Upon arrival/Settling in Sweden

Before the new employee arrives the department needs to request a coordination number from the Skatteverket. This applies regardless if the employees is staying for more or less than a year in Sweden. The coordination number is needed for registered in Primula – without it, no salary can be paid. The coordination number is replaced by a personal identity number as soon as the employee has applied for and received one. See more information here on how to request a coordination number.

Stays of one year or more – register in the population register and apply for a Swedish personal identity number

A new employee who is moving to Sweden and planning to stay for one year or more must be registered in Skatteverket’s population register.

To be registered, the person needs to have a residence or work permit valid for at least one year, and plan to stay in Sweden for at least one year. They need to visit the local Skatteverket office in person as soon as possible and apply for a Swedish personal identity number.

More information is available on Skatteverket’s website.

Stays of more than six months but less than one year – coordination number

If the stay is for less than one year but more than six months, the department needs to request a coordination number from Skatteverket. More information can be found by the link above or at Skatteverket’s website.

Stays of less than six months (during a 12-month period)

If the stay is shorter than six months, the employee may be entitled to a lower tax rate. The department administrator will need to apply for special income tax for non-residents (known as “sink” tax). More information about SINK can be found here, and at Skatteverket’s website.

In these cases, Skatteverket will issue a coordination number when the application for SINK is being processed.

New employees should apply for a Swedish identity card from Skatteverket as soon as they have received their Swedish personal identity number. Read more about Swedish identity cards and how to apply for one on Skatteverket’s website.

Applying for a Swedish identity card must be done by visiting a local Skatteverket office in person. Remember to inform the new employee about the following before visiting Skatteverket:

1. Pay the application fee. When applying at the Skatteverket office, they will require proof of payment.
2. Bring a valid passport.
3. Make an appointment (this can be done online at Skatteverket’s website).

More information about the application process can be found on Skatteverket’s website.

It can be difficult to open a bank account for someone who has recently been registered in the Swedish population register, but a bank account is an essential part of settling in Sweden. It simplifies salary payments and means the employee can avoid transaction fees that would apply if they use an international bank account on an everyday basis. It is therefore important to inform a new employee upon arrival about the importance of opening a bank account, and ask them to book an appointment at chosen bank as soon as possible.

See Guidance to opening a Swedish bank account for information about how to open a bank account, the right to an bank account and what documents to bring to the first meeting. Make sure to give the new employee the guide upon arrival!  The guide has been compiled in cooperation with the Swedish Bankers’ Association and the Swedish EURAXESS network (32 universities in Sweden).

The right to an bank account

If a person have the legal right to be in Sweden, i.e. have a right to residence as an EU/EEA citizen, or a valid residence permit/work permit as a non-EU citizen, they also have the right to open a bank account without delay. The right to an bank account also applies if the person doesn’t have a Swedish personal identity number or coordination number. However many banks can still be reluctant and request a Swedish personal identity number and Swedish ID-card.

If the bank denies the opening of an account, the person have the right to receive written information about where to turn with a complaint and how an appeal can be made. See the National Board for Con­sumer Disputes (ARN*) for more information. It can sometimes help to remind the bank about the right to an bank account according to the Payment Service Act 4 a kap. Betalkonto.

Visit the bank

The bank will ask many questions to find out if the person is a secure customer. The reason for this it that European bank have strict requirements to identify all form of money laundering, bribery or similar. Examples of questions:

-     What is the purpose of the account?

-     What is your main source of income?

-     What is your monthly income before tax?

-     Will you make transactions to other countries?

-     What is your citizenship?

To the first meeting at the bank it is important that the employee bring requested document, such as:

• Passport or ID-card
• Employment contract (or corresponding document, showing income/equivalent and the length of the employment/assignment)
• Copies of residence permit
• If the person has a Swedish personal identity number, bring documentation from the population register.
• If a permanent residence already exists, bring a contract confirming the address.

Observe that an account opened without a Swedish personal identity number has limited features. Features as BankID, Swish and taking a loan will not be possible in these cases. Once a Swedish personal identity number has been received these features can be added.

When the employee have received an bank account it is very important to report the account to Swedbank so that the salary will be payed to right account.

The tax rate that applies to international employees depends on several factors. As a rule, the following applies:

Stays of less than six months

• Limited tax liability: applies to non-residents without a permanent address or a significant connection to Sweden.
• Special income tax for foreign residents applies (see above information).

Stays of more than six months

• Unlimited tax liability: applies to those with a permanent address or a significant connection to Sweden.
• The Swedish Income Tax Act applies.

To be eligible for social security benefits, it is necessary to register with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan). The benefits someone is entitled to vary depending on whether the person is employed, studying, or only resident in Sweden. Social security is divided into residence-based and work-based benefits.  

More information is available on Försäkringskassan’s website. Please note that the social security benefits does not include patient fee for doctor visits. Patient fee is managed either by the regions, local authority or municipality

Residence-based benefits are based on registration in the Swedish population register and include:

• parental benefits
• child allowance
• housing allowance.

Work-based benefits are based on employment with a Swedish employer and having a permanent address in Sweden. They include:

• parental benefits
• sickness benefits
• income-based old-age pension benefits.

Register with Försäkringskassan

To be eligible for these benefits one needs to be registered with Försäkringskassan. New employees can apply for registration as soon as possible after receiving their Swedish personal identity number or coordination number.  The application will be received by Försäkringskassan but not processed until the person apply for one of above benefits.

If no application for registration is made Försäkrinskassan will instead contact the employee when the person want to apply for one of above benefits. The process of payment can then be delayed since additional information is needed.

Please observe that is new employees who arrive to Sweden with children younger than 16 years old, needs to apply for registration as soon as possible in order to get child allowance.

To apply, use the form Information when moving to or working in Sweden, which can be found here along with more information: Försäkringskassan’s website.

When a new employee has settled in at the workplace, there are several ways to learn Swedish. However, they may want to start studying Swedish before starting at SLU by taking a free online course. Inform the new employee about the below examples of both online courses and courses on-site. 

The Division of Human Resources at SLU also offers Swedish language courses for SLU staff. You will find more information about who the courses are for, course dates and how to apply here.

Online courses

• Study in Sweden - Distance learning online or in App
• Duolingo - Distance learning online or in App
• Forvo: how to pronounce +100,000 Swedish words
• Memrise: useful Swedish phrases, also available as an app (Google Play and Appstore)
• Swedish 101: vocabulary flashcards, verb conjugator and more
• Quizlet: flashcards with basic vocabulary
• 8sidor.se: news in easy-to-read Swedish

Folkuniversitetet also offers a number of distance learning courses. Please note that these courses costs.

Swedish courses organised by adult educational associations

Medborgarskolan (represented in most cities in Sweden)

Folkuniversitetet (represented in most cities in Sweden)

Hermods Vux (distance-learning courses)

Swedish courses arranged by municipalities

SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) is courses in Swedish provided by each municipality in Sweden for immigrants free of charge. The courses are given either part- or fulltime, and with different study pace.

SFI in Uppsala

Folkuniversitetet in Uppsala also provides for SFI Courses in central Uppsala

SFI in Malmö

SFI in Lund

SFI in Umeå