Alison Gerber, an American living in Sweden, recently posted a lengthy Twitter thread about what life is like in the small country's "socialist nanny-state hellscape."That is, if a hellscape includes top-notch healthcare, low (or non-existent) childcare costs, and rapid service to deliver it all. The thread, published yesterday, has gone viralespecially among FOMO-filled Americans."I don't remember anything at all about the costs," Gerber wroteof her experience giving birth in a Swedish hospital, "because there were none, basically. Mothers' and children's' health care is free. We did have to pay for gas to get to that faraway hippy hospital, so that's probably like $40 round trip."She also describes the free, open-access facilities filled with kids' toys, books, and trained staff that parents and their children can visit together, and the $125 child allowance she gets in her bank account each month.True to Gerber's descriptions, the idyllic land boasts some of the happiest people on earth, thanks to the country's egalitarian values, paid parental leave policies, single-payer healthcare system, and breathtaking sceneryall of which leads thousands of people to immigrate each year.Applying for citizenship requires you to live in the country for five years and have a "proven" identitywhich also means you'd have to adjust to wintertime darkness.For those who weren't born there, here's how you become a Swede.SEE ALSO:6 ways hobbies can enhance your careerBe at least 18 years old ' unless you know someone.While the age requirements are hard and fast for adult citizenship, kids are given some leeway.Parents of kids under 12 years old can apply for their child's citizenship as long as the parent is already a Swedish citizen. Kids over 12 must sign a consent form saying they wantto become a citizen.Once a child reaches 15 years old, they have to show they've been living in Sweden for at least three consecutive years "and have conducted themselves well," according to Sweden's immigration office.Be able to prove your identity.A passport or similar document with an accompanying photo is fine.Alternatively, a relative or loved one can vouch for your identity, provided they're already a Swedish citizen. According to the immigration office,for a loved one to prove your identity, the two of you must have lived together before moving to Sweden."You must have lived together for such a period," the requirements read, "that your spouse has knowledge of your background and life story so that your identity can be attested to without doubt."Have a permanent residence in Sweden.If you're planning on spending more than 90 days in Swedenfor work, studying, or starting a businessyou have to submit an application for a residence permit.This is what you'll eventually need to become a citizen.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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