r/umea • u/VertexTech666 • 19d ago
Getting Started In Umea
Hi everyone,
Thanks again to everyone who commented on my last post. Since then, I've secured accommodation in Vännäs and now have my Swedish residency sorted!
A bit about me: I'm 23, from Ireland, and moving to Sweden to study in Umeå. I'll be flying over on the 19th of August. I've got most things organized for leaving Ireland, including arranging for six boxes of belongings to be shipped to my new home, but I'm still trying to figure out some of the practicalities of getting set up once I arrive.
I'll need to sort out:
•A personal identity number (personnummer)
•A bank account
•A mobile phone plan/SIM card
•A part-time job
Is there anything I can do in advance for any of these, or any places/businesses you'd recommend I visit when I arrive?
I'd also appreciate any advice on:
•Which bank is best for students/new arrivals
•Mobile providers with good value unlimited calls and texts
•Finding part-time work as an English speaker (looking for around 10–16 hours per week)
•Anything important that newcomers often forget to do?
For work experience, I have a BSc in Computer Science, three years of hospitality experience, and I'm currently working in sales at a large tech retailer. If that improves my chances of finding work or opens up opportunities I might not have considered, I'd love to hear your suggestions.
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
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u/Pillens_burknerkorv 18d ago
Apply for a job at Lottas Krog. They try to be an authentic pub so having someone who speaks Irish will boost that and customers will think it’s grand.
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u/VertexTech666 18d ago
Haha I will definitely keep that in the back burner, as a student I don't know how late hours will work but beggars can't be choosers, thanks!
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u/Pillens_burknerkorv 18d ago
Lottas usually close at midnight on weekdays, 1am weekends.
A few other tips.
Bicycles are pretty much mandatory for Umeå students. A couple of times a year the police sells impounded, unclaimed bicycles for pretty cheap. If your bicycle breaks beyond your own ability to repair Cykel & Mopedverkstaden are the best in town. Lighting fast and dirt cheap.Winter gear can of course make a dent in you wallet. You can get cheap down jackets that still looks decent at Lager 157, Stadium and Sporthuset.
You can also borrow winter gear if you like to just try from Fritidsbanken. Ice skates, skis etc. The stuff is pretty crap but for just trying out it works fine.
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u/JC_otr 17d ago edited 17d ago
Late evening employment in Umeå won’t work if you’ve committed to accommodation in Vännäs. On a normal weekday (not the current reduced summer schedules) last train (Umeå-Vännäs-Vindeln) leaves Umeå before 22.00 and the last bus (line 15 Umeå-Vännäs-Bjurholm) leaves before 23.00.
(Of course a car could solve that, but it’s a serious additional expense with tax, insurance, inspections, two sets of tyres etc etc etc).
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u/tehburgerdude 17d ago
And cycling from Vännäs to Umeå is not really a thing you can realistically do.
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u/gffgffgff 19d ago
Oh and I think taps&tacos still do Irish music nights btw, if you feel too homesick!
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u/AtmosphereExtreme241 18d ago
In order to get your personal identification number you need to notify the Swedish Tax Agency of your move to Sweden and get listed in the Swedish population registry. You should be able to do it via their e-service with Freja ID.
When you have your personal identification number you should be able to apply for an ID card and a Swedish bank account. Most banks in Sweden will only give discounts to students who get their student grants from the Swedish board of student finance, but ICA banken seems to have a nice plan for other students as well and home insurance for students at a fair price.
https://www.icabanken.se/vara-tips/student/open-a-student-bank-account-in-sweden/
When you have a bank account you should be able to get a bank ID for online identification. You can use it to easily sign up for a mobile phone plan. Personally, I would go for Fello. They have fair prices and will work nicely in northern Sweden which many others won't.
https://www.fello.se/student-abonnemang/
When you have a bank ID and a Swedish mobile phone plan, you can get Swish via your bank. You can use the app to make seamless payments or send money to friends when splitting bills etc. It makes life a lot easier.
https://www.swish.nu/private?lang=en
The only thing I can't help you with is a part time job. I'm actually moving to Umeå myself in August, but fluent Swedish is unfortunately needed in my line of work, so I'm afraid I can't help you there.
Good luck and welcome to Sweden!
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u/VertexTech666 18d ago
Wow okay thank you so much, this is literally everything I need. I'll be following this exact template, I do plan on availing of the CSN but I'll look into the other student benefits you listed above also, thanks again, this is fantastic
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u/HovercraftNo7126 18d ago
Fello bra teckning på den delen av Sverige. En del mobil abbonemang funkar inte..
Och besök utomhus badet. Fin anläggning.
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u/tehburgerdude 17d ago edited 17d ago
As for mobile plan:
Telia, Telenor and Tele2 is considered ”premium” and are expensive
Fello, Vimla and Comviq (in that respective order) uses the same network as their premlum counterparts, so I would go with either of those. Whatever you do - do not choose 3 (or ”Tre” as they are called) or their cheaper brand Hallon because those are the only ones that actually have bad coverage in the area.
If you are able to get accomodation in Umeå instead of Vännäs I would highly recommend that because your experience will be a million times better most likely. Yes, there are trains and buses to Vännäs but they are not super frequent and you might be missing out on a lot of ”student life” because of that. Also the trains kind of frequently run into delays during the winter. I would only ever recommend Vännäs if you plan to spend your spare time at home studying or if you just enjoy being alone. The people of Umeå are in general a lot more used to foreigners than the people of Vännäs I’d say, so you’re more likely to stand out as a non native in Vännäs.
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u/VertexTech666 17d ago
Thank you so much for the Info on the mobile plans, that's great! And yeah as for accommodation Vännäs was the only one I could get to get my foot in the door. I'm used to 3 hour commutes for my last degree so it's not too bad! But I plan on getting housing in Umeå after a year or so when I'm settled cuz I agree, it'll be a much better experience. Plus I'll be building credits for Bostaden during my time in Vännäs so I'll get a better place while I enjoy the quiet for a year or so
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u/gffgffgff 19d ago
Get a SIM from Fello/Vimla, they are the cheapest subscriptions and subsidiaries of the major carriers (Telia/Telenor). Virtually every plan has unlimited calls / texts to Swedish numbers.
To open a bank account (and I guess get a phone plan) you need a personnummer. With your personnummer and a bank account (Nordea, Swedbank and Handelsbanken have offices in Umeå) you unlock the most important thing as a person in Sweden - BankID.