Living in Sweden

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Swedish Government and your local authority. You can also read our Sweden travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Sweden see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Sweden
• follow the British Embassy in Sweden on Facebook

The

Attend Withdrawala Agreement

citizen outreach meeting

IfThe youBritish wereEmbassy legallyregularly residentholds inevents across Sweden beforefor 1UK Januarynationals. 2021,Attend yourone rightsof willour becitizen protectedoutreach bymeetings theto keep up to date on working and living in Sweden.

The Withdrawal Agreement

The Withdrawal Agreement. Yousets mustout applythe terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a newdeal residenceon statuscitizens’ byrights. 30It Septembersets 2021out toa securetransition yourperiod rights.

Youwhich shouldlasts alsountil read31 ourDecember guidance2020. onDuring livingthis intime Europe.

Visasyou can continue to live, work and residency

study in the EU broadly as you did before 31 January 2020.

If you planare toresident live in Sweden forat morethe thanend 1of year,the transition period, you mustwill registerbe withcovered by the SwedishWithdrawal PopulationAgreement, Register.and Theyour Swedishrights authorities will issuebe protected for as long as you anremain IDresident numberin (personnummer).Sweden.

YouAny willrights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will be ablethe tosubject registerof iffuture younegotiations. areRead stillthis lookingguidance page for amore jobinformation.

In whenthe meantime, make sure you comeare toregistered Swedenas ora doresident notin meetSweden. otherWe requirementswill forupdate residency.this Thisguidance doesas notsoon affectas yourmore rightsinformation underbecomes available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

Check the Withdrawalentry Agreement.requirements for Sweden.

Residency

IfThere youwill werebe legallyno residentchange in Swedenresidency beforerules 1or Januaryregistration 2021,procedures if you mustarrive applyin forSweden thebefore newor residencyon permit31 (uppehållsstatus)December by2020. 30If Septemberyou 2021.

Makeare sureresident youin readSweden thebefore guidanceor on supporting31 documentsDecember before2020, you apply.will Yoube canable submitto applicationsstay.

If forthere otherare familychanges membersto asresidency theregistration sameprocesses, timewe will update this guidance as yoursoon own.as information is available.

ReadIf theyou Swedishplan Migrationto Agency’slive guidancein onSweden residency for UKmore nationalsthan in1 Sweden.year, Youyou canmust alsoregister readwith the MigrationSwedish Agency’sPopulation guidanceRegister. onThe theSwedish rightsauthorities ofwill thirdissue countryyou nationalan familyID members.number (personnummer).

Moving to Sweden

CheckYou thecan entryonly requirementsregister forif Swedenyou andhave reada theright Swedishof Migrationresidence Agency’s(uppehållsrätt) guidancefor ona entryyear permits.

Passportsor more and comprehensive travel

You shouldinsurance. carryUnder yourthe residenceWithdrawal permit,Agreement, asyou wellwill asautomatically yourhave validthis passportright whenif you travel.can Ifsupport youyourself, haveeither appliedby butwork notor yetby receivedother yourindependent permit,means, carryor youryou certificateare of application.studying.

IfYou youwill have not yetbe appliedable to register if you are still looking for a residencejob permit,when you shouldcome carryto evidenceSweden thatand youor aredo residentnot inmeet Sweden.other Thisrequirements couldfor includeresidency.

If ayou’re tenancyplanning agreementto ormove as a utilitydependent billto a family member who lives in yourSweden name,you datingmust fromapply 2020.for a residence permit.

IfRead youthe cannotSwedish showgovernment thatguidance youon areresidency residentfor UK nationals in Sweden,Sweden youon maythe beSwedish askedMigration additionalAgency questionswebsite at(Migrationsverket).

Passports theand bordertravel

The torules enteron thetravel Schengenwill area,stay andthe yoursame passportuntil maythe betransition stampedperiod ends on entry31 andDecember exit.2020. ThisDuring willthis nottime affectyou yourcan rightscontinue to travel to countries in Sweden.the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

Passports

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

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

Passports from 1 January 2021

YouCheck your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Sweden, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

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.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before bookingtravelling your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180for day-period,longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst yourthe 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Driving in Sweden

TravelDriving tolicence therules UKwill andstay Irelandthe hassame notuntil changed.31 December 2020.

Driving

If you are a resident in Sweden

Sweden, you should exchange your UK licence for a Swedish one. 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

Healthcare

ReadYou ourmust read the EU guidance on healthcarecar registration and taxes in Sweden. andYou makemay surebe exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you arewill correctlyneed registered.certificates of exemption.

Healthcare

YouIf canyou alsoare findliving informationin onSweden theor Swedishmove Socialthere Insurancepermanently Agency’sbefore website31 (Försäkringskassan)

IfDecember your2020, UKyou’ll employerhave haslife-long senthealthcare yourights toin Sweden temporarily,as youryou accessdo tonow, healthcareprovided isyou different.remain Findresident.

Read outthe howguidance toon who can access healthcare asin aSweden postedand workerhow to register.

You can also find information on the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s website (Försäkringskassan).

