Registration of foreign companies in Sweden

Registration of foreign companies in Sweden (RUFS) External link.

Before you start

In this chapter, you can see what information, documents and certificates you need to have available when using the e-service.

Permanent establishment or not?

Before you leave information about registering your company you need to make an evaluation whether the company manages its business from a permanent establishment in Sweden or not. You can read more about what it means to have a permanent establishment here.

• Permanent establishment or not

If you are a sole trader

Mandatory

Passport or national identity card. If you are a citizen outside of EU, you also need to attach a document proving your right to stay in Sweden.

If you need a company registration number

Mandatory

Excerpt from records proving the existence of the legal person

• For example, an excerpt from the country’s official register of companies, including the company’s foreign identity, address, signatory and business enterprise.

If you are registering for approval for F-tax

Mandatory

Documents proving freedom of debt

• If you are representing a legal person, you need to prove that the company is debt free in the country where the business was founded
• As a sole trader, you need to prove that you are debt free in the country you have lived in during the past two years.
• You order the documents from correct authority, for example the tax agency or similar authority.
• Certificates can be at the most three months old.

Other documents

Documents showing the ownership structure if the company is a closely held company.

• Generally, a closely held company is a limited company or cooperative association owned by a maximum of four people. They own stocks together, corresponding more than half of the votes in the company.
• An example of wanted documents could be share registers or an organization chart.

Documents proving the debt freedom for every owner with influence in the closely held company

• The document shall prove that the owner does not have any tax debts or fee debts.
• Legal persons need to be free of tax debt in the country where the company was founded, natural persons in the country where they have stayed during the past two years.
• You order the document from your local authority, for example the tax agency or similar authority.
• Certificates can be at the most three months old.

If you want to register for value added tax (VAT)

You need to attach one of the following

• Documents proving the reason for wanting to be registered for VAT, for example custom documents or investments for the operation in Sweden.
  - Register for VAT (in Swedish)

If you want to be registered as a Swedish employer

Attachment of A1 or E101 certificate showing in what country every posting personnel have their social security.

• Here you will find information about where to turn to receive an A1 certificate within the EU:

• Institutions responsible for issuing the portable document A1 External link, opens in new window.

• You can attach a maximum of ten attachments in the e-service. If you have more than ten posting personnel, you do not need to attach a certificate for every personnel.

The Swedish Tax Agency can demand a completion of information needed to finish the registration. In that case, we may contact you for further information.