Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways To Japa will speak to real people and explore the infinite number of reasons and paths they use to get to Japa
Chika has experienced life in Nigeria, Ghana and the UK, but Sweden is where she is choosing to call home. In this story, she shares how she moved to Sweden with a Schengen visa and ended up staying there permanently to enjoy perks like free education and healthcare.
When did you leave Nigeria, and where do you currently live?
I left Nigeria in 2009 and moved to Ghana because my stepmother and brothers lived there, but I currently live in Sweden.
When did you move to Sweden?
I moved to Sweden two years ago.
Why Sweden?
I attended the London College of Fashion, so I had a solid idea of what it’s like to live in the UK. Studying there made me realise that the UK wasn’t for me, so I searched for other countries to relocate to. I considered European countries with great taxing systems, great housing options and respect for immigrants. That’s how Sweden came into the picture.
What ticked you off about the UK?
Times have changed, but then, there were lots of gang activities around the country that made me feel uncomfortable. There was also an apparent segregation in the UK. It’s almost as if you either had to be Indian or Jamaican to be respected as an immigrant. I was also depressed there because of the system.
I’m so sorry you had to experience that. So, how did the move to Sweden happen?
I was very intentional about the kind of country I wanted to move to, so I didn’t even mind paying an immigration lawyer who charged around ₦4.5 million to stay on a Zoom call with me for two hours. The lawyer was very helpful and had a solid understanding of how the system works. She made me understand that I could come in with a Schengen visa because the Swedish immigration system is very friendly.
I wasn’t open to moving through the student route at that point, so I took the lawyer’s advice and went in as a tourist using the Schengen visa. But I had a plan to get a job before my 180-day stay expired. Having a good understanding of Swedish increases chances of getting good-paying jobs (as high as to 5,000 to 6000 euros), and I was able to learn it.
Can you walk me through the process of getting the Schengen visa?
The Schengen visa gives you visa-free access to 30 countries in Europe. I applied for the visa myself because it is very straightforward. I don’t advise people to give their money to agents. Everything that concerns the Schengen visa can be done online. At the time I applied for mine, it didn’t cost more than ₦500,000 to pay the visa fee.
After you pay the visa fee, you’ll be required to fill out the application form and provide some documents like your bank statement, tax clearance, employment contract, passport, among others. The documents you’ll be asked to submit can differ based on your status (whether you are employed or self-employed). It didn’t take more than three days to hear their decision, and I didn’t spend so much. But if you go through an agent, you might spend up to ₦5 million for the same thing I spent less than ₦500,000 on.
What are your tips for getting this visa?
Always be truthful; don’t try to manipulate your documents. The people who review your application are professionals, and they can tell when something isn’t right.
Also, don’t be lazy with your research. Figure out everything you can about the country you’d like to visit. You usually won’t be required to attend a physical interview, but sometimes, you might. For example, I included that I could speak Swedish in my application, and they sent me an invitation for a physical interview. I was spoken to in Swedish during my interview, and I communicated with the interviewers in Swedish too. That’s one of the things they found interesting about my application. The reason why most people get rejected is that they use agents who lie on their behalf. Honesty and thorough research play a big role in getting this type of visa.
How exactly were you able to stay back with the Schengen visa?
Remember how I said I contacted a lawyer? She walked me through it. The process should start 30 days before your tourist stay expires. To start, you can go to the Swedish immigration office and tell them you want to extend your stay. Most of the time, they only want to know why. In my case, I told them that my ability to speak Swedish had opened me up to many lucrative job opportunities and that I had also fallen in love with the country. It’s a one-on-one conversation, so there’s no reason to lie.
Another thing I mentioned is that my children were benefiting from Sweden’s free education and healthcare. Their immigration system is very flexible, so most of the time, they will approve your stay.
There’s free education in Sweden?
Yes, education is free here at all levels. Here is how the system works: Tax is 50% of your salary if you stay in the capital city, but it is lower in some locations. Because the taxes are so high, the government makes education free even to the university level. There might be a few charges here and there, but it’s nothing major. Sweden offers world-class education. But it’s very important that you’re able to speak or learn their language.
How easy is it to learn the language?
It’s not that difficult if your goal isn’t to speak like a native. I teach people Swedish– I offer group classes where people can learn with other beginners. I also host private coaching classes for people across the world, from beginner to intermediate level.
How many months does it typically take to learn the language?
The beginner’s level takes eight weeks. The intermediate level also lasts for eight weeks. In five months, you should be able to converse in Swedish. The language isn’t as complex as languages like French, which makes it easier to learn.
Has living in Sweden improved your quality of life?
Absolutely. Every aspect of my life has changed because life is peaceful and sane here. They literally have no bad words in their vocabulary. You can’t insult people or be rude to them for no reason. You don’t have the power to command anybody.
They are very Christ-like and they accept everybody regardless of sexuality, religion, race or class. The most interesting part is that women have so much power in Sweden. If you are a feminist, you’ll love it here. We also have a good number of Nigerians here, especially in the capital.
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in Sweden?
I can’t put a number to it, but if I must, I’d say 1000/10.
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