Applying for a Swedish ID Card (id-kort) at Skatteverket

As soon as you have your personnummer, the next question comes up: do I need a Swedish ID card even though I already have a valid passport from my home country? The short answer: in most cases, yes – at least if you want to make everyday life easier.

In this post we explain what the Tax Agency's id-kort is, who can get one, what it costs, how the application works and what changes are coming up.

What is the Skatteverket id-kort?

The id-kort is a Swedish identity card issued by Skatteverket – the Swedish Tax Agency, which is also responsible for the population register – to people who are folkbokförda (registered as residents) in Sweden. It is also intended for people without Swedish citizenship.

The key facts:

• The card shows your personnummer.
• It is valid for five years.
• It contains an e-legitimation that lets you log in to Skatteverket's online services, for example.
• It is not a travel document – for travelling you still need your passport or national ID card from your home country.

Why a Swedish ID card if you already have a passport?

Your passport is of course valid and accepted in many places. Still, you will quickly hit limits in everyday Swedish life:

• Banks and BankID: Many banks require a Swedish ID document (svensk id-handling) that shows your personnummer. With a foreign passport it can be difficult or take longer, depending on the bank.
• No personnummer: Your foreign passport doesn't show a personnummer. But that is exactly what pharmacies, parcel pick-up points, doctors and authorities often want to see.
• Everyday situations: Collecting medicine, picking up parcels at an ombud (pick-up point), age checks at Systembolaget – it all runs more smoothly with a Swedish card.
• Protect your passport: You don't have to carry your passport around all the time and are less likely to lose it.

Our tip: apply for the ID card right after you receive your personnummer – even before you open a bank account. It will save you a lot of back and forth later.

Requirements

To apply for an id-kort you must:

• be folkbokförd in Sweden and have a Swedish personnummer,
• be at least 13 years old (under 18 you need your guardians' consent),
• be able to prove your identity.

Which ID documents are accepted?

For EU citizens this is usually straightforward. Skatteverket accepts, among other things:

• a valid EU passport that meets certain security requirements and was issued on or after 1 September 2006,
• a valid national ID card from an EU country that meets the security requirements and was issued on or after 2 August 2021,
• valid passports from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland,
• Swedish documents such as a Swedish driving licence.

Watch out: under these rules, an EU national ID card issued before 2 August 2021 is not enough. Bring your passport to be on the safe side. If you come from outside the EU, check Skatteverket's website for the documents that apply to you.

If you don't have a suitable ID document, an intygsgivare can identify you – a person who vouches for your identity, for example a close relative. Special rules apply, so read up on them at Skatteverket beforehand.

How much does the ID card cost?

The fee is SEK 400 (as of 2026). Important: you cannot pay at the service office. The fee must be paid before your appointment – easiest by Swish or bankgiro. Paying cash is also possible but more cumbersome. You'll find the current payment details on Skatteverket's application page.

No Swedish account or Swish yet? Someone else can pay for you. Make sure you bring the proof of payment (receipt or bank statement) to your appointment.

How the application works – step by step

1. Book an appointment: You apply in person at a service office (servicekontor). Not all service offices issue ID cards. You book via the online booking system linked from Skatteverket's website.
2. Pay the fee: SEK 400 in advance via Swish, bankgiro or cash.
3. Go to your appointment: Bring your ID (e.g. your passport) and proof of payment.
4. Photo and signature: Your photo is taken on site and your height is recorded. So you don't need to bring a passport photo.
5. Wait: Production takes about two weeks.

You can find all the details on the official page Skatteverket: how to apply for an id-kort (in Swedish).

Collecting your card: what to keep in mind

• You'll receive a text message or letter once your card is ready.
• You collect it at the same service office where you applied.
• You must collect it in person.
• You have two months to do so.
• Bring the receipt from your application.

You'll receive the access codes for the e-legitimation on the card in a separate letter. Keep it safe.

A typical mistake: applying at a service office far away because an appointment was available sooner – and then having to make the whole trip again to collect the card. Factor that in when choosing your appointment.

Important: the 2026/2027 transition – the Police take over

A lot is changing right now. On 1 December 2026, Sverige-id launches – a state e-ID issued by the Police. It is linked to an ID card without travel function that people without Swedish citizenship can also apply for if they are folkbokförda. According to the government's proposal, this card is to replace Skatteverket's id-kort (Police: Sverige-id).

The government proposes that Skatteverket stops issuing ID cards on 1 March 2027 (Government: phasing out Skatteverket's ID card service). As of September 2026, this is still a proposal going through the legislative process. Under the proposal:

• Cards already issued by Skatteverket remain valid until they expire.
• Applications submitted to Skatteverket before 1 March 2027 will still be processed under the old rules.
• After that, you apply for the ID card at a Police passport office (passexpedition).

What this means for you: if you are just arriving, you can still apply at Skatteverket as usual until the switch. But check the current situation on the Skatteverket and Police websites before your appointment – details may still change.

Loss and common mistakes

• Card lost or stolen? Report it as lost immediately so no one can misuse it, and apply for a new one.
• Turning up without proof of payment – then your application can't be processed.
• An old national ID card as proof of identity – if it was issued before 2 August 2021, it isn't enough.
• Missing the collection deadline – after two months things get complicated. Collect your card promptly.

Our conclusion

The Swedish ID card is a small investment with a big impact. For SEK 400 you get an ID showing your personnummer that makes bank accounts, BankID and many everyday situations much easier. Apply right after you get your personnummer, bring your passport and proof of payment – and keep an eye on the transition to the Police that starts at the end of 2026.