Public services

The Swedish Tax Agency

The Swedish Tax Agency is responsible for collecting taxes. They also apply for population registration and register marriages and more. You come into contact with the Swedish Tax Agency when you register yourself in the population register, which means that you register your personal data with the authority. Everyone who registers themselves in the Swedish population register receives a personal identity number and can apply for an identity card. Such a card is important, for example, when you want to open a bank account or receive medical health or medical care.

If you want to get married in Sweden, you must contact the Swedish Tax Agency in advance for a so-called “consideration of impediments to marriage”. This is done to check that there are no obstacles to the marriage and that the people who are to be married are over 18 years old and are not closely related, and that neither of the parties is already married. The Swedish Tax Agency also registers information when a child is born or when someone dies.

The Swedish Tax Agency is also responsible for collecting the tax that you pay on your income.

The Swedish Tax Agency’s website External link, opens in new window.

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency handles and makes decisions about various forms of compensation, depending on your stage of life. For example, if you are on parental leave and caring for a small child, you can apply for a “parental allowance”. If you are ill for a long time, you can apply for “sickness benefits”. You can also apply for support and compensation if you have a disability. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency is responsible for administering and paying the establishment allowance to which new arrivals enrolled in the establishment programme are entitled.

You are obliged to apply for the various benefits provided by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. If it turns out that the information that forms the basis for your compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency is incorrect and means that you have had too much money paid out, you may be liable for repayment.

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s website External link, opens in new window.

The Swedish Public Employment Service

Among other things, the Swedish Public Employment Service has the task of providing support to jobseekers in Sweden. The authority cannot offer you a job, but it can help you look for a job and answer questions you have about the labour market.

The Swedish Public Employment Service is responsible for the establishment programme, which is aimed at newly arrivals in Sweden. The municipality where you are staying will help you with your initial contact with the Swedish Public Employment Service, so that you can participate in the establishment programme.

The Swedish Public Employment Service’s website External link, opens in new window.

Open preschool

Open preschool is a meeting place where parents or other adults can meet and socialise with their children, if they do not attend preschool. At the open preschool you can meet other parents and children and thus also practice your Swedish language skills. Open preschools have staff who organise activities that take place there, but you are also involved and are responsible for your child. Open preschools are available in most municipalities in Sweden and they are free of charge.

Compul­sory primary school

Children start primary school with kindergarten at the age of six and must attend school until ninth grade. Primary school is compulsory in Sweden. Swedish schools follow a national curriculum, which means that all children receive the same education throughout the country. Education from primary school up to and including the university level is usually free of charge.

School uniforms are not used in Sweden; children can wear whatever clothes they want at school. This also includes religious clothing such as veils or other religious symbols.

The relationship between teachers and pupils is important, and the teacher’s task is to give students the opportunity for good learning. The teacher guides children in school and follows their development. Teachers have the right to verbally reprimand children who do not contribute to ensuring a calm environment. However, a teacher must never punish children, neither physically nor psychologically.

Mental health

In Sweden, mental health is considered to be as important as physical health. It is therefore important that you maintain healthy habits in your daily life that promote both your mental and physical health. Examples of such habits include getting enough sleep, eating a good and varied diet, and being physically active or exercising.

If you experience mental health problems such as difficulty sleeping, stress, anxiety, panic attacks or depression, help is available. You can often get support or treatment at your health centre. For example, you may be offered advice, counselling, or psychological treatment. Some treatments are also available by phone or computer. You may also be treated with medication. Sometimes you can get a referral to a psychiatric clinic from a physician at the health centre, but you can also contact a psychiatric clinic directly.

Address, telephone number and opening hours of various clinics (in swedish) External link, opens in new window.

Maternal health

As a pregnant woman, you are offered regular visits to a midwifery clinic to examine and follow up your development and that of your unborn child. It is important to contact a midwife clinic if you are pregnant, even if it is voluntary to do so. It costs nothing to visit a midwifery clinic.

You will usually visit the clinic between six and ten times during the course of your pregnancy. The number of visits may be expanded if necessary, depending on how you feel and how the fetus is developing. All pregnant women are offered an ultrasound examination during their pregnancy. When it is time to give birth, you have the right to choose the hospital where that will happen.