Your passport proves who you are almost everywhere, but not always in Sweden. Here is who can get Skatteverket’s ID card, how to prove your identity when your passport isn’t on the list, and what changes when Polisen takes over.
When you need this
You have just been registered in Sweden and your bank says it needs a Swedish ID document before it will give you BankID. You’re a non-EU resident and your passport keeps getting turned down at Swedish counters. Your teenager, 13 or older, needs Swedish ID. Or you already hold Skatteverket’s card and heard it is being abolished, and you want to know whether to apply now or wait for Polisen’s new card.
What the card is, and why newcomers need it
Skatteverket, the Swedish Tax Agency, has issued an identitetskort för folkbokförda i Sverige (ID card for people registered in Sweden) since 1 June 2009. It exists because Polisen’s passport and national ID card are for Swedish citizens only, and the state wanted non-citizens to be able to get a Swedish identity document too. The card is governed by Lag (2015:899) and Förordning (2015:904).
Three things define it:
| Feature | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Who | Anyone aged 13+ who is folkbokförd (registered in the population register), whatever their citizenship |
| Where it works | As ID inside Sweden only; it is not a travel document |
| Validity | At most five years |
Why bother, when a passport is perfectly good ID? Because much of Swedish life wants a Swedish document that shows your Swedish personnummer. Swedbank, for example, lists an approved Swedish ID document showing your personnummer as a requirement for ordering Mobile BankID. For a non-EU resident, Skatteverket’s card is usually the first Swedish ID within reach, which makes it the step between registration and BankID (see BankID for visitors).
The card also carries an e-ID at the highest Swedish trust level, but in practice it is only used to identify yourself to Skatteverket.
The card is being replaced: what changes in 2026 and 2027
This is the part most English pages haven’t caught up with, and Skatteverket’s own application pages don’t mention it either.
Older pages may be out of date: on 3 September 2026 the government sent the Council on Legislation (Lagrådet) a proposal to repeal the ID-card law from 1 March 2027. As of 14 October 2026 it is a proposal, not yet passed by the Riksdag, so the dates may still move.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | Polisen opens bookings for Sverige-id by phone, 114 14 |
| 1 December 2026 | Sverige-id, the new state e-ID, launches; registered foreigners get it on an ID card without a travel function |
| End of February 2027 | Last month to apply to Skatteverket, under the proposal |
| 1 March 2027 | Proposed repeal of Lag (2015:899) |
Polisen says its new card for registered foreigners will, according to the government’s proposal, replace Skatteverket’s card. The government also wants Skatteverket to tell applicants between 1 December 2026 and the end of February 2027 about Polisen’s card and encourage them to apply there, though anyone who still wants Skatteverket’s card is entitled to it while the law applies. Applications made before the repeal would still be decided under the old rules.
What about cards already issued? The government’s assessment is that they stay valid until they expire. The Swedish Bankers’ Association warned that banks need to keep checking whether a card has been blocked, and Skatteverket has confirmed that service stays as long as valid cards exist. Still, watch your own bank’s rules over the next few years.
Who can apply
| Situation | Skatteverket’s card? |
|---|---|
| Registered in Sweden, aged 13+, any citizenship | Yes |
| Under 18 | Yes, with written consent from every guardian |
| Tourist or visitor | No: registration needs an expected stay of at least a year |
| Only a coordination number (samordningsnummer) | No: the law covers only registered people |
| Diplomat given a personnummer under the special rule | No |
If you’re not yet registered, start with registering where you live; the card needs the personnummer that registration brings. Coordination-number holders, such as short-term workers, are covered in coordination numbers and bank accounts.
Proving your identity: passports, permits and attestors
The law says you must prove your identity when you apply. Skatteverket’s accepted-document list is narrow:
- A Skatteverket ID card, Swedish passport, Polisen’s national ID card or Swedish driving licence
- A Swedish SIS-certified ID card from a bank, company or agency, or certain Swedish agency service cards
- A passport from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland issued on or after 1 September 2006
- An EU passport meeting security requirements, issued on or after 1 September 2006
- An EU national ID card meeting security requirements, issued on or after 2 August 2021
No other foreign passport is on that list. A US, Indian or Chinese passport alone does not prove your identity for the card.
But you don’t necessarily need an attestor. Many expat guides say non-EU applicants must find someone to vouch for them. The law offers another route: if you have a Swedish residence permit, your identity counts as proven when your application matches what Migrationsverket registered for the permit, unless there are special reasons against it. You have to say you want to use this route.
If neither works, an attestor (intygsgivare) who knows you well can come with you and prove their own identity:
| Attestor | Extra requirement |
|---|---|
| Spouse, registered partner, parent, guardian or grandparent | None |
| Adult child, grandchild or sibling | Aged 18+ |
| Cohabiting partner | Lived together as a couple for at least six months |
| Employer | Employed there at least one year, plus a document showing it |
| God man (legal guardian), foster parent or public official | A document showing the relationship |
How to apply, step by step
- Check you qualify: registered, with a personnummer, aged 13+.
