Credit Cards in Sweden: Which Banks Offer Them to Expats?

Getting a credit card in Sweden as an expat is challenging but not impossible. Swedish banks are conservative about credit, and newcomers lack the credit history they value. This guide explains how the system works and how to get approved.

Credit Cards in Sweden: The Basics

How Swedish Credit Cards Differ

Aspect	Sweden	US/UK
Approval difficulty	High	Lower
Credit history needed	Yes	Yes, but more options
Interest rates	10-20% typically	Similar
Rewards programs	Limited	Extensive
Credit building	Slow	Faster

Types of Cards in Sweden

Card Type	Swedish Term	How It Works
Debit card	Bankkort	Directly from account balance
Credit card	Kreditkort	Borrow and repay monthly
Charge card	Betalkort	Pay full balance monthly
Store card	Kontokort	Credit at specific stores

Most Swedes use debit cards. Credit cards are less common than in the US/UK.

The Swedish Credit System

UC (Upplysningscentralen)

UC is Sweden's main credit bureau:

Tracks credit history
Provides credit scores
Banks check UC before approval

What UC Tracks

Factor	Details
Payment history	Loans, bills, credit cards
Outstanding debt	Current obligations
Credit inquiries	How often you apply
Income	From tax records
Public records	Bankruptcies, debt collection

The Expat Problem

New arrivals have no UC history:

No Swedish credit record
No verifiable income history
Banks see unknown risk

This means:

Credit card applications often denied
Must build credit from scratch
Process takes 1-2+ years

Banks Offering Credit Cards

Major Swedish Banks

Handelsbanken

Aspect	Details
Expat-friendly	Relatively
Credit card availability	After relationship established
Requirements	Account history, income proof
Timeline	6-12+ months typically

Approach: Build relationship first, request credit card later.

SEB

Aspect	Details
Cards offered	SEB Eurocard (Mastercard)
Expat possibility	After establishing history
Requirements	Income, account history
Benefits	Insurance, some rewards

Nordea

Aspect	Details
Cards offered	Nordea Gold, etc.
Expat possibility	Difficult initially
Requirements	Strong income, history
Benefits	Travel insurance, rewards

Swedbank

Aspect	Details
Cards offered	Various Mastercard options
Expat possibility	Requires established relationship
Requirements	Income, credit history

Credit Card Companies

EnterCard (Bank Norwegian)

Aspect	Details
Type	Standalone credit card company
Expat possibility	More flexible than traditional banks
Requirements	Income, personnummer
Interest rates	Higher than bank cards

Potentially easier approval but higher costs.

Resurs Bank

Aspect	Details
Type	Consumer credit specialist
Expat possibility	More flexible
Products	Credit cards, store financing
Requirements	Income verification

Collector Bank

Aspect	Details
Type	Consumer credit
Flexibility	More accessible
Rates	Higher interest

Comparison Table

Bank/Provider	Expat Difficulty	Min. Time in Sweden	Interest Rate
Handelsbanken	Medium	6-12 months	~12-15%
SEB	Medium-High	6-12 months	~12-18%
Nordea	High	12+ months	~12-16%
Swedbank	High	12+ months	~12-16%
EnterCard	Lower	3-6 months	~18-22%
Resurs Bank	Lower	3-6 months	~18-24%

Requirements for Credit Cards

Basic Requirements

Requirement	Details
Personnummer	Required
Swedish address	Registered in folkbokföringen
Income	Steady, verifiable
Age	18+ (some require 21+)
Credit check	Must pass UC check

What Banks Look For

Factor	What Helps
Employment	Permanent contract best
Income level	Higher = better
Time at job	Stability matters
Time in Sweden	Longer = better
Existing relationship	Account with same bank
Debt level	Low existing debt

Typical Income Requirements

Card Type	Minimum Income (approx.)
Basic credit card	~20,000 SEK/month
Gold/Premium	~35,000+ SEK/month
Platinum/Top tier	~50,000+ SEK/month

How to Get Approved

Strategy 1: Start with Your Bank

The relationship approach:

Open bank account (debit only initially)
Use account actively (salary, bills, spending)
Wait 6-12 months
Request credit card review
Start with basic card

Why It Works:

Bank knows your income patterns
Can see responsible behavior
Relationship reduces perceived risk

Strategy 2: Try Credit Card Specialists

If bank says no:

Apply to EnterCard, Resurs, or Collector
Higher approval rates
Accept higher interest rates initially
Use responsibly to build history
Switch to better card later

Strategy 3: Store Cards First

Easier approval:

Store	Card Provider
IKEA	IKEA Kreditkort
H&M	H&M Club card
Stadium	Stadium card

Store cards are often easier to get but:

Limited use (that store only)
Higher interest rates
Lower credit limits

Still builds credit history that helps future applications.

