I am an EU citizen that has been working in Sweden for two years in a very high-paying job. Unfortunately, It feels like I have burned myself out. My energy levels are so low that I neither have energy to search a new job, let alone properly learn Swedish and integrate with society. I do however love the nature and calmness here and don’t want to give up early, returning home broken and defeated…
I am now considering the following to regain both control and a piece of mind:
Quit my high paying job and leave my very expensive rental apartment in the city
Buy a small house outside of a larger city. I can pay 100% cash and would still have funds to cover my monthly expenses for the next 2 years in a worst-case scenario (but that would deplete most of my savings).
Recharge for 3-6 months and use this to brush up some skills, including Swedish
Start looking for a local or remote job, re-entering the workforce.
Even though this feels like the “right” thing for me right now, I am quite worried this can go wrong, especially as a foreigner and with lingering recessions risks.
I am part of A-Kassa and a Union. I would thus assume I can claim unemployment pay if I fail to find a job +6 months even though I quit myself, correct? Is there anything else here from a Swedish society or social security system I should be aware of bevor making such a drastic jump?
Om du säger upp dig för att du vill arbeta med något annat men inte lyckas få ett nytt jobb så finns a-kassan där för dig.
Om du säger upp dig för att du vill ta en pause och få a-kassa under tiden så är det att utnyttja oss svenskar och vårt system, och ett brott mot lagen.
Bättre i sådant fall att snacka med läkare om en sjukskrivning än att begå ett brott.
I say buy the house and study something you find fun and not too difficult. That way you can pick up the language and claim CSN payment which is very beneficial see this as your recharge period
There is absolutely no intention to exploit the system in Sweden or anywhere else. I am sorry if I left that impression. Sounds like the right thing to do is to move back home, if I fail to find a job within 6 months after quitting.
There is also the possibility that you arrange with your employer of 3-6 months unpaid leave, under which you will focus on Swedish language studies. There are laws and regulations, and under certain conditions the employer has to grant you this leave.
After this, with some fresh Swedish and new impressions, maybe returning to work will be different. If not, you can still quit.
It seems that you are holding a working visa. If you resign and become unemployed, how can you stay for 6 month+? No way, you can only stay 3 months if you quit your job. Check Migrationsverket (Swedish immigration authority)
Ok, you have your own thinking about freedom as a EU citizen! Skatteverk is the authority to give you such freedom. I do know that you will be disappointed if you think you can get such freedom automatically in Sweden. When you find that your ID is not longer valid and you can’t collect your package as you are not population registered in Sweden.
My intention is not to do anything wrong or illegal. So I’d rather leave than doing something incorrect.
My current understanding (which seems different to yours):
When you first move to Sweden as an EU citizen and register with Skatteverket, you need to fulfill certain rules: Have income, be studying, have sufficient funds, or be married to someone that fulfills those rules.
If you have sufficient funds you can stay in Sweden regardless if you have a job or not. As I have indicated in my first message I could cover my monthly expenses for the next 2 years if I’d decide to quit today.
As I have contributed to A-Kassa while working for the last few years, I am eligible for unemployment pay once a) the suspension period for quitting myself is lifted (45-112 days) and b) I start actively looking for work.
I see however no indication that my ID would become invalid or my registration with Skatteverket would become invalid either. I would therefore much appreciate if you could point me to the specific rules for EU citizens you are referring to, as I am not finding in there what you describe.
I think that enrolling in a Swedish course could be something that would add to your CV if/when you’d like to go back to your well paid job.
I am sure that there’s also remote classes that would allow you to live that “rural” life you’re talking about.
You might know this already, so take it the right way: Life in the countryside can be amazing, but in some areas you might struggle to meet people to befriend (but once they let you in, they would do everything for you). I love everything Sweden has to offer in terms of nature (and access to it) but we’re probably not the easiest bunch to get to know… just make sure you don’t get lonely.
One possibility could be to rent something instead of buying. Your money might last longer. 2 years is not a lot of time and the demand of houses outside of cities can change quite rapidly.
Nevertheless: I hope you find a way to feel better soon!
see this as your recharge period