Your first days in Sweden
When you first arrive in Sweden you are required to register with certain authorities. You can follow this simple to-do list in the order below:
At the Swedish Tax Agency:
1. Register
2. Get a personal identity number
3. Apply for an identity card
At the bank:
4. Set up a bank account
At the Swedish Social Insurance Agency:
5. Register
First you need to register at the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). This process is known as population registration (folkbokföring). Everyone living in Sweden must be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency to be entered into the system as a tax-paying resident. Registering also allows you to vote in your local municipality and assures that you pay the right amount of tax and insurance premiums.
When you visit the Swedish Tax Agency for the first time, bring your valid national passport of origin, as well as passports or identity documents for family members joining you in Sweden. If you are divorced, you need a certificate of that, along with birth certificates for children joining you in Sweden.
You have to report to the Swedish Tax Agency if you change your address, if you change your name and if you get married or divorced. If you move from Sweden, you must cancel your registration.
For more information about how to register in Sweden upon arrival download the brochure "People registration in Sweden" (pdf)
For more information about leaving Sweden download the brochure "Moving from Sweden" (pdf)
After registering with the Swedish Tax Agency, you will get a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer). Everyone registered in Sweden has a personal identity number, and you need one before you can become part of the Swedish system. This number is unique to each individual, is based on your date of birth, and follows you throughout your life. It is used for identification in many everyday situations, from paying for goods and services to signing an apartment contract.
The only information that can be read from a personal identity number is date of birth and sex. The sex is shown by the second last number in the personal identity number, which is odd for men and even for women.
Once you have received a personal identity number, you can apply for a Swedish identity (ID) card. The Swedish ID card is the primary form of identification in Sweden and is necessary for everyday activities such as using your credit card or picking up a package. A national passport is generally not accepted as a legitimate form of identification.
Certain Swedish Tax Agency offices issue ID cards, but you will need someone who is already registered with a Swedish ID card to come with you to verify your identity.
Please note that the ID card may not be used in place of a passport when traveling to other countries.
Information about ID cards at the Swedish Tax Agency
You will need a Swedish bank account to receive your salary. All Swedish banks offer secure online banking, so internet banking is very popular in Sweden. Many people prefer to pay their bills, buy and sell stocks and manage their finances online. Banks will also help you apply for debit and credit cards as well as set up services such as automatic bill payments.
Credit and debit cards are common in Sweden. Cards are accepted everywhere and can be used even for the smallest of amounts.
There are several banks in Sweden. The four largest are Nordea, Swedbank, SEB and Handelsbanken.
Being registered in Sweden means that you are included in the Swedish social welfare system and have rights to a range of insurance payments. Some of the benefits are based on residency in Sweden, others on working in Sweden. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) determines the amount of insurance payment you receive, so you must register with them in order to receive any benefits.
You also need to inform the Swedish Social Insurance Agency if you move from Sweden; then you are still entitled to collect the benefits you have earned in Sweden later in life.
Obligations as a resident
As a Swedish resident, it is important to be accurate in your reporting. All of the above organizations cooperate with one another and share information, such as your income, leave from work, marital status or your address. Supplying inaccurate information or failing to inform any of the organizations of changes to your personal situation is subject to penalties.