How do I get a Swedish personal identification number?

If you are staying in Sweden for longer than one year you will have to register for residency in Sweden. Then you will automatically get a Swedish identity number (personnummer) that will make your everyday life in Sweden easier.

If you are admitted to a study programme that will last longer than 12 months, you are usually required to be listed in the Swedish Population Register at the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). This means that you will be registered as a resident in Sweden and you will be able to get home insurance and get into the Swedish Health care system among many other things.

What documents are required for person number in Sweden?

Quite a few inspirational people believe “It’s about the journey, not the destination” and that may be true in many cases. However, and I am sorry to tell you, this post is about the destination, because you want to get a personal number and an ID, am I right? I will guide you through the application process.

Who is Skatteverket? What is a Swedish personnummer? Do I really need that number? Why would I want to have a Swedish ID?

And well, there may be even more questions running through your head. Before we start with the step by step guide, I will clarify some of them.

Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency) is a government agency in Sweden. Its main tasks include registering tax duties and collecting national taxes, as well as the administering the population register, which is called “folkbokföringsregister”. Its headquarter is located in the Solna municipality, close to Stockholm, and the agency has approximately 100 offices across Sweden. If you want to know about other Swedish agencies that are important and useful to know, check out Anita’s article about 4 other important agencies apart from Skatteverket.

How long does it take to get personal number in Sweden?

The personal identity number is composed of your date of birth followed by a 4-digit number in the format: YYYYMMDD-XXXX.

You can get a Swedish personal identity number when you register in the Swedish population register through the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). The personal identity number is widely used throughout your daily life, whether it is for memberships and subscriptions, opening a bank account, joining an insurance plan. It will enable you to get the same healthcare as Swedish citizens. You will also need that number to apply for a Swedish ID-card later on at the Tax Agency.

What is the difference between Swedish Social Security number and personal number?

Swedish social security number or national identification number (Swedish: personnummer) is usually formatted like this:

All organisations and companies have organisation numbers (Swedish: organisationsnummer) that are in the following format and looks like Swedish SSN:

Can you work in Sweden without personal number?

Citizens of the EU/EEA do not need to apply for a Swedish work permit, as they have right of residence in Sweden. If you are not from an EU/EEA country, however, you will need to apply for a work permit before coming to Sweden to work. A work permit entitles you to live and work in Sweden.

Can I open a bank account in Sweden without Personnummer?

EU/EEA citizens living in the EU/EEA are entitled to a basic current account, even if they are not resident in Sweden. It is against the law to reject customers on the grounds of not having a Swedish address or a Swedish personal identity number.

In addition to the account, you are also entitled to a debit card (betalkort) for payments and withdrawals and to enable you to make online payments. These are the payment services normally available in your Internet bank. It enables you as a customer of a bank to withdraw and deposit cash, make payments with a debit card with a balance check, and receive money in the account. Certain banks have commuter accounts for people who commute to work in another Nordic country.

Even if you do not have a Swedish personal identity number or a Swedish address, or if you have a protected identity, you are entitled to open a bank account. The bank must be able to confirm your identity before you can open an account. If the bank cannot confirm your identity, you cannot open a bank account.

Can you open a bank account in Sweden without personnummer?

In Sweden, a bank account for deposits and withdrawals is called a bankkonto. A bankkonto comes with an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) for free money transfers between other Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) accounts. Not all accounts are automatically set up for online banking. For that, you’ll need what’s called a BankID (more on that in a bit). While it won’t cost you to open an account, most Swedish banks charge around €20 a year to “maintain” it. Already have an account in another SEPA country? Consider opening one in Sweden as well since most employers will only send your salary to a Swedish bank account.

If you’re 18 or older, own an EU passport, and have a Swedish address, you are legally allowed to open a bank account in Sweden. Non-EU nationals will need a residence permit on top of that. Bear in mind that these are the minimum requirements. Most banks will also ask for your Swedish personal identity number (personnummer), which you get from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), and some will want proof of employment or study. Finally, you’ll need a BankID, which gives you access to online banking online and mobile payments with Swish, the Swedish mobile payment app. Sign up for this BankID at any physical branch of a bank.

How do I get a SSN in Sweden?

