Swedish ID Card (Skatteverket id-kort): Who Can Get One, Cost & How to Apply (2026)

If you are registered in Sweden with a personnummer and are at least 13 years old, you can apply for a Swedish ID card from Skatteverket, the Skatteverket id-kort (Swedish Tax Agency ID card). As of October 2026 it costs SEK 400, you book a visit at a state service centre, and you collect the card about two weeks later. It is valid only in Sweden, not as a travel document. And there is a big change coming: according to Skatteverket, from 1 December 2026 you apply for a new ID card through the Police instead. If you are searching for a "Swedish ID card", this is the guide that explains which card you can actually get, and which one you cannot.

Most newcomers hit this question the same way. You have a personnummer, but your only ID is a foreign passport. You cannot always pick up a parcel, collect a prescription, or prove your age with it comfortably, and you start hearing about "the Skatteverket ID card". This guide covers who qualifies, the step-by-step process, what it can and cannot be used for, how it compares to a passport, the police-issued national ID card and BankID, and what the 2026 changes mean for you.

By Usman, an immigrant living in Sweden who built Smartly.se from first-hand experience of Swedish daily life. Last updated 24 October 2026.

The Short Version: Which Swedish ID Card Can You Get?

There is no single "Swedish ID card". There are three different things people mean by it:

1. Skatteverket id-kort: issued by the Swedish Tax Agency to people who are registered in Sweden (folkbokförda). Not a travel document. This is the one most expats can get.
2. Nationellt id-kort: issued by the Police, and only for Swedish citizens. It can be used for travel within the EU/Schengen area.
3. SverigeID: a new state e-ID from the Police that launches 1 December 2026, linked to a card. Covered further down.

If you are not a Swedish citizen, the national ID card from the Police is not available to you. The Police's own page states that only Swedish citizens can apply for a passport or national ID card (Polisen). For everyone else, the Skatteverket id-kort (and from December, its police-issued replacement) is the route.

Who Can Get a Skatteverket ID Card?

According to Skatteverket's application page, you must:

• Be registered in the Swedish Population Register (folkbokförd) with a Swedish personal identity number.
• Be at least 13 years old.
• If you are under 18, have written consent from your legal guardians. If you have two guardians, both must consent. Skatteverket's page points to form SKV 1502 for this, or the guardians can attend in person.
• Be able to prove your identity (see the identity-check section below).
• Pay the SEK 400 fee before you apply.

Swedish citizenship is not required. In fact, Skatteverket describes the card as a complement for people registered in Sweden who are not Swedish citizens, and tells Swedish citizens to go to the Police for a national ID card (Skatteverket FAQ).

The key catch: personnummer, not samordningsnummer

The requirement is registration in the population register with a personnummer. A samordningsnummer is not enough for this card. Skatteverket's pages I checked list a personnummer and population-register registration as requirements and never mention the samordningsnummer as an alternative. If you only have a samordningsnummer, read our samordningsnummer guide first, and check with Skatteverket before paying the fee.

And if you are still waiting to be registered, our personnummer guide explains how to get there. Moving from another EU country? Start with the EU moving guide. Coming from outside the EU? See the non-EU moving guide.

How Much Does It Cost?

SEK 400 as of October 2026, according to Skatteverket's FAQ and its application page. Key payment points:

• You pay before your appointment. You cannot pay at the service centre as a normal card payment; the booking service explains how to pay.
• Skatteverket's FAQ lists Swish and bankgiro 389-0100 (using your personnummer without a hyphen as the reference), with an IBAN for payments from abroad. Always use the payment details shown on the official page when you book, as these can change.
• Bring proof of payment (a bank statement or receipt) to the appointment.
• You can pay for yourself or for someone else.

If you already have a Skatteverket id-kort and apply for a new one (for example after a name change), your old card is blocked.

