Six things to think about if you are moving to Sweden

So, you got a job in Sweden or you have been accepted to a study program and you got your accommodation ready, What’s next? In this blog post, we will dive a bit deeper into the practical stuff you will need to get fixed before or upon arriving in Sweden.

If you are staying in Sweden for more than a year, you will be eligible to get a Swedish identity number (personal number), which will enable you to open a Swedish bank account, a Swedish ID card, and use Swish (a commonly-used app-based payment method in Sweden), which will basically make your life a lot easier. If you’re staying in Sweden for less than 12 months, we will also gather here some tips and advice to make your life not as hard as it could get.

1. Make sure your bank account is enabled for Swedish kronor transactions

If you are staying for less than a year in Sweden, you will be heavily dependent on your home country’s bank account during the whole period of your stay in Sweden. Even If you are staying for more than a year, you will need your original country’s bank account for a month or two until you get everything fixed in Sweden. So, in either case, make sure you activate Swedish kronor as a currency on your bank account, at least for your early days in Sweden until you get a Swedish bank account. Contact your bank before you arrive to Sweden and make sure your account can handle Swedish transactions.

Register in the Swedish Population Register

If you are staying in Sweden for 12 months or more, you need to register in the Swedish population register. This means you will be registered as resident in Sweden. The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) will record details such as your name, address, date of birth and civil status. Once you are registered as resident in Sweden, you will receive a Swedish personal identity number. The Swedish Tax Agency decides whether or not you meet the registration requirements. In order to make your visit to the Swedish Tax Agency as efficient as possible, create an application here, print it and bring it with you on your visit, in addition to the relevant documents here. In order to find the nearest office to where you live, check this link and click on the map to find the nearest office to you.

Swedish personal number: what is it and how do you apply for it?

Your personal number is the Swedish national identification number and it’s your gate to being connected in Sweden and it unlocks many possibilities for you. The personal identity number is composed of your date of birth followed by a 4-digit number in the format: YYYYMMDD-XXXX.

Using your personal number, you will be able to get a Swedish ID card, receive free healthcare, open a bank account, enroll in free Swedish courses (called SFI), have a monthly gym membership, or join an insurance plan.

So, if you are staying in Sweden for more than 12 months, make sure to visit the Swedish Tax Agency  as early as possible to both register in the Swedish population register and to also get your personal number. You will fill a few forms, and in 2-4 weeks, you will get your personal number by post. They will then ask you to visit the Swedish Tax Agency again to get your Swedish ID card.

Get a Swedish Identification Card

When you get a positive decision from the Swedish Tax Agency that you have been accepted for a personal number, it’s time for you to get your Swedish ID card. Tax Agency ID card is an approved form of identification within Sweden. You can use the ID card as proof of your age and identity at places such as pharmacies, banks or even in stores. If you are above 18 years, the conditions for obtaining a Swedish ID card are:

• You must be registered as living in Sweden.
• You must have paid the application fee of SEK 400 and be able to present a receipt or a bank statement with your ID-number as reference. So, don’t forget to bring this as a proof of payment when visit the Swedish Tax Agency office.
• Bring with you an approved identification document (e.g. passport) or valid residence permit in order to prove your identity.

It’s important to know that not all Swedish Tax Agency offices issue ID cards and you must visit one of our offices in person to be able to apply for an ID card. If you paid for the application online, you can either print the confirmation and bring it with you, or show it electronically at the appointment. Here’s where you book an appointment and where you can also see the list of offices that issue the ID card.

SEB
Nordea
Handelsbanken
Swedbank

Get BankID

Swedish BankID is a personal and easy method of secure electronic identification where you can identify yourself at both companies and authorities, log in to e-services and sign contracts. If you have a personal number, you can obtain BankID through your bank. BankID also has an app, which you can use on the phone, which is quite convenient. You can read more and a watch a video here on how to activate BankID.

Now, it’s time for you to enjoy your life in Sweden.

Last but not least, if you're ever looking for accommodation or a roommate in Sweden, check out Hemavi. Using its algorithm, Hemavi matches roommates based on their interests and lifestyle to make sure compatible roommates end up living together.