Residence permit and insurance
This page provides information to help you prepare for your journey to Sweden, such as residence permits, work permits, and insurances. The information is applicable for students, researchers, faculty, and staff.
Residence permits for researchers, faculty, staff and PhD students
As an EU citizen, you have the right to work, study, or live in Sweden without a residence permit. You have the right of residence if you are employed, self-employed, a student, or have sufficient means to support yourself. If you have the right of residence in Sweden, you do not need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). When entering Sweden, you need a valid passport or ID card showing your citizenship.
If you are an EU citizen but you have family who are not, they need to apply for a residence permit.
Citizens of Switzerland
You can apply for a residence permit if you are a citizen of Switzerland.
Citizens of Nordic countries
Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland may live in Sweden without registering or obtaining a residence permit. Registering with the Swedish Tax Agency is sufficient.
People who have lived in an EU country
If you have lived in an EU country but are not an EU citizen, under some circumstances you may be granted status as a long-term resident of that country. You will then have rights similar to those of EU citizens.
Short stay
Exemptions from the work permit requirements apply to the following categories:
- Researchers or teachers at higher education institutions who participate in research, teaching, or lecturing activities for up to three months altogether over the period of 12 months.
- Researchers who have a residence permit for research in another EU country and will carry out part of their research in Sweden with an approved research funding body. The exemption is valid for a maximum of 180 days during a 360-day period.
If you belong to one of the above categories, you do not need a work permit, but citizens of certain countries need a visa. Read more at the Migration Agency’s website
Longer stay – more than three months
If you plan to stay in Sweden for longer than three months, you will need a residence permit for researchers, work permit (applies to those not doing any research), or residence permit for studies (applies to doctoral studies).
You must apply for the permit from your native country or other country outside Sweden where you are living. If you apply online using the Migration Agency website, you will get a decision sooner, providing that the Migration Agency does not need to request further information.
Find more information and on-line application forms at the Swedish Migration Agency’s website:
- Resident permit for researchers
- Work permit for non-researchers
- Residence permit for doctoral studies, PhD students
- Residence permit for students
Family members
Your family can receive a residence permit for the same period as you. They also apply in your online application.
Residence permits are granted to:
- Husband, wife and registered partner
- Employees' children under the age of 21
- Researchers’ children under the age of 18
- Students’ and doctoral students’ children under 18 years of age
Follow the links above to see what applies to your specific category.
Insurance for researchers, faculty, staff, and doctoral students
Make sure you are fully insured throughout your entire stay in Sweden. If your spouse/partner and/or children accompany you to Sweden, they too need to make sure that they have sufficient insurance. Check this before arriving in Sweden.
As an employee at a university, you are generally covered by various kinds of insurance, both at work and on the way to your workplace, but also during business travels. Check with your department when you sign the contract.
Depending on the duration of your stay and your country of citizenship, you may be eligible for state-subsidised healthcare. Without it, medical costs in Sweden can be expensive and you should consider getting a private medical insurance.
EU/EEA citizens staying for less than a year are strongly advised to bring their European health insurance card, EHIC card. The card gives you the right to necessary health care at reduced cost. Also, check if you need an S1 certificate or a private health insurance.
If you are a non-EU citizen staying for less than a year, speak to your host at the University about the Insurance for foreign visitors (former GIF insurance). This insurance provides the following coverage: personal injury protection, medical and dental coverage, home transport, personal property coverage, third-party liability, and legal expenses. The insurance provides 24-hour coverage in Sweden and throughout the Schengen area if you have a Schengen visa.
If you plan to stay in Sweden for at least one year, you must generally be entered into the Swedish population register. You do this by registering with the Swedish Tax Agency. Once you are registered in Sweden, you are entitled to healthcare under the same conditions as other residents of Sweden. This means that you pay the regular Swedish patient fee for medical care in the public healthcare system. You may also be entitled to different types of compensation and allowances from the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).
We recommend that you purchase home insurance policy (hemförsäkring) for the duration of your stay here. If anything is stolen from your residence, or if any property is damaged or lost during your stay, you are responsible for repair or replacement costs. In addition to personal property, home insurance should also cover liability, legal expenses, and travel insurance. A home insurance policy is sold by most insurance companies in Sweden.
Payments of unemployment insurance can take two forms, a basic benefit or an income-related benefit. Unemployment insurance is not a part of the social insurance system in Sweden. Unemployment insurance is connected closely to the trade unions but is legally independent. When you start working in Sweden, investigate which unemployment insurance scheme (widely known as A-Kassa) is available.
Social insurance is an important part of the Swedish social security system. Swedish social insurance covers most people who live or work in Sweden. The social insurance system is administered by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan). The purpose of the social insurance system is to provide financial security during the various stages of life. It provides financial protection for families and children, such as for people with disabilities, illnesses, and work injuries, and for old people.
To be eligible for social insurance benefits, you must, as a general rule; either formally reside in Sweden or be employed and work here.
Read more at www.forsakningskassan.se
Find out more
Residence permits for students
As an EU citizen, you have the right to work, study, and live in Sweden without a residence permit. You have right of residence if you are a student, which means that you do not need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). When entering Sweden, you need a valid passport or ID card showing your citizenship.
If you are an EU citizen but you have family members who are not, they need to apply for a residence permit.
