What you need to do immediately

Last updated: 10/6-2025

Once you have received your residence permit you will need to contact various government agencies to begin your life in Sweden. On this page, you will find a list of what you need to do as soon as you receive your residence permit.

Five things to do when you receive your residence permit

  • Notify the Swedish Tax Agency of your move to Sweden and get a personal identity number
  • Apply for an ID card from the Swedish Tax Agency
  • Register on the Swedish Public Employment Service’s introduction programme
  • Become a customer of a Swedish bank and get a debit card
  • Apply for e-ID so you can identify yourself online
A man in front of the entrance to Statens servicecenter (the National Government Service Centre).

Notify the Swedish Tax Agency of your move and get a personal identity number

The first thing you need to do once your residence permit arrives is to notify the Swedish Tax Agency so that you can be registered in the Swedish Population Register. You will then be issued with a personal identity number.

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En hand håller i en mobiltelefon. I bakgrunden syns en dator.

When you receive your personal identity number

Once you are registered in the Swedish Population Register and have a Swedish personal identity number, you can apply for a Swedish ID card, bank account and e-ID, and use the Swish payment app.

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A woman working on a building site.

Register on the introduction programme

Once you have your residence permit, you can participate in the Swedish Public Employment Service’s introduction programme.

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Questions and answers

Yes, when you move to Sweden you must be registered in the Swedish Population Register. It is a criminal offence to avoid registration.

Words and terminology explained

Residence permits

A residence permit means that the Swedish Migration Agency has granted your application to live in Sweden.

Swedish Population Register

The Swedish Population Register is a list of everyone registered as a resident of Sweden. Everyone who is registered in the Swedish Population Register is issued with a personal identity number. The Swedish Tax Agency is responsible for the Swedish Population Register. Being registered in the Swedish Population Register is not the same thing as having a residence permit.

What you need to do immediately