License to practise
In order to practice medicine in Sweden you need to obtain a Swedish medical license. If you already have a license to practice from your country of residence, you can have it validated in Sweden. It is the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) that will assess your academic and clinical background. You can read all the details about the process on their webpage. You also need to have at least level C1 in the Swedish, Danish or Norwegian language before you can work in Sweden.
Recognition of specialist qualification
In Sweden, the clinical training of medical doctors towards specialist competence is the responsibility of the public health providers, i.e. the healthcare regions, not the universities. Specialty training (postgraduate training) is composed of hospital services in a subordinate position under full professional responsibility. Consequently, there are no courses at the faculty of medicine leading to a specialty degree. The current duration of the speciality training is in all specialities a minimum of 5,5 years which includes a mandatory introductory training period before the specialty training (minimum of 6 months).
If you already have a certificate of specialist qualification from another EU/EEA country, you need to apply for recognition of your specialist qualifications at the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).
Learning Swedish
Practicing medicine also entails a responsibility to have sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language and to be familiar with Swedish legislation concerning the health care sector.
Courses designed for health care professionals
There are some language courses designed exclusively for healthcare personnel:
In Stockholm: Svenska för medicinsk personal
In Gothenburg: Intensivkurs för sjukvårdspersonal
In Lund: Intensivkurs för sjukvårdspersonal
Swedish for immigrants (SFI)
Swedish for immigrants (SFI) is organised by the the municipalities. It is required that you have a residence permit and you are registered in the municipality. Contact your municipality for more information.
Other alternatives
One of many private providers for language courses is Folkuniversitetet.
Immigration regulations
As a citizen in the EU/EEA you have the right to work in Sweden without a work permit or a residence permit. The same applies for your family members. You and your family members have the right to start working immediately. If you want to stay longer than three months, you have to register at the Swedish Migration Agency.