Sweden’s new consumer credit law from 20 November: tougher checks, including for “buy now, pay later”

Anyone in Sweden who shops on invoice, in instalments or via “buy now, pay later” will soon face closer scrutiny. On 20 November 2026 a new Consumer Credit Act (konsumentkreditlag) comes into force. It replaces the previous law from 2010 and implements the revised EU Consumer Credit Directive (2023/2225). The aim is to give consumers better protection against over-indebtedness – just over a week before Black Friday on 27 November, when many purchases are made on credit.

What changes from 20 November

At the heart of the law is a stricter creditworthiness assessment. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency, Konsumentverket, companies will have to assess thoroughly whether a customer can repay a credit before granting it. This explicitly also applies to small loans and to invoice services based on the “köp nu, betala senare” principle.

Other changes at a glance:

• No pre-selection: credit options may no longer be pre-selected at checkout.
• Help with payment problems: customers who cannot repay their debts must be referred by the company to the municipal budget and debt advice service.
• Trained staff: employees who arrange credit, for example in retail, must know the consumer protection rules and the consequences of borrowing.
• Stricter marketing and information: the law sets requirements for how credit is marketed and for the information customers receive before signing.

Who is affected – and which exemptions apply

The law covers banks and credit companies, but also retailers whose main business is not lending at all. Depending on the type of offer, they will be supervised either by the financial regulator Finansinspektionen or by Konsumentverket. Breaches can lead to sanction fees of SEK 5,000 to SEK 10 million, capped at ten per cent of annual turnover. In particularly serious cases a company can be banned from granting credit.

The traditional invoice issued directly by the retailer remains exempt – but only under strict conditions: the seller provides the credit itself, there is no interest or fee, and the invoice is due within 50 days of delivery. For online and distance sales by larger companies the limit is just 14 days, and the claim may not be sold on during the credit period. If any condition is not met, the new law applies.

Background: EU rules against over-indebtedness

The Swedish government presented the bill (Prop. 2025/26:223) in March 2026 and the Riksdag approved it in the spring. According to the government, consumers should understand their credit agreements and rights better, and stricter credit assessments should prevent over-indebtedness. The underlying EU directive applies to all member states, including Germany and Denmark; there, however, the respective national implementing laws apply.

Little changes for existing contracts at first: according to Konsumentverket, credit agreements concluded before 20 November generally remain subject to the old rules.

What this means for travellers and people in Sweden

For tourists, hardly anything changes in everyday life. If you pay with a debit or credit card on holiday, the credit terms of your own bank at home apply. The law only becomes relevant if you take out an instalment purchase or financing in a Swedish shop or online store.

For people living in Sweden or planning to move there, the change is more noticeable. Anyone in Sweden buying online on invoice through a payment service or in instalments should expect their financial situation to be checked more closely than before. A credit purchase may therefore be declined or take longer – especially for large amounts during Black Week.

Practical tips:

• At checkout, make sure you are actually choosing a credit or instalment option – from 20 November it may no longer be pre-selected.
• Check whether an “invoice” is free of interest and fees, and when it is due.
• If you have payment difficulties, Swedish municipalities offer free budget and debt advice (budget- och skuldrådgivning).
• Credit agreements usually come with a 14-day right of withdrawal.

How paying in Sweden works in general – from cards to Swish – is explained in our guide Paying in Sweden: Cards, Cash and Swish.

Sources

• Konsumentverket – Striktare regler för låneföretag (2 November 2026)
• Konsumentverket – Frågor och svar angående nya regler för vissa konsumentkrediter (reviewed 14 October 2026)
• Sveriges riksdag – Proposition 2025/26:223: En ny konsumentkreditlag (26 March 2026)