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Starting a business as a foreign citizen

Starting a business as a foreign citizen

If you are a foreign citizen and want to start a business in Sweden, different rules apply, depending on whether you are a citizen of another EU/EEA country or not. There are also different rules depending on whether the business is to be run locally in Sweden or from abroad.

Important points when starting a business as a foreign citizen

Apply for a residence permit

If you are a citizen of another EU/EEA country, you have the right to live and work in Sweden without a residence permit. If you are going to start a business here, you do so according to the same rules as a Swedish citizen.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA country, you need a residence permit in Sweden to be able to start a business here. Your residence permit must be ready before you travel to Sweden and it must be valid for at least three months.

Read more at the Swedish Migration Agency

A coordination number is an identity designation for those who are not or have not been registered in Sweden. You apply for a coordination number via an e-service or on a form to the Swedish Tax Agency. You must also make an appointment at a service office for identity verification.

Coordination numbers at the Swedish Tax Agency

Advice and help

The Swedish Public Employment Service

You may be able to get assistance and support from the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) when you start your own business.

The Swedish Public Employment Service

Nyföretagarcentrum

Nyföretagarcentrum provides free and personal advice on, among other things, business ideas, budgets and marketing.

Nyföretagarcentrum (in Swedish)

There is a lot to think about when starting a business. On the link you will find tips and advice for planning your start. For example, there is information on how to make a business plan and develop your business idea.

Planning your start

Which business type that best suits you can depend on various factors, such as whether you are starting a business alone or together with others. All business forms except sole proprietorship need to be registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.

Choose a business type and register your company

You register your company by applying for F-tax, VAT and employer registration with the Swedish Tax Agency. You do this by either using an e-service or filling out a form.

Registration of foreign companies in Sweden at the Swedish Tax Agency

Tax notification - limited tax liability in Sweden (SKV 4632) at the Swedish Tax Agency (in Swedish)

If you have a Swedish personal identity number, you can log in and use the service.

Register and change F-tax, VAT, employer and SNI

Arrange documents from abroad

In order for the Swedish Tax Agency to approve someone for F-tax, there must be no debts for taxes and fees. This also applies to taxes and fees abroad. You therefore need to submit documents that show that you have no such debts.

The documents must not be older than three months from the time you apply for F-tax. You will receive the documents from the responsible authority in the country where you have resided for the past two years.

Foreign legal entities and all company managers in the company also need to submit such a document.

More about running a business as a foreign citizen

If you live abroad and want to run a business in Sweden, you can read more about what applies at the Swedish Tax Agency.

The page Internationellt at the Swedish Tax Agency (in Swedish)

If you have a foreign company and want to run a business in Sweden, you can do so through a branch.

The page Branch at the Swedish Companies Registration Office

This page was last updated:

From: Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth

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