How to Apply, Step by Step

Skatteverket's process in October 2026 is:

1. Check there is an issuing office near you. Not every town has one. ID cards are handled at state service centres (Statens servicecenter), not at ordinary tax offices.
2. Book an appointment online through the Statens servicecenter booking service. If you cannot attend, cancel or change the booking early so someone else can use the slot.
3. Pay the SEK 400 fee before the visit and save the receipt.
4. Go to your appointment. Bring proof of payment and the documents that prove your identity. You are photographed on site, so you do not need a passport photo. Your height is measured as well.
5. Wait about two weeks. If something is missing, Skatteverket writes to you, and you may need to return to the service centre, which delays the card.
6. Collect the card in person at the service centre within two months. You will be notified by text message or letter. Bring your application receipt. No booking is needed for collection. If you miss the window or never get a notification, Skatteverket's phone number is 0771 567 567.

So plan on at least two visits: one to apply and one to collect. A third is possible if the Tax Agency asks for more information.

If your application is rejected, you get a letter explaining how to appeal to the Administrative Court in Stockholm. The fee is not necessarily refunded in that case, so make sure you meet the requirements before you pay.

The photo rules

Dark glasses, head coverings and similar accessories are allowed in the photo only for religious or medical reasons. If you cannot stand for the height measurement, you can be measured seated.

Proving Your Identity at the Appointment

This is where applicants get stuck. Skatteverket does not just hand out an ID card on your word; you must prove who you are. According to its application page, you can do this in one of these ways:

• An approved ID document, for example a valid Swedish passport, a Swedish driving licence, an existing Skatteverket ID card, or a national ID card from the Swedish police. The page also lists certain EU and Nordic documents as approved. Check the full list on Skatteverket's page for your own passport or national ID card before booking.
• An approved attestor (identity verifier), someone who knows you well and can prove their own identity. Approved attestors include a spouse, parent, adult child or sibling, and certain others, such as a foster parent or a government employee with a professional relationship to you. Some roles require an official decision or certificate.
• A Swedish residence permit. Skatteverket verifies it with the Migration Agency.
• In some cases, a combined assessment of other documents.

You do not need a population registration certificate (personbevis).

Two practical points:

• If you hold a residence permit card, you are in the easier group. For EU citizens, whether your national passport or ID card is on the approved list matters, so confirm that before you book a slot.
• If you have no approved document at all, an attestor is your fallback. Arrange this in advance, as the attestor has to come with you and bring their own ID.

What Can You Use the Skatteverket ID Card For?

Skatteverket says the card confirms your identity and age in Sweden, for example at a pharmacy or a shop (Skatteverket). The card also carries Swedish e-identification that works for Skatteverket's own e-services.

Typical everyday uses include:

• Showing your age when buying age-restricted goods.
• Collecting parcels and registered post.
• Collecting prescription medicine at the pharmacy.
• Proving your identity to Swedish authorities and services that accept the card.

What I would not assume: that every bank, company or service accepts it. Skatteverket's pages I checked name pharmacies and shops as examples, not an exhaustive list. If a specific bank or service matters to you, ask them directly. There is also a warning about banks in the current policy debate (see the section on the 2026 change below).

Is the Skatteverket ID card valid for travel?

No. Skatteverket states that the card is accepted as ID only within Sweden and cannot replace a passport or travel document abroad (Skatteverket FAQ). For flights and border crossings, carry your passport (or your EU national ID card if you are an EU citizen travelling within the Schengen area).

How long is it valid?

Five years according to Skatteverket. There is no renewal reminder, so note the expiry date yourself. You must also apply for a new card if your name or personnummer changes.

Skatteverket ID Card vs Police ID Card vs Passport vs BankID

These are four different things that solve different problems. This is the table I wish I had seen when I first arrived.