- Decide between Skatteverket and Polisen. From 1 December 2026 you can apply to Polisen for Sverige-id with its ID card instead.
- Pay first. Pay the fee by Swish, bank giro or cash before you book, and keep the receipt or bank statement. You cannot pay at the office.
- Book the visit yourself, free. Use the link on skatteverket.se to the state service offices (Statens servicecenter). Not every office issues ID cards.
- Bring your proof of identity: an accepted document, your residence permit or an attestor.
- Appear in person. Staff take your photo and measure your height, and you sign the application there. Head coverings and glasses come off unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
- Under 18? Bring written consent from every guardian, for example on form SKV 1502, or have them come along.
- Collect it in person. You get a text or letter when the card is ready, normally after about two weeks. Collect within two months with your application receipt; no booking needed.
Warning: Skatteverket warned in May 2024 about a company selling “booking services” that charged on top of the fee, and some of the bookings were never made. Booking is free.
If the card is lost or stolen, Skatteverket says you must block it yourself. If your name changes, apply for a new card; no reminder comes. A refusal can be appealed to the administrative court.
Why a foreign passport fails at some Swedish counters
A passport is still the best ID you have for most of daily life. Systembolaget accepts passports for age checks (see carrying ID in Sweden). It fails in two specific places:
| Where | Why |
|---|---|
| Your bank, for BankID | Banks want a Swedish ID document showing your personnummer; a passport shows none |
| Skatteverket’s ID-card counter | Only EU, EEA and Swiss passports are on the list |
Some employers and banks issue SIS-certified ID cards to staff or customers, built on the Swedish standard SS 614314. Skatteverket accepts these as proof of identity, and many shops and Systembolaget accept them as ID. Ask your bank or employer whether they offer one. For the bigger picture of what a newcomer’s first month looks like, see moving to Sweden for work.
Practical information
| Item | What to know | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | 400 kr, paid by Swish, bank giro or cash before booking | 2026-10-14 |
| Booking the visit | Free, through skatteverket.se | 2026-10-14 |
| Processing time | About two weeks | 2026-10-14 |
| Validity | At most five years | 2026-10-14 |
| Collection | In person, within two months | 2026-10-14 |
| Polisen’s Sverige-id card | From 1 December 2026; fee not yet published, see polisen.se | 2026-10-14 |
| Last Skatteverket applications | End of February 2027 (proposed) | 2026-10-14 |
FAQ
Who can get a Swedish ID card from Skatteverket?
Anyone aged 13 or over who is registered in the Swedish population register (folkbokförd) and has a personnummer. Citizenship does not matter. Tourists, people staying under a year and people with only a coordination number cannot get one. Under 18s need written consent from every guardian. You must apply in person at a service office that issues ID cards.
How much does the Skatteverket ID card cost?
The application fee is 400 kronor, set in the ordinance, and you must pay it before you book: by Swish, to Skatteverket’s bank giro, or in cash. You cannot pay at the service office, so bring the receipt or a bank statement. Booking the visit is free; ignore companies selling booking services. Prices checked 14 October 2026.
Can I use my foreign passport to apply?
Only some. Skatteverket accepts EU passports and passports from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland issued from 1 September 2006, and EU national ID cards issued from 2 August 2021, if they meet security requirements. Other passports are not on the list. If you have a Swedish residence permit, your identity can be proven through the permit instead, or an attestor can vouch for you.
Is Skatteverket’s ID card being abolished?
Probably. On 3 September 2026 the government proposed repealing the ID-card law from 1 March 2027, so applications would close at the end of February 2027. From 1 December 2026 Polisen issues Sverige-id on an ID card for registered foreigners, meant to replace Skatteverket’s card. Existing cards should stay valid until they expire. The Riksdag had not voted as of October 2026.
Can I travel with the Skatteverket ID card?
No. Skatteverket says its ID card cannot be used instead of a passport or travel document for trips abroad, and is an approved ID document only within Sweden. Swedish citizens can use Polisen’s national ID card within Schengen, but foreign residents travel on their own passport or national ID card. Polisen’s new card for registered foreigners has no travel function either.
Why won’t my bank accept my foreign passport for BankID?
Because banks want a Swedish ID document that shows your Swedish personnummer. Swedbank, for example, lists that as a requirement for ordering Mobile BankID, and a coordination number is not enough. A foreign passport shows no personnummer, so newly registered residents usually get Skatteverket’s card, or from December 2026 Polisen’s card, first.
Related guides
- Registering where you live — the registration the card depends on
- The personnummer explained — the number your card displays
- BankID for visitors — what the card unlocks, and life without it
- Moving to Sweden for work — where the card fits in your first month
- EU citizens in Sweden — right of residence and registering
Facts verified 2026-10-14. Sources: Sveriges riksdag (Lag 2015:899, Förordning 2015:904, Folkbokföringslag 1991:481), Regeringen (lagrådsremiss of 3 September 2026), Skatteverket, Polismyndigheten, DNV and the operators named — full register in this topic’s source file. This is general information, not legal advice. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.