On this page · 9 sections
A samordningsnummer (coordination number) is a 10-digit identity number that Skatteverket gives people who have never been in the Swedish population register, for example because they stay less than a year. It looks like a personnummer, but 60 is added to the day of birth. It lets tax, payroll and authorities identify you.
Who needs one
- People who plan to stay in Sweden for less than a year, so should not be registered (folkbokförd), for example employees on a short stay.
- Anyone else with a connection to Sweden who can show that they need a number, for example someone applying for F-tax approval.
How you get it
- Apply yourself if you plan to stay less than a year. You must show a connection to Sweden and why you need the number.
- Or have one assigned when a public authority, university or college requests it, or when you apply for F-tax approval.
- Before a number is issued, you visit a service centre in person for an identity check, with your passport or national ID card and, if you have one, your residence permit card.
For an application you make yourself, Skatteverket says it can take up to five weeks before an officer picks up the case.
How long it lasts
A coordination number stays active for five years. Numbers that are not in use are then marked inactive (vilande), which happens automatically after five years. An inactive number can be reactivated if it is needed, which requires an identity check in person.
Identity levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (styrkt) | Identity proven in person |
| Probable (sannolik) | Only when an authority requested the number and identity was assessed from other documents |
| Uncertain (osäker) | Only in exceptional cases |
Common problems
- Not the same as being registered. A coordination number does not mean you are in the population register. Work permit holders who stay a year or less must have, or have applied for, comprehensive health insurance.
- Inactive numbers need to be reactivated, with a new identity check, before they can be used again.
Related terms
- Personnummer and folkbokföring.
- Full guide: samordningsnummer vs personnummer.
- Healthcare rights: healthcare and social insurance for newcomers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I swap my samordningsnummer for a personnummer?
Not by swapping. If you later stay in Sweden for a year or more and are registered (folkbokförd), you get a personnummer, which replaces your coordination number.
How do I know if my samordningsnummer is inactive?
A number stays active for five years and is then marked inactive automatically if it is not in use. Contact Skatteverket to check, and book an identity check if you need it reactivated.
Does my family get coordination numbers too?
Not automatically. Each person who needs a number must be assigned their own. Parents or guardians can apply together for a child who has a connection to Sweden.
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.
More in our guide toImmigration to Sweden
Know someone who needs this? Send them the link.