Guidance

Living in Sweden

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Sweden – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
2 January 2014
Last updated
12 December 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Sweden

Help from the Swedish government

For any questions about moving to or living in Sweden, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Stockholm cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Sweden.

Professional help in Sweden

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Sweden, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Sweden to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Sweden. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Sweden before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in Sweden. 

You can get a visa or residence permit to:

  • work
  • study
  • live with family in Sweden
  • volunteer
  • do research

For more information, read the Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance for British citizens who want to move to Sweden.

Registering as a resident

Once you arrive, you need to register with the Swedish population register if you plan to stay for 12 months or more.

If you have any problems or questions about registering your residency, contact:

Extending or replacing your visa or residence permit

Contact the Swedish Migration Agency for information on how to:

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Sweden when your initial residence permit expires.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance on applying for a permanent residence permit.

Citizenship

Sweden recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Swedish citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Swedish citizenship:

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Stockholm cannot help with Swedish visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Residency if you moved to Sweden before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Sweden before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Residence documents if you moved to Sweden before 1 January 2021 

If you moved to Sweden before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a ‘uppehållsstatus’ residence status card. This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. 

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll need an ‘uppehållsstatus’ residence status card when entering or leaving Sweden. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to Sweden or other Schengen countries.

If you do not have a residence document

If you were living in Sweden before 1 January 2021, but do not have an ‘uppehållsstatus’ residence status card, you must apply for residence status as a British citizen. You’ll need to submit evidence to prove that you met the residency criteria at the time.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a biometric residence card called a ‘uppehållsstatuskort’.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. Consider getting legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Sweden.

For more information, read the Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance on appealing a decision.

Renewing your residence document if you moved to Sweden before 1 January 2021

You’ll need to renew your residence document when it expires.

Read guidance on renewing your residence status card or certificate. For more information, contact the Swedish Migration Agency.

Bringing family members to Sweden if you moved there before 1 January 2021

The Swedish Migration Agency’s guidance for family members of British citizens with residence status explains:

  • which family members can join you in Sweden
  • how and when they should apply for their residence document

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

If you have a Swedish residence permit or long stay visa, the time you spend in Sweden does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residence status card or residence document when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence status card, residence document or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

If you have dual citizenship with an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, you should enter and leave Sweden using your EU or EFTA passport.

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.

British nationals legally resident in Sweden, and who have a residence status card (‘uppehållsstatuskort’) or other valid EU biometric residence document do not need to register with the EES. Read the Swedish Police Authority’s guidance on the EES.

If you’re legally resident in Sweden but do not have a residence status card, contact the Swedish Migration Agency for information on how to get one.

For more information about the EES:

Healthcare in Sweden

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Sweden

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

You can also read the Swedish government’s guidance on working in Sweden.

To work in Sweden, you may need a work permit or visa. Our guidance on travelling to Sweden for work explains the different work permits and visas available to you. 

You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in Sweden legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

To apply for a job, you may need to provide a:

If you live in Sweden and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Sweden, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.

Driving in Sweden

Read our guidance on moving, living and retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Swedish Transport Agency provides information on driving in Sweden, including how to:

For more information read guidance on:

Driving in Sweden using a foreign driving licence 

You can drive in Sweden using a valid driving licence issued in the UK or Gibraltar until the licence expires.

If you have a Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man licence, you can use it to drive in Sweden for 12 months from the date you became resident.

You cannot renew or replace any of these driving licences if you live in Sweden.

Exchanging a UK or Gibraltar driving licence

You may find it helpful to exchange your UK or Gibraltar licence for a Swedish licence. Some employers require an EU driving licence. There is no time limit for exchanging your licence and you do not need to take a driving test.

Read the Swedish Transport Agency’s guidance on how to exchange your foreign driving licence.

If your UK or Gibraltar driving licence is lost, stolen or expired, you’ll need to apply for a Swedish driving licence. To do this, you’ll need a ‘certificate of entitlement’.

