Start here - step by step
People who are new in Sweden will need to have contact with various public authorities.
The first thing you must do is to register as a resident in Sweden by joining the Swedish Population Register. You must do this in order to receive your personal identity number. You do not need to have registered or to have received your personal identity number in order to contact the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).
Register in the Swedish Population Register and obtain an ID card from the Swedish Tax Agency
The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) can register you in the Swedish Population Register and issue you with a personal identity number. They can also issue ID cards.
Register in the Swedish Population Register
When you move to Sweden, it is important that you are included in the Swedish Population Register. You must do this in order to receive your personal identity number. Many of the rights and obligations that apply to Swedish residents depend on you having been registered in the Population Register and on where you are registered as living. For example, you must be registered as living in Malmö in order to study SFI (Swedish language course for immigrants) in Malmö.
You must be registrered as living at the adress where you actually live. If you move to a new address, you must inform the Swedish Tax Agency.
In order to register in the Swedish Population Register, bring the following to the Swedish Tax Agency:
- Passport
- Documents showing that you have a residence permit or the right of residence
- Marriage certificate (if you are married)
- Birth certificate for every child (if you have children)
Obtain Swedish ID or an ID card
You must have a form of Swedish ID in order to prove your identity. This can be required in many different situations, such as when visiting the bank or attending a doctor’s appointment. Your Swedish personal identity number is stated on official Swedish forms of ID. It is often important that you are able to present this information.
Valid forms of ID could include a Swedish driving licence or an official identity card (ID card). You can obtain an ID card from the Swedish Tax Agency. To apply for an ID card, you must make an appointment with the Swedish Tax Agency.
Bear in mind that
- you must be registered in the Swedish Population Register before you can apply for an ID card
- you must pay an application fee before attending your appointment with The Swedish Tax Agency.
Bring the following to the Swedish Tax Agency if you want to obtain an ID card:
- Passport and documents that show that you have a residence permit or the right of residence
- A receipt showing that you have paid the application fee for an ID card
After you have received your personal identity number
Register at the Social Insurance Agency
The Social Insurance Agency is a public authority that pays money to people in a variety of situations. If you are sick, for example, you can apply to receive sickness benefit.
Be aware that you are not automatically entitled to receive benefits just because you apply for them. Benefits are only issued to those who fulfil certain requirements. You must also have been issued with your personal identity number in order to apply.
Bring the following in order to register at the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan):
- A copy of written confirmation of the decision concerning your application for a residence permit
- Identification/ID-card
Register as a job-seeker or with the introduction programme at Sweden’s Public Employment Service
At Sweden’s Public Employment Service, you can get information about vacant positions.
Open a bank account, obtain digital identification and get the Swish app
Driving licence
Renew your residence permit, reunite with your family, or apply for citizenship at the Swedish Migration Agency
The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) is the public authority that assesses applications from people who wish to live in Sweden, those who wish to visit Sweden, those who wish to apply for Swedish citizenship and those seeking protection from persecution.
The Swedish Migration Agency can help you with the following:
- renew your residence permit
- register your right of residence
- obtain Swedish citizenship
- obtain travel documents
- obtain an alien’s passport
- extend your visitor’s permit