Moving to Sweden is exciting, but the paperwork can feel overwhelming. Between the Swedish Migration Agency, the Swedish Tax Agency and the documents you bring from your home country, it is easy to lose track of what you actually need, and which papers have to be officially certified before a Swedish authority will accept them.
This guide walks you through every document you need to move to Sweden, organised by stage: what to prepare before you arrive, how to register once you are here, and which foreign documents need an Apostille, notarisation or authorised translation to be valid in Sweden. It also covers the Swedish documents you may later need to send abroad.
Quick checklist: documents you need to move to Sweden
Use this as a high level overview. Each item is explained in detail further down.
- Valid passport or national ID card for every family member.
- Residence permit from the Swedish Migration Agency (non-EU citizens).
- Birth certificate, and a document showing your civil status (single, married, divorced).
- Marriage certificate or partnership certificate, if applicable.
- Degree certificates and diplomas, especially if you plan to work or continue studying.
- Employment contract or proof of income, or proof you can support yourself.
- Documents for any children: birth certificates and, where relevant, custody documents.
Many of the foreign documents above need to be legalised with an Apostille and translated by an authorised translator before a Swedish authority will accept them. We explain exactly when below.
Before you arrive: documents to prepare in your home country
The single most common cause of delays is realising, after you land, that a key document is missing or cannot be used in Sweden because it was never properly certified. Sort these out while you are still in your home country.
Passport or national ID
Check that your passport is valid for the whole of your intended stay, and renew it in good time if it is close to expiring. EU and EEA citizens can use a national ID card; non-EU citizens will generally need a passport.
Residence permit (non-EU citizens)
If you are not an EU or EEA citizen, you usually need a residence permit before you move. This is handled by the Swedish Migration Agency and depends on your reason for moving, such as work, study, or joining a family member. Keep the decision and your residence permit card safe, because you will need them when you register with the Swedish Tax Agency.
Birth certificate and civil status documents
Bring your birth certificate and a document that proves your civil status. If you are married or in a registered partnership, bring that certificate too. These records are used both by the Migration Agency and during population registration, and for use in Sweden they often need to be recent, certified, and translated.
Degree certificates and diplomas
If you intend to work in a regulated profession or continue your education, prepare your degree certificates and diplomas. Employers, universities and licensing bodies may ask for certified copies and authorised translations. If you need to prove the authenticity of a foreign diploma, an Apostille on the original is often required.
Do your foreign documents need an Apostille or notarisation in Sweden?
A foreign public document is not automatically valid in Sweden. Depending on the country that issued it, it may need to be legalised first. The two routes are an Apostille and, for countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention, embassy legalisation.
Apostille on documents from Hague Convention countries
If your document was issued in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, a single Apostille certificate makes it valid for use in Sweden, with no further embassy step needed. The Apostille is issued in the country where the document originates, so this is usually arranged before you move. You can read more about how it works in our comprehensive Apostille guide.
Legalisation for documents from non-Convention countries
If the issuing country is not part of the Convention, the document normally has to go through a chain of legalisation that can include the relevant ministry and the Swedish embassy or consulate. This takes longer, so start early.
Notarisation and certified copies
Some authorities and counterparties ask for a notarised document or a certified copy rather than the original. In Sweden, a Notarius Publicus can certify that a copy matches the original and verify signatures. If you are unsure what a Swedish authority will accept, our guide to notarised document requirements in Sweden explains the difference.
Authorised translation
Documents in languages other than Swedish or English often need to be translated by an authorised translator. The translation may itself need to be certified so that it is accepted together with the original. It is usually most efficient to arrange legalisation and translation together.
After you arrive: registering in Sweden
Once you are in Sweden, registration is what unlocks everyday life: a personal identity number, healthcare, banking and more.
Population registration and your personnummer
If you plan to live in Sweden for 12 months or more, you generally register in the Swedish Population Register at the Swedish Tax Agency. You will be asked to show your passport and, for non-EU citizens, your residence permit card, along with documents proving your identity and civil status. After registration you receive a personnummer, the personal identity number used for almost everything in Sweden.
Swedish ID card
Once you have a personnummer you can apply for a Swedish ID card, which makes daily tasks such as collecting parcels, visiting a pharmacy or opening certain services much easier. Bring an approved identity document when you apply.
Swedish documents you may need to send abroad
A common example is a Swedish police clearance certificate, often requested for a job, visa or citizenship application in another country, which needs an Apostille to be accepted there.
Moving works in both directions. After you settle in Sweden you may need to send Swedish documents back to your home country or to a third country, for example a Swedish marriage certificate, an extract from the Population Register, a company document or a power of attorney. These Swedish documents usually need an Apostille from a Notarius Publicus to be valid abroad. Our guide to Swedish notary services explains which service applies to which document.
How Apostille24 can help
Apostille24 handles the certification side of your move so a missing stamp never holds you up. As a Notarius Publicus service we can notarise documents, certify copies, issue an Apostille, arrange embassy legalisation and provide authorised translation, both for the foreign documents you bring to Sweden and the Swedish documents you send abroad. You can handle most matters online, by post or at our drop-in office in central Stockholm. Tell us where your documents are going and we will put together a free, no-obligation quote.
See how document notarisation works | Read the full Apostille guide
Frequently asked questions
Which documents do I need to move to Sweden?
You typically need a valid passport or national ID, a residence permit if you are a non-EU citizen, your birth certificate, a document showing your civil status, any marriage or partnership certificate, and degree certificates if you plan to work or study. Many foreign documents must be legalised with an Apostille and translated by an authorised translator before a Swedish authority will accept them.
Do my foreign documents need an Apostille to be used in Sweden?
If your document was issued in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, a single Apostille makes it valid for use in Sweden with no further embassy step. Documents from countries outside the Convention usually need a longer chain of legalisation that can include the Swedish embassy or consulate.
How do I get a personnummer when I move to Sweden?
If you plan to live in Sweden for 12 months or more, you register in the Swedish Population Register at the Swedish Tax Agency. You show your passport and, for non-EU citizens, your residence permit card, together with documents proving your identity and civil status. After registration you receive a personnummer.
What is the difference between an Apostille and notarisation?
Notarisation is when a Notarius Publicus certifies a signature or that a copy matches the original. An Apostille is an international certificate, issued under the Hague Convention, that confirms the document and the official who certified it, so the document is accepted abroad without further legalisation.
Do I need to translate my documents into Swedish?
Documents in languages other than Swedish or English often need to be translated by an authorised translator. The translation may itself need to be certified so it is accepted together with the original. It is usually most efficient to arrange legalisation and translation at the same time.