Glossary

The words that show up at the counter and on the forms, with a translation and what they actually mean.

1177 EN1177 (health advice): Phone number for 24-hour health advice and website for booking and choosing a vårdcentral. In an emergency call 112.
A-kassa ENUnemployment insurance fund: The fund you join for income-based unemployment benefit. Since 1 October 2025 the level (80, 60 or 50%) depends on how long you have been a member.
Andrahandskontrakt ENSecond-hand (sublet) contract: The contract with a tenant who sublets to you. It must be approved by the landlord or the Hyresnämnden; if furnished, the surcharge is at most 15%.
Arbetsförmedlingen ENPublic Employment Service: You register there as a job seeker; registration is also needed for the a-kassa.
BankID ENBankID (digital ID): The digital ID issued by your bank. In practice you need a personnummer, to be a customer of the bank and an accepted ID document.
Barnbidrag ENChild allowance: 1,250 kr per child a month, automatic for those living in Sweden with their children. From 1 January 2027 a new qualification rule applies to those who settle after that date.
Betalkonto ENPayment account (basic): If you are resident in Sweden or the EEA you have a right to a basic payment account. The bank decides within ten banking days and must put a refusal in writing.
Bostadskö ENHousing queue: The waiting list for rental homes. In the big cities waits run to years; there is usually a small annual fee.
Bostadsrätt ENCo-operative apartment: You do not buy the flat but the right to live in it in an association. If you rent one from a private individual, the new private-letting law applies from 1 July 2026.
Deklaration ENTax return: The return you file with Skatteverket. For when and how, check Skatteverket’s website.
E-legitimation ENElectronic ID (e-ID): The general name for BankID and similar, which you use to identify yourself online with public agencies and banks. From 1 December 2026 the state’s “Sverige-id” also arrives.
Folkbokföring ENPopulation registration: The population register kept by Skatteverket. You register if you plan to stay at least a year; this is where the personnummer comes from.
Frikort ENFree-care card: Once you reach the högkostnadsskydd cap you pay no more patient fees for the rest of the period.
Förstahandskontrakt ENFirst-hand contract: The contract you hold directly with the owner or housing company. It is the safest and usually the one you wait years for.
Försäkringskassan ENSocial Insurance Agency: The agency that pays barnbidrag, föräldrapenning, sjukpenning and bostadsbidrag. What counts is where you live or work, not citizenship.
Föräldrapenning ENParental benefit: The pay for time at home with young children: 480 days per child between the two parents. The income-related level requires enough income for sjukpenning (SGI).
Hyresnämnden ENRent tribunal: Rules on rent disputes. A subtenant can claim back overpaid rent up to 2 years, within 3 months of the contract ending.
Hyresrätt ENRental apartment: A rented flat under a rental contract. If the tenant sublets, they may charge at most a reasonable rent.
Högkostnadsskydd ENHigh-cost protection: The cap on fees for visits: at most 1,450 kr in 12 months, then you get a frikort. A region may set it lower. For medicines in 2026 the cap is 3,800 kr.
ID-kort ENID card: For people who are folkbokförd, today 400 kr at Skatteverket; it is not a travel document. From 1 December 2026 the Police issue a special card to registered residents who are not Swedish citizens.
Inneboende ENLodger: Someone who rents a room in someone else’s home. If you are scammed: bank first, then the police on 114 14.
Intygsgivare ENIdentity witness: An approved person who knows you well (for example spouse, parent, adult child) and can confirm your identity if you have no valid document for the ID card.
Karensavdrag ENQualifying deduction: A deduction from sick pay, equal to 20% of an average week’s sick pay.
Kollektivavtal ENCollective agreement: The agreement between the union and employers in the industry. For a work permit the salary must follow the collective agreement or industry practice.
Kommun ENMunicipality: The municipality runs SFI, schools and preschools, and social services. You apply for SFI in the kommun where you live.
Patientavgift ENPatient fee: The price you pay for a visit, set by the region. In Stockholm an outpatient visit costs 275 kr and is free for ages 0–17.
Personnummer ENPersonal identity number: The number you receive when you are first registered in folkbokföring. You need it for almost everything: bank, BankID, healthcare, benefits.
Region ENRegion (healthcare): The body that runs healthcare and largely sets patient fees itself, so prices differ from region to region.
Samordningsnummer ENCoordination number: An identification number for people who have never been registered in folkbokföring, for example if you stay under a year. It is not a personnummer and is valid for 5 years.
Servicekontor ENService office: The offices run by Statens servicecenter where Skatteverket’s identity checks are done, by appointment. Not all of them issue ID cards.
SFI ENSwedish for immigrants (SFI): The kommun’s Swedish course. You have a right from the second half of the year you turn 16; a personnummer is not required. From 1 January 2026 the right lasts 3 years.
SGI ENSickness-benefit qualifying income (SGI): Sjukpenninggrundande inkomst: the income Försäkringskassan bases sickness and parental benefit on. For the income-related level you need 7,083 kr a month for at least 240 days before the expected birth.
Sjuklön ENSick pay: For the first 14 days of sickness the employer pays.
Sjukpenning ENSickness benefit: From day 15 Försäkringskassan pays, after your employer has reported the illness.
Swish ENSwish (mobile payments): The mobile payment service that you activate through your bank and that needs BankID on the same phone.
Uppehållskort ENResidence card (EU family members): The card for non-EU family members of an EU citizen who stay more than 3 months. You apply to Migrationsverket and it is valid for at most 5 years.
Uppehållsrätt ENRight of residence: The right of EU/EEA citizens to live in Sweden without applying to Migrationsverket. After 3 months it requires work, a business, study or sufficient means.
Uppehållstillstånd ENResidence permit: The permit that citizens of non-EU countries apply for from Migrationsverket for work, job seeking or family ties.
Uppehållstillståndskort ENResidence permit card: The physical card for your residence permit. Skatteverket asks to see it when you register if you come from outside the EU.
Vårdcentral ENPrimary care centre: Your first contact with healthcare for non-urgent problems. You choose it and register (listning) through 1177.se.