A certificate of entitlement sets out the categories of vehicles you’re entitled to drive. You can get this from the authority that issued your driving licence (for example, the DVLA).

Exchanging a Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence

You cannot exchange a Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence for a Swedish licence. To continue driving after 12 months from the date you became resident in Sweden, you must apply for a Swedish driving licence. You’ll need to pass a theory and practical driving test.

The UK and Sweden are currently negotiating long-term arrangements for exchanging Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man licences without the need for a test. Sign up for email alerts to get notified when we update this page. 

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for:

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Sweden, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance. 

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

Contact the Swedish Tax Agency for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Sweden. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Sweden.

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK state pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming a Swedish pension

Contact the Swedish Pensions Agency (in Swedish) to find out whether you can claim a Swedish pension.

You can also read guidance on the Swedish pension system.

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit. 

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Swedish benefits

You may be entitled to some Swedish benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim:

Buying and renting property in Sweden

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad. 

The Swedish government’s guidance on working in Sweden contains information on finding a home.

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Sweden if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Sweden

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Swedish elections

You may be eligible to vote in Swedish local elections if you have been legally resident in Sweden for at least 3 years.

You cannot vote in Swedish general elections unless you hold Swedish citizenship.

You also cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.

Read the Swedish Election Authority’s guidance on the right to vote in Sweden.

Studying in Sweden

If you plan to study in Sweden, you must meet all visa and residence requirements before you travel.

You do not need a student visa or residence permit if you have been living in Sweden legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the school system in Sweden.

All children must attend school or home school in Sweden for 9 years, from age 6 or 7 to age 15 or 16.

For more information, read the Swedish government’s guidance on the Swedish school system.

Childcare

The Swedish National Agency for Education is responsible for early childhood education and care in Sweden.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Sweden, register the birth with the Swedish authorities. 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Sweden, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or form a civil partnership abroad. 

The Swedish government provides information on marriage in Sweden.

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

The Swedish Tax Agency offers guidance on how to get a divorce in Sweden.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Sweden. 

Documents for British people in Sweden

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Sweden, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Sweden, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

If the NHS funds your healthcare in Sweden through the S1 form, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Swedish authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 2 January 2014
Last updated 12 December 2025 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  2. Updated with the start date for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

  3. Information about the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) added. The guidance has also been reviewed and updated as necessary.

  4. Visas and residency, healthcare, accommodation and buying property, and births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships sections updated.

  5. Important information in the Working in Sweden, and National insurance sections if you work in Sweden, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

  6. Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

  7. Visas and residency section updated: deadline for residency applications extended to 31 December 2021.

  8. Guidance reviewed for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.

  9. Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in Sweden, Studying in Sweden, Emergencies, and Returning to the UK sections.

  10. Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Sweden after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.

  11. Working in Sweden section updated: new guidance for frontier workers

  12. See Driving section for when you can exchange your UK driving licence; see Working in Sweden for update on frontier worker permits; see Studying in Sweden for student healthcare registration.

  13. Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working and studying in Sweden section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services, updated with information on funding eligibility for students, and with link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.

  14. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

  15. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on pet travel and moving to Sweden

  16. Visas and residency section updated on how to apply for the new residence permit. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

  17. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers

  18. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  19. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  20. New information on the proposed Swedish special residency process permit added to the ´visas and residency after Brexit´ section.

  21. Brexit update: Register for new Q&A session for UK nationals on 7 October in central Stockholm. See the ‘attend one of our citizens outreach meetings’ section.

  22. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  23. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  24. The guide contains new links to government guidance on returning to the UK in case of a no-deal Brexit.

  25. EU Exit update: updated EU Exit information in the visas and residency, healthcare, driving licences and working sections

  26. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  27. EU Exit update: Added information about outreach event to EU Exit section

  28. EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. You must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.

  29. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare

  30. EU exit update - updated information on pensions and driving

  31. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in Pets section.

  32. Updated link to driving in Sweden

  33. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  34. updated

  35. updated information

  36. updated information

  37. updated information

  38. Added an updated Living in Sweden guide

  39. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content