Moving to Sweden to start a business
The page was last modified:If you are a foreign citizen and want to start your own business in Sweden, the rules that apply vary depending on whether you are an EU/EEA citizen or a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country.
Join the Swedish Tax Agency’s online seminars about starting a business in Sweden
Welcome to join the Swedish Tax Agency's webinars about starting a business in Sweden. You will receive an overall understanding of what you need to think of when you start a business.
Learn more and sign up at skatteverket.se/webbseminarier
Psst… the seminars are webcasted live, free of charge and you can ask questions directly in their chat. See you there!
Coordination number
Everyone in Sweden, who has been registered in the Swedish population register, has been assigned a unique personal identity number. This indicates the person’s date of birth and other information.
If you are not or have not previously been registered in the Swedish population register, you can instead obtain a coordination number from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). The coordination number is a temporary personal identity number that you will need, for example, when you apply for F-tax registration.
Personal identity numbers and coordination numbers at the Swedish Tax Agency
Who applies for the coordination number?
The government agency you are dealing with will order a coordination number from the Swedish Tax Agency. If you need a coordination number because you have a connection to Sweden, and no government authority has requested one on your behalf, you can request one yourself by visiting one of the Swedish Tax Agency’s service centres.
Three steps to starting a business
1. Decide on the business type
Before you start a business, you must first decide on the business type. The most common business type to start with is a sole trader. That means that you, as a private individual, own, operate and are responsible for the business. You will be personally responsible for paying your taxes and social insurance contributions, known as “personal contributions” (egenavgifter).
2. Register the company
If you intend to operate as a sole trader, you are not required to register your company with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket). However, registration does protect the company name. If you do not register, someone else might register a company with the same name.
If you are going to start a limited company, a trading partnership, limited partnership or economic association, you must register your company with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
- Registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office if you have a Swedish personal identity number
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If you have a Swedish personal identity number, you can use e-identification to log into our e-service and register your company (in Swedish).
E-service, Register a company and protect the company name (in Swedish)
- Registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office if you do not have a Swedish personal identity number
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If you do not have a Swedish personal identity number, you can fill out a printed form instead. You can choose the right form for the type of business you want to start via the link below.
3. Register with the Swedish Tax Agency
All companies must register with the Swedish Tax Agency. When you register, you can apply for F-tax approval, register for business VAT, and register as an employer.
Tax registration at the Swedish Tax Agency
- Registration with the Swedish Tax Agency if you have a Swedish personal identity number
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If you have a Swedish personal identity number, you can use an electronic ID to log into our e-services and register your company (in Swedish).
- Registration with the Swedish Tax Agency if you do not have a Swedish personal identity number
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If you do not have a Swedish personal identity number, you must fill in the Swedish Tax Agency's form “Registering a business” (SKV 4620) and send the form to the Swedish Tax Agency.
Registering a business (SKV 4620) (in Swedish)
Send the registration form to:
Skatteverkets inläsningscentral
FE 4600
956 85 Överkalix
Responsible: Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth