Commute to a job in Sweden
This information is for EU/EEA citizens only
Get a Swedish “Coordination number”
When you start working in Sweden, you must pay income tax in Sweden. Therefore, you must register with the Swedish Tax Authority, Skatteverket. You do not need to have a Swedish personal number to work in Sweden, but you must acquire a coordination number. You get a coordination number by applying for Swedish taxation from the Swedish Tax Authority.
If you are a daily commuter between Denmark and Sweden and have not lived in Sweden previously you should register for special income tax for non-residents (SINK).
Application for special income tax for non-residents (SINK) at Skatteverket
SINK tax or ordinary Swedish income tax?
If you live in Denmark and are a daily commuter to a job in Sweden, you have the option of choosing whether you will be taxed according to the Swedish SINK scheme - 25 per cent flat rate tax, but no deductions - or according to the ordinary Swedish income tax rules.
Read more about the different taxation schemes and how to apply for SINK taxation
Transfer your membership of an unemployment fund and trade union
If you live in Denmark and work in Sweden, you should be insured against unemployment in Sweden. Join a Swedish unemployment fund on your first working day in Sweden. If you are insured against unemployment in the wrong country, you are considered uninsured.
If you want to be a member of a trade union, you should also select a Swedish one as the Danish trade unions have no influence on the Swedish labour market. If you are already a member of an unemployment insurance fund and a trade union in Denmark, you must transfer your memberships to the Swedish counterparts. Please contact your Danish unemployment fund and/or trade union for information about how you do this.
Some unions have Nordic cooperation and can offer you a guest membership. Please check with your union for more information.
Also read: Unemployment benefit - if you commute to/from Sweden
Get registered at the National Agency for Social Insurance (Försäkringskassan)
When you work in Sweden, you must be registered with the National Agency for Social Insurance. Registration means that you have social security in Sweden, and so you are entitled to social benefits from your country of employment.
This means that you will be able to receive health care and treatment, if you are working or living in Sweden.
Read more about social security in the article Health insurance in Sweden
Open a Swedish bank account
When you start working in Sweden, you must open a Swedish bank account to be able to receive your salary. Contact a Swedish bank to be sure which kind of documentation you need to bring. That could be, for example, an (Swedish) identification number and an employment contract. Do this as soon as possible, because it often takes some time to gather all this documentation.
It could be a good idea to contact several banks in order to compare their offers. Today many banks offer special solutions for commuters.
Review your pension plan
During the time you are in Sweden, you accrue a Swedish pension. In Sweden, the total pension consists of three parts: the public pension (allmän pension), a labour market pension, so-called occupational pension (tjänstepension) and private retirement savings. When you start working in Sweden, it is a good idea to review the conditions of public servant pensions in your workplace, because they can appear very different.
Bring valid identification
When commuting to Sweden you are obliged to show an identification in order to cross the border between Denmark and Sweden. The identification must at least contain information on: Full name, date of birth and social security number, a picture of you, your signature, your nationality, and the period of validity of your identification.
