe treading on snowy pavements.
Bringing adaptors for your gadgets is advised for Stockholm's 230-voltage system.
Anything else you might need is readily available in this cosmopolitan capital city of fascinating Sweden.
More Expat Resources
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