Things to Think about
As you prepare to travel to a foreign country it is easy to forget about the little practical things that might be different from how they are at home. Little things like what you can bring through customs, what type of electrical plugs are used and how to dress for the climate.
Customs
It might be wise to check the customs restrictions on items like electronics, alcohol, tobacco and biological materials. For more detailed information check the Swedish Board of Customs web page. Remember, alcoholic beverages may only be brought in by a person who is at least 20 years old, and tobacco can only be brought in by a person who is 18 years of age. If you are uncertain, look it up on the web or ask at the embassy before you leave home.
Electricity and Compatibility
If you are planning on bringing a laptop, it may be necessary for you to make sure that you have arranged adapters and/or converters for your laptop. This way you can avoid problems with your laptop in Sweden.
If you are planning on bringing your mobile phone with you to Sweden, make sure that it is not locked to a specific operator (since it gets very expensive to call with your domestic operator in another country). In addition, make sure that your phone operates on the same system as the Swedish ones (not a problem within the EU, but may be an issue for overseas students).
In Sweden, the current from wall outlets is 220 volts, 50 cycles (Hz), rather than the 110 volts that you may be familiar with at home. The outlets or plugs might also be different. Therefore, in order to use your computer, electric razor, hair dryer, mobile phone charger and so on, you may have to use an adapter and/or converter. We advise you to buy these items in your home country as it can be difficult to find adapters for other systems than the Swedish system here in Umeå.
