Sweden Guide
Your Life in Sweden Starts Here A practical handbook for your first days, weeks and months in Sweden — what to do, in what order, what it costs and where to apply, checked against the official sources.
Just arrived? Start here Follow these in order. Each one unlocks the next: your address, your personal number, then ID, bank and BankID.
1 What to do on your first day From the airport to your bed: a working phone, the right transport ticket, your address checked, and your documents safe. 2 Registering with Skatteverket, step by step How to notify Skatteverket that you have moved to Sweden: the e-service, the documents to upload, the in-person identity check, and what happens until you get your personnummer. 3 Applying for the Skatteverket ID card The Skatteverket ID card is the Swedish identity card for people registered here. Banks, pharmacies and post offices accept it as ID. You pay SEK 400 first, then visit a service centre. 4 Opening a Swedish bank account You have a legal right to a basic payment account, even without a personnummer — but each bank decides its own ID checks, and BankID needs a personnummer. Here is how to get an account opened. 5 Getting BankID BankID is the digital ID almost everything in Sweden uses — 1177, Skatteverket, Försäkringskassan, Swish, housing queues. Your bank issues it once you have a personnummer. 6 Choosing and registering at a vårdcentral Your vårdcentral is your regular health centre. You choose it yourself — logging in to 1177 with BankID is the easiest way — and you can change later. 7 Housing queues In big cities, first-hand flats go to whoever has queued longest. Join on day one — even if you do not need a flat yet. 8 Understanding Swedish public transport Each region runs its own buses, trams and local trains, with its own app and prices. Here is how zones, tickets, validation and inspections work — and what it costs in your city. What brings you to Sweden? Pick your situation to get the checklist that fits you. Every guide stays open to everyone.
Browse all topics Getting started Your first day, week, month and three months, step by step. 12 guides Personal number & ID Personnummer, samordningsnummer, the Skatteverket ID card and your address. 13 guides Banking & BankID Bank account, BankID, Swish and paying Swedish invoices. 11 guides Healthcare Vårdcentral, 1177, fees, pharmacies, dental care and emergencies. 14 guides Getting around Buses, trains, tickets, bikes, taxis and parking — city by city. 12 guides Driving licences Every Swedish licence category, step by step, with verified fees. 19 guides Housing Finding a home, contracts, deposits, living there and moving out. 22 guides Essential apps The apps for ID, payments, travel, parking, housing and post. 1 guide Everyday life Groceries, pant, parcels, opening hours, winter clothes and budget shopping. 9 guides Work & taxes Finding work, contracts, salary and tax, unions, a-kassa and your permit. 16 guides Education & Swedish University life, SFI, Komvux, language cafés, schools and libraries. 9 guides Money & cost of living What life costs city by city, bills, insurance, debts and Kronofogden. 7 guides Culture & rules Punctuality, queues, fika, allemansrätten, winter and everyday laws. 8 guides Family & community Spouse and children, parental leave, childcare and finding your people. 7 guides Problems & emergencies Calm, direct steps for when something goes wrong. 17 guides 