The Swedish city welcoming accompanying partners

This was the dilemma facing clinical pharmacist Joan Solomon back in 2024. Originally from Chennai, India, Joan and her now-husband were already living in different countries when they decided to get married. He had relocated to Gothenburg – Sweden’s second-largest city, and one of Europe’s leading and most dynamic life science environments – while Joan built her career in Sydney.

After months considering where to build their future, they chose Sweden. 

Read about how International House Gothenburg helps internationals settle into life in Gothenburg

“It was very, very hard at first,” she recalls. “I was building my career as a scientist, and leaving all of that behind – and not being able to resume my career immediately after moving – was heartbreaking.” 

Medical biotechnologist Roberta Luciani, originally from Rieti in central Italy, found herself in the same boat when her partner’s career brought him to Gothenburg in 2021. After years of long-distance, she decided to follow him to Sweden in October 2024.

Joan on the left and Roberta on the right.

“At first, I didn’t know anyone except my boyfriend, so the first few months were difficult,” she says. “I needed some time to get used to the long, dark days, but eventually I started going out more and exploring the city and its beautiful parks.”

A soulful seaside city where residents enjoy a famously high quality of life and nature is never more than a stone’s throw away, Gothenburg is not only one of the world’s most sustainable destinations, it’s also one of the friendliest and most sociable. 

Locals – both homegrown and international – are proud of their city’s lively cultural scene and packed events calendar – driven in part by its universities and fast-growing innovation districts. And with options to live in the heart of the city, by the sea or forest, or out in the archipelago, the region invites people to build the whole-life package they’d always pictured for themselves. 

How Gothenburg helps internationals settle into their new life

Still, the transition to any new country is challenging, and both Joan and Roberta quickly realised that moving as the partner of someone with a job can be exciting, disorientating, and lonely all at once. 

“I’ve faced many challenges, but the hardest one has been finding a job,” says Roberta. “I don’t speak Swedish, and learning a new language takes time – it can take years to reach a level where you can compete with native speakers for positions.”

Gothenburg. Photo credit: House of Vision/Göteborg & Co

A ready-made community

While Gothenburg is well known for its warmth, international-mindedness, and community spirit, finding your footing in any new country is rarely straightforward. 

A major turning point for both women came when they discovered International House Gothenburg, a vibrant meeting place offering information, guidance, activities, and community-building for international newcomers – all free of charge.

Having discovered International House Gothenburg through a colleague of her partner, Roberta was soon invited to join the International Partners Programme, an initiative designed to support international families as they settle into life in Gothenburg. “It was such a relief to find a place where I could feel understood, supported by wonderful people who were going through the same experience as me. Participating in the programme has been an incredibly positive experience,” she says.

How the Gothenburg region is creating a sustainable future

Joan had an equally good experience of her own. “It was the best and only support I received without even asking,” she says. “Everyone was warm and welcoming – the most warmth I’ve felt in a year outside my home in Sweden.” 

Newcomers and staff share a moment during a creativity morning at International House Gothenburg.

Beyond the practical sessions on Swedish business culture and workplace rights, the programme also offered site visits to AstraZeneca, GoCo Health Innovation City, and Gothenburg’s battery education centre. 

Joan found the sessions both practical and confidence-building. That confidence, combined with new contacts and a clearer understanding of the Swedish job market, helped her to land the job she’d been longing for. Today, she works as an Associate Researcher at the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at the University of Gothenburg – a role she secured after months of perseverance. 

In fact, 70 per cent of the participants who took part in the pilot programme have since found work, begun an internship, started an education programme, or set up a business.

Swedish values in action

Joan and Roberta’s experiences reflect something essential about Gothenburg: at its core, this compact yet culturally-rich city is shaped by international people. 

Hear more stories with the How I settled in West Sweden podcast

Participants and coordinators of the International Partners Programme at International House Gothenburg.

While the early months of any relocation are challenging, both found that Gothenburg’s gentle pace, friendly atmosphere, and openness helped them feel more at home over time. “Life here is less hectic compared to the Italian lifestyle, which makes for a better quality of life,” says Roberta.

Sweden’s core values – equality, sustainability, democracy, and an emphasis on family life – are evident in every layer of life in the city. It’s one of the best places in the world to raise a family, with generous parental leave, excellent childcare, strong social support systems, and a culture that actively advocates work-life balance. 

For Roberta, the expatriate experience has had its ups and downs. She’s still searching for the right role, but she’s hopeful – and Gothenburg’s warm, international community has played a big part in that. “I believe Gothenburg can offer a lot in my field, but what I really need is a chance. My journey is still ongoing, but I remain optimistic about the future and motivated to keep exploring opportunities and building meaningful connections.”

With Joan’s career back on track, Gothenburg’s “peaceful and supportive environment” allows her to consider her next steps. “I see a lot of career development possibilities for both me and my partner, and the chance to grow peacefully. The family benefits, generous vacation days, childcare, supportive environment, clear regulations, and proactive government all make me excited about our future here."