Citizens of Switzerland
You need to apply for a residence permit if you are a citizen of Switzerland and plan to stay in Sweden for longer than three months.
Citizens of Nordic countries
Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland may live in Sweden without registering or obtaining a residence permit. Registering with the Swedish Tax Agency is sufficient.
People who have lived in an EU country for at least five years
If you have lived in an EU country but are not an EU citizen, under some circumstances you may be granted status as a long-term resident of that country. You will then have rights similar to those of EU citizens.
Short stay – less than three months
If your total period of stay in Sweden is less than three months, you should not apply for a residence permit. Instead, apply for an entry visa. Citizens of some countries may stay in Sweden for up to three months without a residence permit or visa. During this period, it is permitted to study.
- Countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Sweden
- Information about entry visas on the Swedish Migration Agency's website
Longer stay – more than three months
If you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country and are planning to stay for longer than three months, you need to apply for a residence permit. The permit must be issued before you travel to Sweden.
Family members
Your family can receive a residence permit for the same period as you. The permit must have been issued before you travel to Sweden.
If you are planning to study in Sweden for one year or more, you need to be registered in the Swedish population register. Once registered, you will be issued a personal identity number, or personnummer. To register, you must apply in person at the Swedish Tax Agency.
Why a personal identity number?
The personnummer simplifies a whole range of transactions and services in Swedish society. For instance, it enables you to get an identity card, open a bank account, and receive healthcare benefits. Students who have a personal identity number are entitled to medical care under the same conditions as Swedish citizens.
Apply for a personal identity number
To apply for a personnummer, you need to hand in your application at a tax agency office*.
Make sure you bring the following documents
- A valid passport (or a valid national identity card if you are a citizen of a country in the European Economic Area [EEA] or Switzerland).
- A residence permit card valid for at least one year if you are a citizen of a country outside the EEA or if you are stateless. This also applies to citizens of Switzerland.
- Proof of right of residence if you are a citizen of an EEA country.
- Proof of your marital status (applicable only if you are married, divorced, or widowed).
- Birth certificates if you have children.
All documents must be original or certified copies.
*The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) has several offices in Gothenburg:
- Östra Hamngatan 16 (Lilla Bommen)
- Hvitfeldtsplatsen 9 (Rosenlund)
- Frölunda Lilla Saluhall (Frölunda torg, hus 2 near Handelsbanken)
- Vågmästaregatan 1 (Hisingen)
Read more about civic registration on the Swedish Tax Agency’s website
As soon as you have obtained a personal identity number, contact one of our Servicecenters or your department to replace the temporary identification number in our systems. This will help you avoid future administrative problems. Make sure to bring the Swedish civic registration document (personbevis) that you receive when you receive your personal identity number.
Problems with residence permit applications Autumn 2023
We have published a FAQ page with the ambition to answer common questions:
Insurance for students
Make sure you are fully insured throughout your entire stay in Sweden, as well as during travel to and from Sweden. If your spouse/partner and/or children accompany you to Sweden, they too need to have sufficient insurance. Check this before arriving in Sweden.
As a student at a university, you are generally covered by various kinds of insurance.
As a student of the University of Gothenburg, you are covered by a personal injury insurance that covers your time at school and your travel to and from school.
Terms and conditions of the Personal injury insurance at Kammarkollegiet’s website.
The Student IN insurance is a complement to the personal injury insurance. It covers exchange students at the University. Student IN provides coverage for the following:
- disability and death benefits;
- medical and dental care;
- home transport;
- personal property coverage;
- third-party liability;
- legal expenses.
The insurance applies during direct travel between the home country and Sweden as well as two weeks before the start of study and two weeks after the end of study.
Student IN insurance for exchange students at Kammarkollegiet’s website.
The FAS+ insurance, sometimes written as FAS Plus, is a complement to the personal injury insurance. It covers fee-paying students at the University. FAS+ provides coverage for the following:
- disability and death benefits;
- medical and dental care;
- home transport;
- personal property coverage;
- third party liability;
- legal expenses.
The insurance applies during direct travel between the home country and Sweden as well as two weeks before the start of study and two weeks after the end of study.
EU/EEA citizens staying for less than a year are strongly advised to bring their European health insurance card, EHIC card. This card gives you the right to necessary healthcare at reduced cost.
Citizens of a Nordic country
If you are a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, or Norway, you are entitled to healthcare at the same cost as Swedish citizens. All you need to show is a valid ID and provide your address in your home country.
If you plan to stay in Sweden for at least one year, you must generally be entered into the Swedish population register. Once you are registered in Sweden, you are entitled to healthcare under the same conditions as other residents of Sweden. This means that you pay the regular Swedish patient fee for medical care in the public healthcare system. Opening a bank account and many administrative processes will also be easier once you have a personal identity number. You may also be entitled to different types of compensation and allowances from the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency
The Social Insurance Agency’s role is to administer the areas of social insurance that provide financial security in the event of illness, disability, and for families with children.
The Swedish Migration Agency
The Swedish Migration Agency considers applications from people who want to live in Sweden, visit the country, seek protection from persecution, or be granted Swedish citizenship.
The Swedish Tax Agency
The Swedish Tax Agency manages civil registration of private individuals and collects such taxes as personal income tax, corporate tax, VAT, and excise tax.