Work, study or live in Sweden for EU/EEA citi­zens

As an EU/EEA citizen you have the right to work, study or live in Sweden without a residence permit. You also have the right to start and operate a private business. The right of EU/EEA citizens to stay in Sweden without a residence permit is called right of residence. You have right of residence if you are employed, self-employed, a student or have sufficient means to support yourself. If you have right of residence in Sweden you do not need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency.

Swedish (svenska)
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When entering Sweden, you need a valid passport or ID card showing your citizenship.

You can move to Sweden without applying for any permit, but if you have family who are citizens of a country outside of the EU/EEA, they need to apply for a residence card. In order for your family to be granted residence cards you must be able to demonstrate that you meet the requirements for right of residence in Sweden through work, studies or with sufficient means.

As an EU/EEA citizen you have the right to start working or studying directly after arriving in Sweden.

To register yourself in the Swedish population register and obtain a Swedish personal identity number, you need to contact the Swedish Tax Agency.

Information about how to register at the Swedish Tax Agency External link, opens in new window.

If you are going to start a private business, you have to submit a tax and fee registration to the Swedish Tax Agency and you may need to register your company with the Swedish Companies Registration Office before beginning your company operations. You can learn more at Verksamt.se.

The Swedish Companies Registration Office External link, opens in new window.

Verksamt.se External link, opens in new window.

Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland may live in Sweden without obtaining a residence permit. You only have to register with the Swedish Tax Agency.

You can apply for a residence card instead of a residence permit if you meet these three requirements:

  • You are a family member of a Swedish citizen.
  • The Swedish citizen has been residing in another EU/EEA country with a right of residence for at least three months.
  • You have lived together in the other EU/EEA country immediately before you move to Sweden.

In cases were a Swedish citizen has used their free movement in the United Kingdom before 31 December 2020 and returned to Sweden, the Swedish citizen can be counted as an EU/EEA citizen, despite the fact that the United Kingdom no longer is in the EU.

You can apply for a residence permit if you are a citizen of Switzerland.

Residence permits for Swiss citizens

If you have lived in an EU country but are not an EU citizen you may under some circumstances be granted status as a long-term resident of that country. You will then have rights similar to those of EU citizens.

Residence permits for long-term residents of another EU country

Countries covered by the free movement within Europe

Infor­ma­tion for people who are moving to Sweden with a resi­dence permit

On the page Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit, you will find information that is useful to know before you move or after you have moved to Sweden, such as work, healthcare, school and education in Sweden.

Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit

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