Living in Sweden

This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy regularly holds events across Sweden for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Sweden after Brexit.

You can also:

• read Living in the EU: prepare for Brexit

• read how the Swedish government will address UK citizens’ rights if there’s a no-deal Brexit

• read Living in the EU: prepare for Brexit

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Sweden.

If you plan to live in Sweden for more than 1 year, you canmust register with the Swedish Population Register. The Swedish authorities will issue you an ID number (personnummer).

You can only register if you have a right of residence (uppehållsrätt) for a year or more and comprehensive travel insurance. As an EU citizen, you will automatically have this right if you can support yourself, either by work or by other independent means, or you are studying.

You will not be able to register if you are still looking for a job when you come to Sweden and or do not meet other requirements for residency.

If you’re planning to move as a dependent to a family member who lives in Sweden you must apply for a residence permit.

Visas and residency after Brexit

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you canare live,resident work and travel in Sweden mostly as before until the end of the implementation period.period you will be able to stay. Read the Swedish government guidance on residency after Brexit on the Swedish Migration Agency website (Migrationsverket).

If there are changes to residency registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal your residence permit will become invalid if it was acquired based on EU citizenship as opposed to Swedish national laws.

The Swedish government has put in place rules to give you time to register correctly as a resident. UK nationals and their families, even from outside the EU, will be exempt from residency requirements foruntil 131 yearDecember from the day the UK leaves the EU.2020.

Children under 18 who live outside Sweden will be included in the exemption if they join you during the grace period. Children born after Brexit will have the same rights as their parents.

You do not have to do anything to be included in the exemption. Your rights to live, work, study, receive healthcare and social benefits will not be affected during this time.

Once you have applied for a residency permit, your stay is legal. You can continue to receive social benefits until a decision is made.

The grace period will end on 31 December 2020. If you have applied for citizenship and thisyour application has not yet been approved towardtowards the end of the 1-yeargrace exemption,period you must apply for a residence permit.permit in the meantime. This will not affect your citizenship application.

YouCheck can check updates to this guide and the Swedish Migration Agency website on when and how to apply for a residence permit or citizenship duringuntil the31 1-yearDecember grace period.2020.

InIf athere’s no-dealno scenario,deal, the Swedish government is proposing to create a special residency process permit (Särskilda regler om uppehållstillstånd vid ett avtalslöst brexit) for BritishUK citizensnationals who are presently in Sweden under EU freedom of movement regulation.

According to the proposal, this will be separate to and distinct from the ordinary residency process permit for third country nationals and be based on the EU regulation on freedom of movement. This guide will be updated as more information becomes available.

Passports

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Sweden.

You can check our travel advice for Sweden.

Passports and travel after Brexit

After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If there is a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

If there’s no deal, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

If there’s no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180-day period. You must retain evidence of travel, like train and plane tickets, in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.

If you want to travel outside of the country on a UK passport you will need to have it stamped by the Swedish Migration Agency:

• this indicates your status and allows you to return to Sweden without a residence permit. You only need to have your passport stamped once during the 1-year exemption period

• apply on the Swedish Migration Agency website

• the stamp is only valid for the 1-year exemption. After the exemption period, you cannot leave Sweden and be sure of return without a valid residency permit

Driving in Sweden

If you are a resident in Sweden, you should exchange your UK licence for a Swedish driving licence before the UK leaves the EU.

You can still use your Swedish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For more information on driving in Sweden, read:

• driving licence exchanges and renewals
• what you need to drive abroad
• road travel in Sweden
• taking a vehicle out of the UK

You must read the EU guidance on car registration and taxes in Sweden. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, your driving licence will remain valid in Sweden until 31 December 2020.

You can read our guidance on driving in the EU after a no-deal Brexit.

Healthcare

Read the NHS guidance on who can access healthcare in Sweden and how to register.

You can also find information on the Swedish social insurance authority’s website (Försäkringskassan).

State healthcare: S1

If you live in Sweden and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Sweden, you must not use ayour EuropeanEHIC Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Sweden.

When you travel to Sweden for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find an English-speaking doctor in Sweden.

Check that your prescriptions are legal in Sweden. Many over-the-counter medicines in the UK are only available by prescription in Sweden. You can only buy medicines at authorised chemists (Apoteket).

Healthcare after Brexit

If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Sweden will remain the samesame, until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain acovered residentby inthe Sweden.Withdrawal Agreement.