State healthcare: S1

If you havelive ain registeredSweden S1 form and werereceive livingan inexportable SwedenUK beforepension, 1contribution-based JanuaryEmployment 2021,Support yourAllowance rightsor toanother accessexportable healthcarebenefit, willyou staymay thecurrently samebe ifentitled youto arestate either:

• receivinghealthcare apaid UKfor Stateby Pension
• receivingthe someUK. otherYou ‘exportablewill benefits’
• aneed frontierto workerapply whofor livesa incertificate Swedenof andentitlement commutesknown toas workan inS1 the UK

certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form in Sweden to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare..

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Sweden, you must not use your UKEHIC issuedfrom EHICthe forUK to access healthcare in Sweden.

IfWhen you weretravel livingto in Sweden beforefor 1a Januarytemporary 2021,stay youin mayanother beEuropean eligibleEconomic forArea a(EEA) newcountry UK-issuedor EHICSwitzerland, ifyou you’re:

• acan UKuse studentan inEHIC Sweden
• ato UKaccess Statestate-provided Pensionerhealthcare within athat registeredcountry. S1
During that short stay:
• athe frontierEHIC workercovers withtreatment athat registeredis S1

Applymedically nownecessary foruntil ayour newplanned UKreturn EHIC

Anhome

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

  Forinsurance

• for more information you can read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad

• finding an English-speaking doctor in Sweden

• checking 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)

Working and studying in Sweden

If you wereare legallyregistered as a resident in Sweden beforeyou 1have Januarythe 2021, your right to work willin staySweden. theYou same,can asread longour asguidance youon remainworking legallyin resident.an EU country.

Some jobs may require a UK police certificate.

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

If you are planningresident toin come to Sweden to work, you may need a work permit. Read the Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance on howor tobefore apply31 forDecember a2020, workyour permit.

Frontierright workers

If you live in Sweden and were regularly commuting to work inwill anotherstay EUthe orsame, EFTAas country,long beforeas 1 January 2021 you mayremain need a permit to show you are a frontier worker. You must also apply for a residency permit in Sweden.resident.

Studying in Sweden

You willshould becheck eligible for the same tuition fees as Swedish nationals,Migration asAgency longwebsite asfor youinformation wereon legallywhen residentand inhow SwedenUK beforenationals 1can January 2021. You must apply for a residencework permit in Sweden.permit.

Read

Studying our guidance on:

• continuing your studies in the EU
• healthcare for students in Sweden

Moving to Sweden to study

If you are planningresident to study in Sweden,Sweden makeon sureor you meet all visa requirements before you31 arrive.December Contact2020, theyour relevantright Higherto Educationstudy provider in Sweden towill checkstay whatthe feessame, youas maylong haveas toyou pay.remain resident.

Read our guidance on studying in the EuropeanSwedish Uniongovernment’s and guidance on comingstudying toin Sweden toand studyour guidance on thestudying Universityin Admissionsthe website.European Union.

Money and tax

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

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Sweden have not changed.

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 needcan to pay National Insurance inwhile theabroad UKso orthat socialyou securityprotect contributionsyour inState Sweden.

Banking

WhetherPension UKand banksentitlement can provide services to customersother livingbenefits in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation.allowances.

If Your bank or finance provider should contact you ifare theyemployed needor toself-employed makein any changes to your product or the wayEU theyand provide it. If you have anya concernsUK-issued aboutA1/E101 whetherform, you mightwill beremain affected,subject contactto yourUK providerlegislation oruntil seek independent financial advice.

Read the Moneyend anddate Pension Service guidance on banking,the insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.form.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Sweden

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

ReadIf theyou Moneyget anda ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, guidanceyou onneed pensionto andfill retirementit changesin forpromptly moreor informationyour onpayments cross-bordermay pensions.be suspended.

Life

Pensions certificatesafter 31 December 2020

IfThere youwill getbe no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a ‘liferesult certificate’of fromthe UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension Service,uprated every year for as long as you needcontinue to respondlive there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as soonlong as possible.you Yourmeet paymentsthe mayqualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.

If you are living in Sweden by 31 December 2020, you will be suspendedable to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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 don’t.claim your pension after 31 December 2020.

Benefits

ReadIf you are considering moving to Sweden on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on entitlementbenefits and pensions in the EU.

You can continue to receive your UK benefitsState Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and pensionsyou whilecan still claim your UK State Pension.

Benefits

You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are livingmoving or retiring abroad.

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

CheckYou whichshould:

• read UKguidance on claiming benefits if you canlive, claimmove whileor travel abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  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 Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)
• the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen)

Voting

Benefits after 31 December 2020

YouThere canwill votebe no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Sweden, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Swedish localcontribution-based electionsbenefits. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 331 yearsDecember of2020.

If residency.you are considering moving to Sweden on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Voting

If you are resident in Sweden, you can vote in Swedish local elections.

You cannot vote in general elections or European Parliament elections.

You can read more information on the Swedish government’s election authority website (Valmyndigheten).

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

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

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by Sweden or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime, Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to getobtain thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read our guidance on:

• on bringing your pet tointo GB
• travelling with your pet in the EUUK
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

Other useful information

• government offices of Sweden
• about Sweden
• directory enquiries

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, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.