Protected identity
If you have been subjected to violence or threats, you are eligible for protected identity. If this applies to you, the Swedish Tax Agency will protect your population data details, such as your name and address. There are three types of protection. Your circumstances will determine which type of protection you are eligible for.
What is protected identity?
There are three types of protected identity:
- Protected Population Register data, which means you can be registered at city/town other than where you currently live.
- Confidentiality marking, which alerts government agencies to the need for a thorough confidentiality assessment before disclosing your personal data.
- New identity details, which means you are given a new name and personal identity number.
Protected Population Register data – granted by the Swedish Tax Agency
You can be granted protected Population Register data if you are at risk of being subjected to crime, persecution or serious harassment. This is a comprehensive protection measure, and you will normally have to move to a new address. You must also take care not to disclose your personal data.
You may be eligible for protected Population Register data if:
- you have been – or are at risk of being – subjected to violence, threats or similar forms of aggression
- a restraining order would not give you sufficient protection
- you have testified as a witness in connection with a serious crime
The Swedish Tax Agency will assess the circumstances in each individual case. If you cannot be granted protected Population Register data, you might still be eligible for confidentiality marking.
Here’s what happens when you are granted protected Population Register data
- You will either remain registered in the municipality from which you have moved away, or be registered in another municipality with which you have had no connection.
- Your previous address details will be deleted from the Swedish Population Register. These details will then be replaced by a Swedish Tax Agency postal address. From then on, we will forward your post to you.
- Your new address will not be recorded in the Swedish Population Register, which means that it will not be shared with other government agencies or the rest of society.
- We will notify other government agencies and public services (including healthcare services, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and the municipality where you live) that you have protected Population Register data.
If you have applied for protected Population Register data
When we receive your application, we check that you meet the requirements for protected Population Register data. If you do, a temporary confidentiality marking will be registered for you, and this will remain in place while we investigate your case. We will notify you about this.
The Swedish Tax Agency has the right to contact other government agencies (such as the Swedish Police or the Social Welfare Board) that can provide information relevant to your case. These government agencies may also comment on information that you have provided, and on the seriousness of the threat in question. The Swedish Tax Agency will then make an overall assessment based on all the documentation we have received.
When the Swedish Tax Agency has reached a decision on protected Population Register data, we will send you a notification letter. As a rule, we grant protected Population Register data for an unlimited time. However, we may grant it for a limited period if there are specific reasons for doing this.
Application: protected Population Register data (form SKV 7706, in Swedish)
Confidentiality marking – granted by the Swedish Tax Agency
Confidentiality marking makes it more difficult for others to access your personal data in the Swedish Population Register. Confidentiality marking applies to all of your personal data.
A confidentiality marking alerts the Swedish Tax Agency and other government agencies to their need to carry out a thorough confidentiality assessment before disclosing your personal data.
Who can be granted confidentiality marking?
You qualify for confidentiality marking if the disclosure of your personal data would make you or a close relative vulnerable, or put you at risk of harm. You can also be granted confidentiality marking as a preventive measure, for example if:
- your professional role puts you in a vulnerable position
- you are going to testify in court
You do not need to move if you are granted confidentiality marking as a preventive measure.
You cannot be granted confidentiality marking because you want to be anonymous on the internet or have been subject to identity theft.
New identity details – granted by the Swedish Police
You are eligible for new identity details if you are at risk of serious crime involving a threat to your life, health or freedom. This means you will be given new identity details, such as a new name and personal identity number. You apply to the Swedish Police for new identity details.
Applying for protected identity
There are several things you need to do before applying for protected identity.
Here’s when is it not possible to grant you protected identity
Here’s when it is not possible to grant you protected Population Register data
You are not eligible for protected Population Register data if you cannot make your own contribution to the effectiveness of this protection. This is the case if, for example, you:
- have no current address
- are living at an address that is – or might be – known to the person threatening you
- have not moved far enough away
- commit a crime
- share your personal information on social media
- cannot provide any evidence of your need for protection.
You cannot be granted protected Population Register data if you have been subject to identity theft, or because you want to reduce your online exposure.
The Swedish Tax Agency places high demands on you when it comes to your engagement in ensuring the effectiveness of this protection. You might have to change workplaces, preschools or schools.
If you cannot be granted protected Population Register data, you might still be eligible for confidentiality marking. The Swedish Tax Agency will assess the circumstances in each individual case.
Here’s when it’s not possible to grant you confidentiality marking
You would not meet the confidentiality marking eligibility requirements if you:
- have no current address
- are living at an address that is – or might be – known to the person threatening you
- have not moved far enough away
- have been subject to identity theft
- want to reduce your online exposure.
Here’s how to limit exposure of your personal data on the internet
You are entitled to contact the businesses that process your personal data and ask them to erase it. This applies if you cancel your gym membership, for example.
Right to erasure (the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection)
If your personal data has been published online, contact the business in question directly. In some cases, you might need to identify yourself using your Swedish BankID.
If you want a secret phone number, contact your service provider.
Your protected identity can be withdrawn in the following circumstances
- Your address is not up to date and your post cannot be delivered.
- The police provide us with information indicating that protection should be withdrawn.
- you no longer need protected identity – for example, because you have changed jobs, or because the person who subjected you to risk has died.
For public-sector organisations
Specific information for public-sector organisations is available here:
Guidelines on how to handle protected personal data (in Swedish)