The Hong Kong/Sweden Working Holiday Scheme takes effect on 1 January 2018. There is no quota restriction for Hong Kong youths travelling to Sweden under the Scheme. For Swedish youths visiting Hong Kong, there is a quota of 500 places per year. The Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong requires applicants to provide financial proof of SEK15,000 for maintenance during their stay in Sweden.

Successful applicants will be issued a working holiday visa by the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, allowing them to stay in Sweden for up to 12 months. They can take up short-term employment and/or enrol in short-term course(s) incidental to their holiday during the authorized period of stay. Details and application forms are available at the following website:
https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Working-in-Sweden/Employed/Special-rules-for-certain-occupations-and-citizens-of-certain-countries/Working-Holiday-Visa-for-young-people.html
https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/hong-kong/

The official tourism website of Sweden introduces the popular destinations and things to do in the country, encouraging tourists to explore the different facets of Sweden during their journey. You can also get fun facts and travel tips here.

As one of the Scandinavia states in the northern Europe, Sweden is a welcoming tourist designation filled with majestic landscapes, historic sites and innovative minds. Central Sweden is home to the capital city Stockholm, which hosts numerous museums, theatres and galleries as well as the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage sites counting Birka and Hovgården, the Woodland Cemetery and the Drottningholm Palace. With summer houses painting the islands of the archipelago with vibrant colours, boat trips would make a great way to explore the intriguing maritime landscape of this "Venice of the North".

The Western city of Gothenburg, also filled with historic monuments and churches like the Masthugget Church, comes in a distinctive character. It has developed into a foodie heaven in recent years, and tourists can sample the best from the sea at local restaurants as well as the Feskekörka fish market.

Venturing to the North of the country, those who could stand the extreme cold in the province of Lapland will be amazed by the hidden germs there. The wilderness area is headlined by the Abisko National Park, which showcases the Northern Lights to the lucky ones from time to time. While one-of-a-kind hospitality experience is made possible by the distinctive Ice Hotel and Tree Hotel, tourists may also engage in unique cultural encounters there with the Sami, the indigenous people.

From pick cured salmon to pickled herring and fresh seafood, Sweden has plenty of supplies when it comes to treasures of the sea. Open sandwiches and meatballs are integral parts of the local cuisine, and the lingonberry jam that goes with meatball is indeed a staple sauce – it can be served with pancakes, pudding and even porridge. If you share a sweet tooth with the Swedish who celebrate their sugary flairs with festivals, you will be delighted by the great varieties of pastries and sweets here like pea soup and pancakes, cinnamon buns and waffles.

Make a trip to one of three "culinary capitals" – the Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö – for these gastronomic delights!

According to the bilateral working holiday scheme established between HKSAR Government and the Swedish Government, working holidaymakers can take up short-term employment during their stay in Sweden.

You are free to apply for a wide range of temporary jobs in Sweden to supplement your travelling funds. Learn more about working and finding a job in Sweden at:
https://sweden.se/society/collection/working-in-sweden/

Additional information on relevant labour legislation and protection can be found at the following website:
http://www.government.se/government-policy/labour-law-and-work-environment/

Working holidaymakers can also seek advice from "Arbetsförmedlingen", the Public Employment Services which is an independent government agency under the Ministry of Employment, for issues relating to employment.

Sweden offers a wide variety of accommodation options which include youth hostels and apartments. Unique staying experience is made possible with hotels built in the forest, on and under the sea as well as inside the ice.

Please refer to the following website for more details:
https://visitsweden.com/where-to-stay/

Public transportation is used frequently in Sweden, thanks to the established and efficient bus, metro and tram systems. In cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg, coast ferries are also available to reveal the beauty of the Swedish archipelagos. Tourists may consider getting city cards to travel around, as free transport as well as shopping, dining and entertainment discounts will be covered.

For more information on transportation in Sweden, please visit:
https://visitsweden.com/about-sweden/transportation/

Sweden has a generally temperate climate. Winter gets severer and summer gets short and changeable as you go northward. Lying in a high altitude, Sweden also experiences big differences in daylight both seasonally and regionally. It is again the most extreme at the country's far north – there is 24-hour daylight in June and 24-hour darkness in January.

Here we have gathered a number of hands-on tips to facilitate your trip planning and settling in Sweden. If you have done a working holiday in Sweden and have a tip or two to share, please email your thoughts to whsu@labour.gov.hk!

Police, Fire & Ambulance
Telephone: 112

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services
24-hour Hotline: (8610) 12308

Immigration Department of the HKSAR
Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit
24-hour Hotline: (852) 1868

Labour Department of the HKSAR
General Enquiries - Working Holiday Scheme
Email: whsu@labour.gov.hk