Tax Registration and Bank Account

Tax Registration

As soon as an employee arrives in Sweden, a Swedish state service centre should be visited to check the person’s identity and to get registered in Sweden by the Swedish Tax Agency. The appointment can be booked online and should be booked before travelling and take place as soon as possible after entering Sweden.

Employees intending to live in Sweden for one year or longer should apply for a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) when making the appointment to visit the service centre. The employee will then be registered in the Swedish Population Register and as resident in Sweden. Employees intending to live in Sweden for less than a year will instead receive a coordination number (samordningsnummer).

Even if the intention is to live in Sweden for more than a year the Swedish Tax Agency might issue a coordination number instead of a personal identity number based on the fact that the work permit is issued for a shorter period than a year. It is recommended to always apply for a personal identity number if the intention is to live in Sweden more than a year even if the work permit is issued for the probation period of the employment.

If an employee has received a coordination number, the employee should visit a Swedish state service centre again once the employee has received the extension work permit and apply for a personal identity number. A personal identity number will then be issued and replace the coordination number.

When visiting a Swedish state service centre all family members who are moving to Sweden must get their identity checked and visit the Swedish state service centre, including children.

EU or EEA citizens

Citizens from an EU or EEA country need to have right of residence (uppehållsrätt) for at least one year or a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd) for at least one year to be registered in the Swedish Population Register. EU citizens automatically have the right of residence in Sweden if they work, study or have sufficient means to support themselves.

Non-EU or non-EEA citizens

Citizens from a non-EU or a non-EEA country need to have a residence permit in Sweden which is valid for at least one year, in order to be registered in the Swedish Population Register.

Employers who hire a person who is not a citizen of an EU country, another EEA country or Switzerland are required to inform the Swedish Tax Agency of their employment by the 12th of the month following the commencement of the employment.

Before the employment starts the employer must check that the employee is entitled to stay and work in Sweden and save documents showing this for at least 12 months after the termination of the employment.

ID Card

Once the personal identity number has been received the employee can apply for a Swedish ID card from the Swedish Tax Agency. The Swedish ID card is an approved form of identification within Sweden. It can be used as proof of age and identity at places such as pharmacies, banks or in shops.

Bank account and BankID

Once the employee has a personal identity number (personnummer) and a Swedish ID card (some banks might settle with a valid passport) the employee can get a bank account. When opening the bank account the employee should also apply for internet banking and a mobile BankID which will facilitate life in Sweden and make it possible to sign documents and transactions online. To open the bank account the employee should visit a bank office in person.