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You are a citizen of a non-EU or a non-EEA country or stateless

If you are a citizen from a non-EU or a non-EEA country, or if you are stateless, and intend to live in Sweden for one year or more, you are generally required to be registered in the Swedish Population Register.

In this video, we have gathered important information about moving to Sweden.

In order to be registered in the Swedish Population Register (folkbokförd) you first need to have a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd) in Sweden which is valid for at least one year.

Applying for a residence permit

If you do not have a residence permit you must contact the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) for more information about how to apply for a Swedish residence permit.

More information at the Swedish Migration Agency’s website External link, opens in new window.

How to prepare for your visit

To ensure that your visit to a Swedish state service centre goes as quickly and smoothly as possible, we recommend using our “Moving to Sweden” e-service beforehand. This applies whether you are moving to Sweden alone or with a partner and/or children. The e-service is a digital notification available in several languages: English, Arabic, Dari, Pashto and Swedish.

During the notification process, the e-service will suggest which documents you should bring with you to a service centre. Please note that the Swedish Tax Agency may request additional information and documents. Once you have completed all the steps in the e-service, please print out your notification and bring it with you to a service centre along with the other required documents.

The notification process (film)

The film shows how to fill in the application. It is in English with subtitles.

Use our service

Prepare for your visit to the service centre by using our “Moving to Sweden” service beforehand.

Moving to Sweden External link.

Bring the following documents

You need to bring the following documents when you visit one of our service offices (servicekontor):

Passport.

Your Swedish Residence permit card.

Documents showing your civil status, e.g., marriage certificate.

If you are unmarried, you do not need to show your civil status.

Civil status

The following civil statuses exist:

unmarried
married or a registered partner
widow or widower
divorced.

Birth certificate, if you have children.

Bring original documents

Remember that all documents verifying your civil status or your relationships must be the original documents. You can also bring certified copies.

Certified means that someone has attested that the copy conforms to the original document. Another person must sign the copy, write his or her name in block capitals and write their telephone number.

To be registered

In order to be registered in the Swedish Population Register you need to notify the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) that you are moving to Sweden. Do this by visiting one of our service offices (servicekontor). When you visit the office all members of your family who are moving to Sweden must accompany you, including the children.

When the Swedish Tax Agency has registered you and your family, you will receive your personal identity numbers (personnummer).

Find your nearest service office (in Swedish)

The permit sticker in passports expired 20 May 2015

If you had a residence permit sticker in your passport as proof of your residence permit in Sweden, it expired 20 May 2015. If you have a permit sticker in your passport you need to book an appointment at the Swedish Migration Agency to replace the sticker with a residence permit card.

After 20 May 2015 it will no longer be possible to travel in and out of the Schengen area without a residence permit card.

Read more about residence permit cards at the Swedish Migration Agency’s website External link, opens in new window.

Residence permit from another EU or EEA country

If you have a foreign residence permit which has been issued by another EU or EEA country, you need to apply for a Swedish residence permit from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).

More information at the Swedish Migration Agency’s website External link, opens in new window.

If you have income from another country

Please remember that when you move to Sweden and become registered in the Swedish Population Register, you may also be obliged to pay tax in Sweden on income that you receive from another country. Please contact the Swedish Tax Agency if you have such income.

Children under 18

If a child under the age of 18 is planning to move to Sweden, all the guardians need to fill out an application. If one of the guardians is abroad, he or she needs to provide written consent for the move to Sweden. Children over the age of 16 can fill out their own application without their guardians’ written consent.

Family members from outside of EU or EES

The family members who are moving with you and who are citizens of a country outside of the EU or EES are also required to have a residence permit.

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