To do upon arrival

Swedish Population Register and Personal Identity Number

If you have moved to Sweden from another country and plan to live here for one year or more, you are generally required to register in the Swedish Population Register. Upon arrival, visit your local Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) office to complete your registration. We recommend doing this as soon as possible—ideally on your first day—and booking your appointment in advance.

Registering in the population register and obtaining a personal identity number (personnummer) is essential for accessing social services, healthcare, opening a Swedish bank account, and more.

Book your appointment at Skatteverket

Before your visit, please consult the Swedish Tax Agency’s website for detailed instructions on how to prepare and which documents to bring:

Moving to Sweden – Swedish Tax Agency

 

Personal Identity Number

Once registered in the Swedish Population Register, you will receive a Swedish personal identity number. This process typically takes 1 to 2 months, but in some cases may take longer. Your personal identity number is required in many daily situations, so registering promptly will simplify your life in Sweden.

 

Coordination Number

If you plan to stay in Sweden for less than one year, you may need a coordination number (samordningsnummer) for identification purposes. If you require assistance applying for a coordination number, please contact the HR unit at Konstfack: HR@konstfack.se.

 

ID Card

After receiving your personal identity number, you must visit Skatteverket in person to apply for a Swedish ID card. This card serves as an official proof of identity in many situations.

Information about Swedish ID cards

 

Residence Permit Card

Non-EU citizens who can enter Sweden without a visa must visit the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) soon after arrival to be photographed and fingerprinted in order to receive their residence permit card.

Residence permit card – Swedish Migration Agency

 

Tax Relief

Foreign nationals performing highly qualified tasks or earning a monthly salary above a certain threshold may be eligible for tax relief on their income earned at Konstfack for up to seven years. Under this tax relief scheme, only 75 percent of the employee’s income from Konstfack is subject to taxation.

For the employer, this means a reduced basis for calculating employer contributions.

Tax relief is granted by the Research Tax Board (Forskarskattenämnden), and the application must be submitted within three months of starting your employment in Sweden. For more information, please visit the Research Tax Board’s website: Research Tax Board – Tax Relief

Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)

In Sweden, social insurance is publicly funded and provides financial security throughout various stages of life. The Swedish social insurance system includes benefits and support for families with children, individuals with disabilities or illnesses, and the elderly. It is financed through taxes and contributions, and administered by the government agency Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).

To receive benefits from Försäkringskassan, you must be insured in Sweden. The agency assesses whether you are considered to be living or working in Sweden. Some benefits are available based on residency, while others require you to be employed or working in Sweden.

The general rule is that social insurance coverage applies in the country where you work, regardless of where you live. It is not possible to be covered simultaneously by the social insurance systems of two different countries. However, if you work regularly in both your home country and another EU/EEA country, you may be required to be covered by social insurance in your home country.

If you work as an employee or are self-employed in more than one country within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, you need to apply for an A1 certificate from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. This certificate clarifies which country’s social insurance legislation applies to you.

 

Providing Information to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)

You need to provide relevant information to Försäkringskassan, the Swedish government agency responsible for social insurance.

• If you move to Sweden with children under 16 years old, Försäkringskassan will contact you once you are registered in the Swedish National Population Register. This is to determine whether you and your children are eligible for insurance coverage in Sweden, including child allowance.

• If you move to Sweden without children, you can contact Försäkringskassan yourself if you wish to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or apply for any benefits or allowances.

• If you move to Sweden but are not yet registered in the Population Register, you must still provide information to Försäkringskassan. This information will be used later to assess your eligibility for insurance and benefits if you apply for them or have children.

• If you come from a country outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you must have a residence permit from the Swedish Migration Agency to be eligible for compensation from Försäkringskassan.

Moving to, working, studying or newly arrived in Sweden – Försäkringskassan

Move to Sweden – Försäkringskassan

 

Opening a Swedish Bank Account

If you have a valid residence permit in Sweden, you are entitled to open a bank account. You are free to choose any bank you prefer.

If you are staying in Sweden for less than six months, it is usually easiest to continue using your existing bank account in your home country. However, if you plan to stay longer than six months, opening a Swedish bank account is recommended, as it will make day-to-day tasks such as receiving your salary and making payments much easier.

Since it can sometimes take time for international residents to gain access to a Swedish bank account, we recommend keeping your current account active at least during the initial period so that your salary can be paid to that account in the meantime. Please note that depending on your home bank’s policies, international transfers may incur fees. These costs are not covered by Konstfack.

Becoming a bank customer – Finance Sweden

 

Get a BankID or Freja eID+

In Sweden, having a digital ID such as BankID or Freja eID+ makes everyday life significantly easier—whether you're accessing government e-services, signing documents, or managing online banking.

To obtain a BankID, you need a Swedish personal identity number and must be a customer of a bank that issues BankID. You order your BankID directly from your bank.

BankID

If you are an EU/EEA citizen and have a coordination number (samordningsnummer) issued by the Swedish Tax Agency, you can apply for Freja eID+. Freja can be used for secure online identification and as a valid form of physical ID in many situations.

Freja eID

 

Insurance

Several types of insurance cover Konstfack’s employees and visitors. As an employee at Konstfack, you are insured during working hours, while commuting to and from work, and when travelling for business purposes.

It is strongly recommended that you arrange private insurance coverage as well. This includes:

• Home insurance, which is necessary whether you own your home, rent, or sublet.
• Accident insurance, to cover unexpected events outside of work.

For further advice, please contact a private insurance company.

It is also advisable to join an unemployment insurance fund (A-kassa), which provides income protection if you become unemployed. To qualify for income-based benefits (up to 80% of your previous salary), you must be a member for at least 12 months. Therefore, we recommend joining an unemployment insurance fund as soon as you start working in Sweden.

If your stay in Sweden is shorter than one year, you must arrange private insurance to cover any potential costs related to illness or accidents. You also need to register with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).