SverigeID from 1 December: Sweden launches state e-ID – including for registered foreign residents
From 1 December Sweden's police will issue the SverigeID e-ID, including to registered foreign residents. Who can get it, how to apply and what remains unclear.
Sweden is getting a state alternative to the widely used BankID: from 1 December 2026, the Swedish police will issue an electronic identity called SverigeID. It is open both to Swedish citizens and to foreign nationals registered as residents in Sweden. For the second group, appointment booking has been open since 1 November, by telephone only. The change could particularly help newcomers who have so far run into the obstacles surrounding BankID.
What SverigeID is
SverigeID is used to identify yourself and log in to digital services. The police place the e-ID at the highest security level in the Swedish system (level 4) and state that it can also be used within the EU. It is used through a mobile app. The app is connected to a physical card; anyone without their own phone can also link the card to a borrowed device using its CAN number. According to the police, SverigeID is meant to complement existing e-IDs, not replace them.
Who can get it and how to apply
For applicants without Swedish citizenship, SverigeID is tied to a new ID card for people registered in Sweden. The police list these requirements:
- no Swedish citizenship
- registered as a resident in Sweden (folkbokförd)
- proof of identity in an approved way
- aged at least nine, or turning nine during the current year
Appointments are booked by calling 114 14, and the application itself can be made no earlier than 1 December. It is only possible at certain police stations, including Malmö, Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Farsta and Umeå; the full list is on the police website. Minors need written consent from their guardian, or from both if there are two. The terms of use must be accepted on site.
Swedish citizens receive SverigeID together with the national ID card. They must ask for it explicitly at an appointment on or after 1 December, as cards issued earlier cannot be used.
Why this matters for newcomers
BankID requires a Swedish personal identity number and a Swedish bank account. Because banks mainly open accounts online, which in turn requires BankID, newcomers can be left out, according to The Local. For more on the first steps after moving, see our guide Personnummer, Taxes and Authorities in Sweden.
How far SverigeID actually solves this problem remains to be seen. The Local writes that the e-ID can be used in all the ways BankID is used today. At launch, the police specifically mention only their own pages: through “Mina sidor” on polisen.se, users can for example book passport and ID card appointments and request register extracts. More services are to be added over time.
The end of the Skatteverket ID card
At the same time, the ID card issued by the tax agency Skatteverket is being phased out. According to Skatteverket, those who can should turn to the police from 1 December. Some offices stopped accepting applications on 1 November, and others will stop on 1 January 2027. After 29 January 2027, it will no longer be possible to apply. The cards are valid for five years.
What this means for travellers and people in Sweden
Tourists are not affected, as registration in Sweden is a requirement. People living in Sweden without a Swedish passport should book early if they need an e-ID or if their Skatteverket card is due to expire soon. It is worth checking first whether the bank or service in question already accepts SverigeID. Fees and the period of validity are not yet stated on the police pages.
Important for cross-border commuters and all other holders: the new card is not a travel document. A passport is still needed for travel abroad, and the police refer applicants to the embassy of their home country for this.
Anyone planning a move should bear in mind that the route runs through the personal identity number. Those with only a coordination number do not meet the stated conditions. According to The Local, the private alternative Freja may be an option for this group, although it is less widely used than BankID.