	Skatteverket id-kort	Nationellt id-kort (Police)	Passport	BankID
Issued by	Swedish Tax Agency (via state service centres)	Swedish Police	Swedish Police (Swedish passport) or your home country	Banks (Finansiell ID-Teknik)
Who can get it	People registered in Sweden with a personnummer, age 13+, citizenship not required	Swedish citizens only	Citizens of the issuing country	Customers of a participating bank, generally with a personnummer
Cost	SEK 400 (Oct 2026)	Check polisen.se for the current fee	Varies by country	Free with a bank account
Physical card?	Yes	Yes	Yes (booklet)	No, an app
Valid for travel?	No, Sweden only	Yes, within the EU/Schengen area (per Polisen)	Yes, worldwide	No
Use	Proving identity and age in Sweden in person	In-person ID, and travel in the EU/Schengen area	In-person ID and international travel	Online identification and signing
Validity	5 years	Check polisen.se	Depends on country	Renewed through your bank

Driving licence

A Swedish driving licence is on Skatteverket's list of approved ID documents for its own ID card applications, so it works as ID in practice. If you want a Swedish licence, see our guide on converting a foreign driving licence. It is not, however, the same as a dedicated ID card.

Skatteverket id-kort vs BankID

People confuse these constantly. They do different jobs:

• BankID is digital. You use it to log in to websites, sign contracts and approve payments. It does not prove who you are to a pharmacy cashier or at a parcel pickup counter.
• The ID card is physical. It proves your identity in person.

You usually need the in-person ID before a bank will give you BankID in the first place, and BankID in turn unlocks most of Swedish digital life. For how to get BankID as a newcomer, see our BankID guide. One more thing: the Police state that a digital ID card shown in a BankID app does not count when applying for a passport or national ID card, which requires a physical Swedish ID document (Polisen).

The 1 December 2026 Change: Police Take Over

This is the part most older articles miss. Skatteverket's own page now carries a notice that from 1 December 2026 you apply for a new ID card through the Swedish Police Authority instead of the Tax Agency (Skatteverket). What the Police have published so far (Polisen: SverigeID):

• SverigeID is a state e-ID at the highest security level (LOA4), and you can apply for it from 1 December 2026.
• It is open to Swedish citizens and to people registered in Sweden without Swedish citizenship. The age limit is the year you turn nine.
• For Swedish citizens, SverigeID is linked to the national ID card. They must apply for a new national ID card to get it. Cards issued before 1 December cannot be used for it.
• For registered residents without Swedish citizenship, SverigeID is linked to an ID card without a travel function. Booking opens 1 November by phone (114 14), as online booking is not offered. Applications start 1 December at selected police stations, listed by region on the Police's page.
• The Police state that the government proposes this card will replace the Skatteverket ID card for registered residents. The Police page does not say when or whether this happens.
• SverigeID complements other e-IDs such as BankID and does not replace them. After you get the card, you use SverigeID through a phone app.

What I could not confirm

Be careful with what you read elsewhere. As of 24 October 2026, I could not find an official source for the following, so check before you rely on them:

• The fee for the new police card for non-citizens. Not stated on the pages I checked.
• Exactly which documents the Police will require at the appointment.
• What happens to existing Skatteverket cards. Skatteverket's page says new applicants go to the Police but does not say how existing cards are affected. Government consultation material I found indicated that existing cards would stay valid until they expire. Banks have also raised concerns about whether they will keep accepting Skatteverket cards if the revocation check is withdrawn. This was a proposal, not something I could confirm as final, so ask Skatteverket and your bank if it matters to you.
• The exact start date. Skatteverket and the Police both say 1 December 2026. Some consultation material discussed a later date (1 March 2027), so treat dates as something to verify.

So should you apply now or wait?

If you urgently need an ID card this autumn, applying to Skatteverket now still works as of the date of this guide: the page I verified was live and lists the process above. Be aware that a two-week processing time plus two visits can make a late-November application tight. If you can wait, the new police card would be the one to apply for, but its fee and documents are not yet published, so you would be waiting on information that is not yet available. Decide based on how soon you need to prove your identity in person.

