Begin your new life in Sweden
Last updated: 19 6 2019
Read here about what you need to do and what public authorities you need to contact when you have been granted a residence permit.
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Notification of your move to Sweden
Once you have moved to Sweden you have to be registered in the Swedish population register. In order to be registered there you first have to notify the authorities that you have moved to Sweden. You do that by going to the Tax Agency's local service centre together with all the members of your family who have moved to Sweden (including children).
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Folkbokföring (Population register)
Everyone who lives in Sweden is registered in the population register, which maintains data on who lives in Sweden and where.
Once you have notified the Tax Agency of your move to Sweden, you have to get registered in the population register. You do that by going to the Tax Agency's local service centre. Everyone in your family that is moving to Sweden has to accompany you, including the children. When the Tax Agency has registered you and your family, a letter with your personal identity numbers will be sent to the address you specified as your new home.
You need to take the following with you to the Tax Agency's service centre:
- Passport
- Swedish residence permit
- A document certifying your civil status
- Birth certificates for your children, if you have any
- Address
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Personnummer (Personal identity number)
Contact the Tax Agency to be issued a personal identity number. Your personal identity number will be needed in order for you to be able to:
- Receive various payments from Försäkringskassan.
- Open a bank account.
- Apply for an ID document.
- Apply for an e-ID.
- Participate in activities in Arbetsförmedlingen's introduction programme.
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Id-kort (ID card)
ID is short for identity card. You use your ID card to prove your age and your identity, for example when you buy medication in a pharmacy, use a bank card to pay in a shop, or when taking care of bank business. You can apply for an ID card at some Tax Agency service centres.
Before you visit a Tax Agency service centre to apply for an ID card, you have to:
- Be registered in the Swedish population register
- Be at least 13 years old
- Have paid the application fee of SEK 400 and be able to prove your payment with a receipt or an extract from your bank account
- Be able to prove your identity. Take an approved identity document (such as your passport) or a valid residence permit with you
- Have your custodians' approval (if you are under 18).
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Getting a bank account
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E-legitimation (E-ID)
An e-ID is an electronic proof of identity that you use online. You can use the same e-ID for many services on the internet regardless of which government agency, municipality or company is providing the service (such as Arbetsförmedlingen or the Tax Agency).
You can get a BankID and a Mobile BankID from the bank where you have an account.
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Visit Arbetsförmedlingen
It is important that you contact Arbetsförmedlingen as soon as possible after you have received a decision on your residence permit. Arbetsförmedlingen will determine if you are eligible to participate in the introduction programme. Remember to take the decision you received from the Migration Agency with you. Only after that can you apply for an introduction benefit from Försäkringskassan and begin doing activities to prepare you for a job or studies.
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Benefits from Försäkringskassan
Once you have been registered with Arbetsförmedlingen for the introduction programme you can apply for benefits from Försäkringskassan. You apply for one month at a time, retroactively.