When it was introduced in 1947 it was probably the first of its kind covering the total resident population of a country (the Social Security number in the United States is older by 12 years, but it did not originally cover the whole population). Numbers are issued by the Swedish Tax Agency (Swedish: Skatteverket) as part of the population register (Swedish: Folkbokföring).[1] Until 1967, it had nine digits, and after that 10 digits. This was expanded to 12 digits in 1997 in cases of automated data treatment.[2][3]

The number is used by authorities, by health care, schools and universities (both public-run and private). Also used by banks (needing it by law for tax purposes and mandatory customer identification) and insurance companies (needing it for car liability insurance and for medical travel insurance coordination). Other companies often ask for it in return for a post-paid service, such as a telephone subscription, to be able to check e.g. the person's credit record or address or if needed to perform debt collection.

The link between a person and the identity number is established through the civil registry and through identity documents and secondarily through the widespread use of the number in various contacts with authorities, businesses etc. They are necessary for personal service at banks, authorities, health care and other services which use the personal identity number. Most people are familiar with their full number and those of their children without hesitation. Personal identity numbers of individuals are openly available from the Swedish tax authorities to anyone who asks (over phone, letter, over the desk, but not over the internet), according to the Swedish principle of freedom of information. Redistribution of these numbers using computers is, however, governed by the law of personal details, in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Does Swedish personal number expire?

I'm a Dutch citizen who has previously lived in Sweden for six years, but I have since moved on. The Swedish version of what is called social security number, social insurance number, government service number, or otherwise, is the personnummer. I got a personnummer assigned shortly after arriving and registering in the country. Does this personnummer remain valid for the rest of my life, or is there some expiry? I know that my Canadian social insurance number will expire. What about my Swedish one?

asked Mar 12, 2014 at 21:15

Can I buy a car in Sweden without personal number?

You can purchase car in Sweden. To get a loan you will need to talk to a bank in Sweden to see if you qualify with your financial status. You might talk to your new employer and see if you can have a car supplied by the company for your work instead.

You probably will be able to drive for a while with your present valid driver’s license. If you have one from the EES or EU coutries, there won’t be a problem, but if you have one from the USA, you will eventually need to retake the exam and apply for a Swedish one.

How to open bank account in Sweden without Swedish ID card?

Do you need a BankID in Sweden?

Did you know that BankID was used six billion times in 2021? That's 17 million times a day, or 200 times every second. We are both proud and humbled by the confidence we have gained.

How do I get my SSN online?

We are constantly expanding our online services to give you freedom and control when conducting business with Social Security. Today, you can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification letter, and more – from anywhere and from any of your devices!

You can access many of our online services with a free my Social Security Account.

How long does it take to get Swedish ID card?

Can I work in Sweden without a personal number?

For newcomers in Sweden, navigating the system without a personal number can be a challenging experience. (Photo: Dan Gribbin/Unsplash)

Living without a personal number (personnummer) in Sweden can be challenging, if not impossible. Personal numbers are what link people to government authorities and resources, and when people are ineligible for one, or unable to obtain one, life in Sweden can get a bit complicated.

How do I get a Swedish personal identity number?

How do I apply for a residence card in Sweden?

Family members who are non-EU citizens must apply for a residence card at the Swedish Migration Agency. Should the processing time for your application take longer than promised, we recommend that you contact Solvit, a network in all EU countries that can help with problems connected to your EU rights free of charge.

How long does it take to get a Swedish ID card?

This is the person who can certify your application details. The processing time for a Swedish ID card is around 2 weeks. It may take longer if they need to investigate your application further. You will get a notification by post or by SMS when your card is ready for pick up. The letter will contain your PIN or PUK code for your e-identification.

How do I get a Swedish personal identity number?

You can get a Swedish personal identity number when you register in the Swedish population register through the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). The personal identity number is widely used throughout your daily life, whether it is for memberships and subscriptions, opening a bank account, joining an insurance plan.

How long does it take to get a Swedish ID card?

This is the person who can certify your application details. The processing time for a Swedish ID card is around 2 weeks. It may take longer if they need to investigate your application further. You will get a notification by post or by SMS when your card is ready for pick up. The letter will contain your PIN or PUK code for your e-identification.

Can a student apply for a personal identity number?

Students admitted to only one or two semesters (which is less than 12 months on their residence permit) cannot apply for a personal identity number. If you are an EU or an EEA citizen, you have the right to be in Sweden for 3 months.

When can I get a personal ID number?

You will generally not be able to receive a Personal ID Number until you have received your residence permit card from the Migration Agency. There are a few exceptions, but the general rule to follow is that you will require one for the application. One of these exceptions if you are a dependent to an EU citizen (excluding Swedish citizens).