Social Security

Global Goes Local assists employees that will start working in Sweden to register with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

Registration

Employees must have a permanent or temporary residence permit (uppehållstillstånd) and be insured in Sweden to receive benefits from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan). Being insured in Sweden means that the employee is covered by the Swedish social insurance system and is entitled to various kinds of benefits such as child allowance and sickness benefits.

The Social Insurance Agency decides whether the employee will be insured in Sweden and thus be entitled to benefits. The decision is based on information from the employee that needs to be submitted in a special form. The form should be submitted as soon as the employee has received the personal identity number (personnummer).

The employee must also satisfy the criteria that apply for a particular benefit to be able to receive the benefit. Some of the benefits are based on residency and others on work.

Healthcare

EU/EEA citizens

Citizens from any of the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland should register for a  European Health Insurance Card in their home country before coming to Sweden. This card gives the individual the right to medical care at the same costs as Swedish citizens.

If a  European Health Insurance Card has not been obtained in the home country and the employee will be staying in Sweden for less than a year the employee needs to arrange their own insurance coverage. However, the employee will always have access to emergency care.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens staying in Sweden for more than a year and having obtained a Swedish personal identity number are entitled to the same health benefits as Swedish citizens and pay Swedish patient fees.

Non-EU or non-EEA citizens

Citizens from a non-EU or a non-EEA country staying in Sweden for more than a year and registered in the Swedish population register are entitled to the same health benefits as Swedish citizens. The Swedish healthcare system is run by the counties (regioner) that provide subsidised care, although a small fee is charged for most services (patient fees). Sweden’s public healthcare system is ranked among the best in the world but there are also private healthcare options.

Non-EU or non-EEA citizens staying in Sweden for less than a year will not have automatic access to Swedish health insurance and must arrange for their own insurance coverage. However, the employee will always have access to emergency care.