If there’s no deal, you will be able to continue to access healthcare foruntil a31 1-yearDecember grace period after Brexit.2020.

You must apply for a residence permit to continue to access healthcare after the31 1-yearDecember grace2020. period. You will continue to obtain healthcare until there is a decision on your application, even if it takes longer than a year.

If you currently have your healthcare costs paid for by the UK government, we can help if you are asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.

The UK government has offered to continue paying the country you live in for your healthcare if there’s no deal, as it does now. The government has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Sweden for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If there’s no deal, and there is no arrangement with Sweden to continue reciprocal healthcare, pensioners receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered.

Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this relies on Sweden continuing to accept UK EHICs.

You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in Sweden and how it may change after Brexit.

Working and studying in Sweden

You can read our guidance on working in another EU country.

Some jobs may require a UK police certificate.

You can find more information on the Swedish Public Employment Service website (Arbetsförmedlingen).

Working in Sweden after Brexit

If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same, as long as you remain resident in Sweden.

You should:

• sign up for updates to this guide
• check the Swedish Migration Agency website for information on when and how to apply for a work permit when an agreement is reached.

If there’s no deal, you will be able to continue to work as normal until 31 December 2020.

Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.

Studying in Sweden after Brexit

If there is a deal, your right to workstudy will stay the samesame, untilas thelong endas ofyou theremain implementationresident period.in Sweden.

If there’s no deal, youUK nationals who have applied for, are offered a place in, or are enrolled in a programme at a Swedish institution before Brexit will not be ablerequired to continuepay toapplication workor astuition normalfees foruntil a31 1-yearDecember grace period.2022.

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guidance on studying in Sweden after Brexit.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Sweden to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Read guidance on:

• telling the HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Sweden

You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in Sweden.

You can find an English-speaking lawyer.

National Insurance

Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad so that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If there’s no deal and the end date on your form is after 31the Octoberday 2019,the UK leaves the EU, you should contact the relevant EU,EU or EEA orauthority. SwissThey authority towill confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31Brexit, October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double-taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Sweden. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. You can read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Sweden. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your pension if you retire abroad.

If you retire in Sweden, you can claim:

• your pension through the Swedish Pensions Agency, if you have worked in Sweden
• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• pensions from working in other EU countries if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to fill it in promptly or your payments may be suspended.

Pensions after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay a State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Your UK State Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Sweden, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Swedish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits if you live in Sweden.

You should:

• read guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad

Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Swedish benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Swedish benefits. To find out contact:

• the social security in Sweden (Försäkringskassan)
• the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen)

Benefits after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay child and disability benefits to those eligible after Brexit.

If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Sweden, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Swedish contribution-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

You can read our guidance on access to benefits and services in the UK if there’s no-deal.

Driving in Sweden

If you are a resident in Sweden, you should exchange your UK licence for a Swedish driving licence before the UK leaves the EU.

You can still use your Swedish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For more information on driving in Sweden, read:

• driving licence exchanges and renewals
• what you need to drive abroad
• road travel in Sweden
• taking a vehicle out of the UK

You must read the EU guidance on car registration and taxes in Sweden. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, your driving licence will remain valid in Sweden for 1 year.

You can read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Sweden, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections.

The election authorities will send you a voting card to the address linked to your ID number (folkbokföringsadress).

You cannot vote in general elections.

Voting after Brexit

After Brexit, you can continue to vote in Swedish local elections. You can read more information on the Swedish government’s election authority website (Valmyndigheten).

You will not be able to vote in European Parliament elections. The election authority will update information (in Swedish) on its website.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Sweden, you need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Sweden you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• find a list of funeral directors in Sweden
• read our bereavement information pack for Sweden

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You may also need English-speaking lawyers in Sweden, or notary services in Sweden.

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy or let property in Sweden.

Pets

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If you’re travelling with your pet for the first timetime, you must visit your vet to getobtain a pet passport.

You can read our guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet horses and other equines read our guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Other useful information

• government offices of Sweden
• about Sweden
• directory enquiries

Returning to the UK

Read our guidance on:

• access to benefits and services if there is no deal

• bringing your family to the UK

• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding

• importing vehicles back to the UK

• bringing your pet back to the UK

• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

Tell the Swedish and UK authorities if you are planning to return to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

If you get healthcare in Sweden through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to cancel your S1 at the right time.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Swedish authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.