Strategy 4: Secured Credit Cards

Limited availability in Sweden but some options:

Deposit-backed cards
Lower risk for bank
Helps build history

Building Credit as an Expat

The Credit Building Process

Month 1-6: Bank account, debit card only
Month 6-12: Consider credit application
Month 12-18: Better approval chances
Month 18-24: Established credit history
Year 2+: Access to better cards

What Builds Credit

Action	Credit Impact
Paying bills on time	Positive
Having utility accounts	Neutral to positive
Mobile phone contract	Helps
Successful credit applications	Positive
Responsible credit use	Very positive

What Hurts Credit

Action	Credit Impact
Missed payments	Very negative
Multiple credit applications	Negative (shows desperation)
Debt collection	Very negative
High credit utilization	Negative

Tips for Building Credit

Pay everything on time — Set up autogiro (direct debit)
Get phone contract — Small credit relationship
Use bank account actively — Salary, bills through it
Start small — Don't ask for high limits initially
Be patient — Credit building takes time

Credit Card Features in Sweden

What to Look For

Feature	Details
Annual fee	0-800 SEK typical
Interest rate	10-24% range
Credit limit	10,000-100,000+ SEK
Payment terms	Full or minimum monthly
Rewards	Limited compared to US/UK
Insurance	Travel, purchase protection

Common Benefits

Benefit	Availability
Travel insurance	Gold cards and above
Purchase protection	Most cards
Extended warranty	Some cards
Airport lounge	Premium cards
Rental car insurance	Some cards
Rewards/cashback	Limited

Swedish Credit Card Terms

Swedish	English	Meaning
Kreditgräns	Credit limit	Maximum you can borrow
Ränta	Interest	Cost of borrowing
Månadsavgift	Monthly fee	Regular charge
Årsavgift	Annual fee	Yearly charge
Betalningsanmärkning	Payment remark	Negative credit mark

Comparing Specific Cards

Entry-Level Cards

Best for new credit builders:

Card	Annual Fee	Interest	Notes
Bank basic cards	0-200 SEK	15-18%	Requires bank relationship
EnterCard	~200 SEK	20-24%	Easier approval
Store cards	Usually 0	20-30%	Store use only

Mid-Tier Cards

After 1-2 years of credit history:

Card	Annual Fee	Interest	Benefits
SEB Eurocard Silver	~300 SEK	15%	Travel insurance
Handelsbanken Allkort	~300 SEK	14%	Purchase protection

Premium Cards

For established credit and high income:

Card	Annual Fee	Interest	Benefits
SEB Eurocard Gold	~500 SEK	14%	Better travel insurance
Nordea Gold	~500 SEK	14%	Lounge access
American Express (limited)	Varies	N/A	Rewards, limited acceptance

If You're Denied

Common Reasons for Denial

Reason	What to Do
No credit history	Build through other means, wait
Insufficient income	Wait for higher income or promotion
Too new in Sweden	Wait 6-12 months
Recent credit inquiries	Wait, don't apply to many
Employment instability	Get permanent contract

After Denial

Don't reapply immediately — Wait 3-6 months
Check UC — Review your credit report
Fix any issues — Pay outstanding debts
Build history — Use existing accounts responsibly
Try different provider — Specialist vs. bank

Checking Your Credit

Order your credit report:

UC.se — Main credit bureau
Bisnode — Secondary bureau
Free once per year

Review for errors and understand what banks see.

Alternatives to Credit Cards

If You Can't Get Approved

Debit Card with Overdraft

Some banks offer overdraft on debit accounts:

Functions like small credit line
Lower limits
Higher approval than credit card

International Credit Cards

Using cards from home country:

Keep your home credit cards active
Use for travel and online purchases
Watch for foreign transaction fees

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)

Provider	Where Used
Klarna	Many Swedish retailers
Collector Checkout	Various online stores
PayPal Credit	Online purchases

BNPL is widespread in Sweden and often easier to get approved.

Credit Card Safety in Sweden

Security Features

Chip + PIN (standard)
Contactless (widespread)
3D Secure (online purchases)
BankID verification (often required)

If Card is Stolen

Block immediately via bank app/phone
Report to police
Contact bank for new card
Review statements for fraud

Using Cards Safely

Enable transaction notifications
Use bank app to monitor spending
Don't share card details
Use secure sites (https) for online purchases

Frequently Asked Questions

How long until I can get a credit card?

Realistically 6-12 months for traditional banks, possibly 3-6 months for credit specialists (higher interest).

Is my foreign credit history useful?

Generally no. Swedish banks use UC, which doesn't include foreign credit history.

Should I get a credit card or just use debit?

Many Swedes primarily use debit cards. Get a credit card if you need the credit for specific purposes (travel insurance, online shopping, emergencies).

Are Swedish credit card rewards worth it?

Rewards are much less generous than US/UK. Don't get a card primarily for rewards.

Can my employer help?

Some employers have relationships with banks that may help employees get accounts and cards faster.

Summary

Getting a Credit Card as an Expat

Get personnummer first — Required for all applications
Open bank account — Build relationship
Wait 6-12 months — Build Swedish history
Start with easier options — Credit specialists if needed
Upgrade over time — Move to better cards

Key Takeaways

Swedish credit cards are harder to get than in many countries
Building credit takes time—be patient
Start with bank relationship, then request credit
Credit specialists offer easier approval at higher rates
Responsible use builds history for better future options

Lycka till!

Related Guides:

Best Banks for Expats in Sweden - Banking options
Building Credit History in Sweden - Credit building guide
Swish Without Personnummer - Payment alternatives
Your First Personnummer - Getting registered

Calculate Your Swedish Finances

Use our free tools to understand your take-home pay and plan your monthly budget.

Calculate Salary Plan Budget

Disclaimer

The information on this website is for general informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, statistics and regulations change frequently. For the most up-to-date information, please visit official sources such as Skatteverket, Migrationsverket, and Statistics Sweden (SCB).

This website may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the free tools and content we provide.