You have a permit in Sweden – Protection under the Temporary Protection Directive Bank card

Information about bank cards for people who are receiving financial aid.

Change of payment card for financial aid

During October, the Swedish Migration Agency will replace all ICA bank cards with Paygoo payment cards. If you are receiving financial aid, you should visit your reception unit between October 1 and 29 to pick up your new card.

The Swedish Migration Agency will not deposit any money into the old ICA bank card after October 29. If you have money left on your ICA bank card you must withdraw or use that money by 30 November 2025.

You will find the address and opening hours of your reception unit at www.migrationsverket.se/en/contact-us/visit-us

Read about the new payment card from Paygoo

If you receive financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency, this money is deposited onto a bank card. You will receive the bank card from the Swedish Migration Agency. Along with the bank card, you also get two different codes.

Image of bank card, type Maestro. On the light blue card it says Kontantkort in big letters.

PIN code and password

When the Swedish Migration Agency issues the bank card to you, you will receive an envelope with information about your numerical code (PIN code) for the card and an envelope with information about your password.

  • The PIN code is a four-digit card code that you use when you pay in a store or withdraw money.
  • The password is a four-digit code that you can use to check your balance (how much money is on the card).

Remember which numerical code you should use for the card and which one you should use for balance information. If you use the wrong code three times, your card will be blocked. The Swedish Migration Agency does not know your codes.

How to use your bank card

You use the card to make in-person purchases from any business in Sweden that accepts Maestro. The bank card can only be used in Sweden. You cannot use it to for online purchases, mail orders, or any other place where you cannot draw your card through a card reader.

You must approve all purchases and withdrawals using your PIN code.

Maestro logotype.

The bank card also works at unattended petrol stations. When you refill your petrol tank, SEK 1,500 is reserved on the card. If you do not have that much money on your card, you can refill your tank with petrol costing the amount available on the card. Once you are done refilling, the reservation of SEK 1,500 is released after a few minutes, and only the amount of petrol you actually used is charged to the card.

You cannot deposit money on the card, nor do you earn any interest. The Swedish Migration Agency has the right to review your card, for example to verify that our payments to the card are going through properly.

How to withdraw cash with your bank card

To get cash, you can

  • withdraw money from an ATM that has a Maestro symbol
  • withdraw money at the checkout at any Ica store
  • withdraw cash from a shop when you pay with your bank card. Please note that this is subject to cash availability at the business in question.

There is a limit to the amount of cash that can be withdrawn:

  • SEK 3,000 per occasion at Ica stores (subject to cash availability at checkout)
  • SEK 5,000 per occasion at the Ica Bank ATMs
  • SEK 2,000 per occasion at other ATMs
  • SEK 15,000 in total during a calendar week (Monday–Sunday), regardless of where you withdraw money.

Check your card’s period of validity

On the front of the card is the month and year when the card expires. One month before the expiry date, you can visit a Swedish Migration Agency Service Centre to replace your card.

Check your balance

There are several ways to check your balance, i.e. how much money is on your card:

  • In an Ica store, using your bank card and PIN code.
  • Online, by logging in to www.kontantkort.icabanken.se External link..
  • Via Ica Bank’s smartphone app.
  • Via an automated voice answering system (self-service via telephone), by calling Ica Bank at 033‑47 47 50.

Most often, you will need your password and case number to check your balance. Your case number is the number listed under the photo on your LMA card. You can learn more about your card balance and how to keep track of it on the paper you received with your card.

If you lose your card

If you lose your bank card or it is stolen, you should block the card as soon as you discover it is gone. Call ICA Bank at telephone number 033‑47 47 50. You must provide your case number when you call.

Important to consider

  • The card is a personal value document that should be kept in a secure manner. You have a personal responsibility to ensure that the card does not fall into the wrong hands.
  • Never store your PIN code with your bank card. Learn the code by heart and then destroy the paper with the code you received from us.
  • If you enter the wrong PIN code three times in a row, the card will automatically be blocked. If this happens, some ATMs may keep the card (refuse to dispense an inserted card).

When you get listed in the Swedish Population Register or if you leave the country

When you are listed in the Swedish Population Register or if you leave Sweden, you lose your right to financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency. You must then withdraw the money from the bank card and return the card to the Swedish Migration Agency.

If you want to know more

If you have any questions about your bank card, please call your Unit for Reception or the Swedish Migration Agency’s Contact Centre at 0771‑235 235.

If you receive financial aid, the money is deposited into a payment card given to you by the Swedish Migration Agency. All adults in the family are entitled to their own payment card. Only the Swedish Migration Agency can deposit money into this card.

Front side of Paygoo payment card. The card is black with the Paygoo logo in the top left corner and the Mastercard logo in the bottom right corner

Front side of Paygoo payment card.

Back of a Paygoo payment card. The card is black with the customer ID number in the top right corner.

Back of a Paygoo payment card.

PIN code and customer ID

When you receive your payment card, you will also receive an envelope with information about your card and your customer ID (kund-id), as well as an envelope with your PIN code. The customer ID can also be found on the back of your card. The PIN code is a four-digit code that you use when you pay in a store or withdraw money. You need both your PIN code and your customer ID to check your balance (see how much money you have on your card) and to block your card if you lose it.

Save the details of your PIN code and customer ID, but never keep the PIN code with your payment card. Memorize your PIN code. You must approve all purchases and withdrawals using your PIN code. If you enter the wrong PIN code three times in a row, the card will automatically be blocked. If this happens, some bank machines may keep the card.

The Swedish Migration Agency does not know your codes.

How to use your payment card

You can both pay and withdraw money with your payment card. You can use the card in all stores in Sweden that accepts Mastercard.

The card can only be used in Sweden and only in physical stores or merchants that have a card reader. You cannot use it to for online purchases, mail orders, or any other place where you cannot pay through a card reader.

Withdraw cash

To get cash, you can:

  • withdraw money from a bank machine that has a Mastercard symbol
  • withdraw cash from a store when you pay with your bank card. Please note that this is subject to cash availability at the store in question.

You can withdraw a maximum of SEK 2 000 in cash in total per day.

Check your balance

Using your customer ID and PIN code, you can check your balance, in other words how much money is on your card. Log on to the Paygoo website, www.direct.paygoo.se or call Paygoo on 070‑328 64 00.

Check your card’s period of validity

On the front of the card is the month and year when the card expires. One month before the expiry date, you can visit your unit for reception to replace your card.

If you lose your card

The card is a personal value document that should be kept in a secure manner. You have a personal responsibility to ensure that the card does not fall into the wrong hands.

If you lose your bank card or if it is stolen, you should block the card as soon as you discover that it is missing. To block your payment card, call Paygoo at 070‑328 64 00. When you call, state your customer ID and PIN code.

You should also report the loss of your card to the police and contact your unit for reception to get a new card.

When you get listed in the Swedish Population Register or if you leave the country

When you are listed in the Swedish Population Register or if you leave Sweden, you lose your right to financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency. You must then withdraw the money from the payment card.

If you want to know more

If you have any questions about your payment card, please contact your Unit for Reception.

News

2025-07-23

Extended passports become invalid on 1 October

As of 1 October 2025, Swedish authorities will no longer accept passports that have had their period of validity extended by inserting a stamp or sticker into the passport. If you have such a national passport, you should apply for a new one.

 

Om cookies