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Folkbokföring is registration in the Swedish population register, kept by Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency). It records where you live and gives you a personnummer. You are generally required to register if you move to Sweden and plan to live here for one year or more. When you are first registered, you get a personnummer.
Who must register
- Anyone who moves to Sweden and plans to live here for one year or more. If you plan to stay less than a year, you should not be registered.
- Non-EU citizens must show a valid Swedish residence permit when they report the move.
- EU/EEA citizens register too, but must prove a right of residence first, for example through work.
How it works
- Report the move in Skatteverket's "Moving to Sweden" e-service. You can send it at the earliest 14 days before you move.
- After arriving, visit a service centre in person for an identity check. Some centres need a booking, and each family member moving with you must attend.
- Skatteverket decides and sends the decision by post.
How long it takes
Skatteverket currently says about five weeks before an officer picks up a move to Sweden. Registering family relationships currently takes about 22 weeks, and a marriage entered abroad about 14 weeks. The full folkbokföring guide covers documents and steps.
What it unlocks
| Registered | Not registered |
|---|---|
| Personnummer | Samordningsnummer at most |
| Can apply for Skatteverket's ID card | Not available |
| Taxed as resident, no A-tax application needed | A-tax application or SINK (22.5%) |
| A non-EEA driving licence stops being valid after one year as a registered resident, with a few exceptions | Rules depend on your situation |
Common problems
- Reporting before you have a real home. You give the full address where you live and sleep, with your name on the door or postbox. A c/o address can't be registered.
- Going to the ID check alone. Every family member moving with you has to be checked.
- Forgetting to report later moves. A new address in Sweden must be reported within one week of moving.
Related terms
- Personnummer and samordningsnummer.
- The bigger picture: relocation checklist and healthcare for newcomers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is folkbokföring the same as getting a residence permit?
No. Migrationsverket grants the residence permit that lets you live in Sweden. Folkbokföring is a separate registration with Skatteverket that records where you live and gives you a personnummer.
Can my employer register me?
No. You report the move yourself and attend the identity check in person. The employer has its own, separate duty to inform Skatteverket when it hires a non-EU citizen.
What if I am not sure I will stay a full year?
Skatteverket looks at how long you plan to live in Sweden. If you plan to stay less than a year, you should not be registered and can apply for a coordination number instead. If you later stay a year or more and are registered, a personnummer replaces it.
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
8 official sources
- Skatteverket: Moving to Sweden as a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country
- Skatteverket: EU/EEA citizens going to work in Sweden
- Skatteverket: Processing times for folkbokföring
- Skatteverket: New in Sweden? Book an identity check
- Skatteverket: Personal identity numbers
- Skatteverket: New in Sweden and will be employed here
- Skatteverket: How to apply for or renew an ID card
- Transportstyrelsen: I have a driving licence (foreign licences)
More in our guide toImmigration to Sweden
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