If Your Skatteverket ID Card Is Lost or Stolen

Per Skatteverket:

1. Call +46 10 331 10 10 immediately to block the card.
2. If it was stolen, also report the theft to the Police.
3. Apply for a replacement using the normal process (and the fee) above. Since the replacement route changes on 1 December 2026, check which authority handles it at the time you apply.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Paying the fee before checking eligibility. If you have a samordningsnummer but no personnummer, you do not meet the stated requirements. A refused application does not necessarily mean a refund.
• Booking before checking you can prove your identity. Know which document or attestor you will use before the appointment.
• Assuming it works abroad. It does not. Take your passport when you travel.
• Assuming it replaces BankID. It is physical ID, not an online login tool.
• Forgetting about pickup. You must collect the card within two months, in person.
• Going to the wrong place. This is a state service centre matter, not a bank or an ordinary tax office. Check that your local service centre issues ID cards.
• Using old information. Fees, offices and the issuing authority are changing. If a blog post is from before 2026, double-check it against Skatteverket and Polisen.

For a broader picture of how Swedish official processes fit together, our Swedish bureaucracy guide and moving to Sweden checklist put ID in context. Thinking long term? Citizens can get the national ID card, which is one of the practical perks covered in our Swedish citizenship guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Skatteverket id-kort?

It is an ID card issued by the Swedish Tax Agency to people registered in Sweden with a personnummer. It proves your identity and age in Sweden and carries Swedish e-identification for Skatteverket's e-services. It is not a travel document.

How much does a Swedish ID card cost?

The Skatteverket id-kort costs SEK 400 as of October 2026. You pay before your appointment and show your receipt at the service centre. The fee for the police-issued national ID card, which only Swedish citizens can get, should be checked on polisen.se.

Can foreigners get a Swedish ID card?

Yes, if you are registered in Sweden with a personnummer. Citizenship is not required for the Skatteverket id-kort. The police-issued national ID card, however, is only for Swedish citizens.

How do I get a Swedish ID card without a passport?

You can use an attestor (such as a spouse, parent, adult child or sibling who knows you and can prove their own identity), a Swedish residence permit, or another approved ID document. Skatteverket lists the approved options on its application page.

Can I travel in the EU with a Skatteverket ID card?

No. It is accepted as ID only in Sweden and cannot replace a passport. Swedish citizens can use the Police-issued national ID card for travel within the EU/Schengen area.

How long does it take to get a Swedish ID card?

Skatteverket says about two weeks after your application, then you collect it in person within two months. You need at least two visits.

What happens to the Skatteverket ID card on 1 December 2026?

Skatteverket says that from 1 December 2026 you apply for a new ID card through the Police instead. The Police will issue SverigeID, linked to an ID card without a travel function for registered residents who are not Swedish citizens. The fee for that card was not published on the pages I checked, so verify on polisen.se.

Can I get a Swedish ID card with a samordningsnummer?

Skatteverket's requirements refer to a personnummer and registration in the population register. They do not list a samordningsnummer as sufficient, so you should not assume you qualify. Confirm with Skatteverket before paying.

What is the difference between the Skatteverket id-kort and BankID?

The id-kort is a physical card for proving your identity in person. BankID is a mobile e-ID for logging in online, signing and paying. You often need physical ID to get BankID in the first place. See our BankID guide.

How long is the Skatteverket ID card valid?

Five years. Skatteverket does not send a renewal reminder, and you need a new card if your name or personnummer changes.

What should I do if my Swedish ID card is lost?

Call Skatteverket on +46 10 331 10 10 immediately to block it, report it to the Police if stolen, and apply for a replacement.

Summary

1. The Skatteverket id-kort is for people registered in Sweden with a personnummer who are 13 or older. Citizenship is not required.
2. It costs SEK 400 as of October 2026, paid before your booked appointment at a state service centre.
3. You must prove your identity with an approved document, a Swedish residence permit or an approved attestor, then collect the card in person about two weeks later.
4. It is valid for five years but only in Sweden. It is not a travel document, and it is not a substitute for BankID.
5. The national ID card from the Police is for Swedish citizens only.
6. From 1 December 2026, Skatteverket says new ID cards are applied for through the Police. Check polisen.se and skatteverket.se for the fee and documents before you apply.

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Still sorting out your first months in Sweden? Work through our moving to Sweden checklist next, or read the Swedish bureaucracy guide to see what else needs sorting after your personnummer.