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Compulsory school in Sweden is free, and preschool fees are capped by a national maximum. For newcomers the main hurdle is order and timing: most things go through your municipality (kommun), and some rights depend on the child being registered in the population register.
Preschool (förskola): from age 1
- Children are offered preschool from age 1 to the extent needed for the parents' work or studies, or for the child's own needs.
- For municipal preschool, the municipality must offer a place within four months of your request. Apply as soon as you can.
- From the autumn term of the year the child turns 3, every child has the right to at least 525 hours of preschool a year, whatever the parents do.
- Municipalities must offer a place, even without a request, to registered children who were born abroad and have been in Sweden for at most five years, or whose guardians were born abroad and have been here as long.
What preschool costs: the fee cap (maxtaxa)
Fees are a percentage of household income, with a national cap. From 1 July 2026:
| Child | Share of household income | Maximum per month |
|---|---|---|
| First | 3% | SEK 1,547 |
| Second | 2% | SEK 1,031 |
| Third | 1% | SEK 516 |
| Fourth and more | Free | SEK 0 |
The highest income the fee is based on is SEK 51,560. Municipalities set the details, so check your kommun's page.
School: compulsory from age 6
- School is compulsory from the autumn term of the year the child turns 6 (normally in preschool class, förskoleklass) and for most pupils ends after year 9.
- Compulsory schooling applies to children who are to be registered in the population register in Sweden. Some children who are not registered, for example children who have applied for asylum, don't have compulsory schooling but still have the right to education.
- Compulsory school is free. Pupils get textbooks and other learning materials, and nutritious school meals, at no cost.
- Upper secondary school (gymnasieskola) is voluntary.
Mother-tongue tuition
If a guardian's first language isn't Swedish, and the child uses that language daily at home and has a basic knowledge of it, the child can get mother-tongue tuition (modersmålsundervisning) at school. The school must arrange it if at least five pupils who are entitled to it want it and there's a suitable teacher. For Sweden's national minority languages, one pupil is enough.
International schools
An international school follows another country's curriculum or an international one, not the Swedish curriculum, and is not part of the Swedish school system. These schools are mainly aimed at pupils living in Sweden for a limited time. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognised qualification, and IB programmes for ages 16 to 19 are also outside the Swedish school system. Contact schools before the move. Ask how they handle children arriving mid-year and whether fees apply.
Checklist for families
- Choose where to live with schools and preschools in mind.
- Register the whole family at Skatteverket in the first weeks (how).
- Apply for preschool with your kommun as soon as you can. For municipal preschool, the four-month clock starts when you apply.
- For school-age children, contact the kommun or the school directly. Bring school reports translated into English or Swedish.
- Ask the school about mother-tongue tuition and Swedish support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children with a work permit family go to school for free in Sweden?
Yes. Compulsory school is free, and it applies to children who are to be registered in the population register, normally from the autumn of the year they turn 6 to the end of year 9.
How long does it take to get a preschool place in Sweden?
For municipal preschool, the municipality must offer a place within four months of your request. Apply as soon as you can.
How much does preschool cost in Sweden in 2026?
From 1 July 2026 the national cap is 3% of household income for the first child, at most SEK 1,547 a month, then less for the second and third child. The fourth child is free.
Moving for work? How Settio helps
Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run the whole move in one place, so the person moving can focus on settling in:
- Before the move: one plan for the permit and the move, with every step and deadline. A partner and children get their own steps in the same household.
- After arrival: the employee portal shows the newcomer their next steps on their phone, in their language, from registering after arrival to help for settling in.
- When the permit runs out: permit monitoring flags the extension in good time.
HR teams and agencies can start for free. Moving yourself? Try our free tools for life in Sweden.
Sources
6 official sources
More in our guide toRelocating to Sweden
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