Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Obtaining a passport for the country of Sweden is not particularly complicated, but the procedure is very regulated and varies depending on whether you live within Swedish territory or abroad. This guide gathers, in clear English, all information from official Swedish sources to help you understand the steps, costs, processing times, specifics for children, and emergency cases.
Swedish passports are issued by the police in Sweden and by embassies/consulates abroad. To apply, you must be a Swedish citizen, appear in person, and agree to the collection of biometric data.
Understanding the role of a Swedish passport
The Swedish passport is both a travel document and proof of your citizenship. As a Swedish citizen, you are also a citizen of the European Union, with the freedom to move, work, and study throughout the European Economic Area and Switzerland. The document also allows you to request assistance from Swedish consular authorities or, if unavailable, other EU or Nordic representations abroad.
The passport contains an RFID chip storing the holder’s photo and fingerprints. This biometric data is not kept in a central database, but only on the chip of the physical document.
In terms of mobility, the Swedish passport is among the most powerful in the world: Swedish citizens enjoy visa-free access, with an eTA or visa on arrival, to approximately 188 countries and territories according to recent rankings.
Basic requirements: citizenship and identity number
Even before thinking about an appointment, two conditions are essential to obtain a Swedish passport: having Swedish nationality and having a Swedish identification number, whether it’s a personnummer (personal identity number) or a samordningsnummer (coordination number).
Swedish authorities verify citizenship status with each application, including for a simple renewal. For residents abroad, this verification may require additional documents, such as proof regarding parents or previous generations. This rigor is explained by the multiple changes in nationality legislation over the decades.
The table below summarizes the most important eligibility prerequisites.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Swedish citizenship | Mandatory for any passport or national ID card application |
| Identity number (personnummer) | Required to book an appointment |
| Coordination number (samordningsnummer) | Alternative to the personnummer, especially for people born abroad |
| Citizenship verification | Systematic for every application, in Sweden and abroad |
| “Background data…” form | Required for applicants residing abroad |
If you were born abroad or have spent most of your life outside Sweden, authorities may require an extract from the population register or documents from your parents to confirm your nationality. These extracts can be obtained from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), which manages the civil registry.
Where and how to apply in Sweden
Within Swedish territory, the competent authority for passports and national ID cards is the Swedish Police (Polisen). The application must be submitted at a police station with a passport terminal, and never online.
The organization is very standardized: you choose a police passport office, book a time slot, appear with an ID document and, if necessary, your old passport. On site, the officer takes your photo, fingerprints, collects your signature, and verifies your identity.
To prove your identity, only certain Swedish documents are accepted: valid passport (excluding provisional ones), national ID card, Swedish driver’s license, or official ID card (e.g., from Skatteverket, SIS). If you lack these, an adult relative (spouse, parent, sibling, etc.) can verify your identity by presenting their own valid ID document.
The entire procedure is the same, whether you are getting your first passport or applying for a renewal. The only practical difference is the requirement to surrender the old document at the time of pickup so it can be canceled.
In Sweden, the passport is typically ready within one week and can be picked up at the issuing office. For residents abroad, it is possible to have it sent to a Swedish embassy or consulate abroad for pickup on site, which is convenient during a temporary stay in Sweden.
Cost and payment for a passport in Sweden
The issuance fees are set nationally and are paid when submitting the application at the police office. Bank cards are the standard payment method, with offices accepting credit and debit cards.
The main fees are as follows.
| Type of document | Fee in Sweden (SEK) |
|---|---|
| Standard passport | 500 |
| National ID card | 400 |
| Provisional (temporary) passport | 980 |
Additional fees may apply if you request that the passport be sent for pickup at an embassy or consulate abroad. In this case, a shipping fee is paid when applying, and an additional handling fee is charged upon pickup at the diplomatic mission.
Processing times, pickup, and handling the old passport
Once the application is approved, the passport or national ID card is sent to a police passport office to be handed over to the holder. The procedure is very structured: pickup must always be in person, upon presentation of the receipt given at application and the old travel document if one exists.
When receiving a new passport or ID card, the old document, whether still valid or already expired, must be surrendered to be canceled on the spot. Once canceled, the document can no longer be used for travel, even if its original expiration date has not yet been reached.
In Sweden, most cases are completed in less than a week. Abroad, especially at embassies and consulates, usual processing times are around two to four weeks, the time needed to physically produce the document and ship it to the relevant consular post.
The following table summarizes indicative processing times based on the application location.
| Application location | Typical time for a standard passport |
|---|---|
| Police passport office (Sweden) | Approximately 1 week |
| Embassy or consulate abroad | Approximately 2 to 4 weeks |
| Provisional passport (emergency) | Often within 24 hours of complete application |
When you choose to pick up the passport at an embassy or consulate different from where the application was submitted, you must account for the two levels of fees (shipping + handling) and additional postal delivery times.
Applying for a Swedish passport from abroad
For Swedish citizens living outside the country, two options exist: submit the application during a visit to Sweden, which is often faster and cheaper, or go through a Swedish embassy or consulate general in the country of residence.
In the United States, applications for a standard Swedish passport can only be submitted at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington or the Consulates General in New York and San Francisco. The many honorary consulates present in the U.S. territory can provide assistance for other services, such as legalizations, certificates, or sometimes provisional passports, but they are not authorized to issue standard passports or national ID cards, as they lack the necessary biometric equipment.
The principle, however, remains the same: the physical presence of the applicant is mandatory, an appointment must be booked online, original documents are strongly recommended, and photos should never be brought as embassies and consulates also have photo and fingerprint capture stations.
Foreign authorities may require the form “Background data for investigation of Swedish citizenship” or “Verification of Swedish citizenship” to confirm that you have not lost your nationality and that your identity matches Swedish records. They may also request citizenship certificates, proof of address, or, if you were born outside Sweden, your parents’ civil status documents.
At some posts, the fee schedule is expressed in local currency. For example, at a specific consulate, the cost of a temporary passport is listed as 141 British pounds, payable in cash only, or a pickup fee of 17 pounds when the passport was produced elsewhere.
Procedure for minors and children born abroad
For minors, obtaining a Swedish passport is subject to additional rules. A child under 18 must obtain written consent from all holders of parental authority, recorded in a specific form attached to the application. One parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the application, both at a Swedish police station and at an embassy or consulate.
The maximum time to obtain a Swedish coordination number for a child born abroad is 12 weeks.
For a first passport application for a child born abroad, authorities require in particular the coordination form, a citizenship certificate, confirmation letter, maternity discharge report, both parents’ passports, possibly a marriage certificate, the child’s birth certificate, and in some cases, proof showing that the Swedish parent has retained their nationality or has not automatically acquired another citizenship.
Once the child has received their Swedish coordination number, they can be registered in the national registers. It is then possible to apply for a passport for them. The procedure follows the same biometric requirements as for an adult: the child’s physical presence is mandatory, their photo is taken on site at the time of application, their fingerprints are captured (depending on age), and the written consent of all holders of parental authority is required.
Standard passport, national ID card, and validity
In Sweden, the biometric passport and the national ID card are two different documents but managed by the same authority (the police) and following very similar procedures. The passport remains the central document for travel outside Europe, while the national ID card most often allows travel within the Schengen Area and several other European countries.
Current biometric passports are valid for 5 years for adults. Older models, issued before the widespread use of biometrics, could have a validity of 10 years for adults and 5 years for children, but they are gradually disappearing upon expiration.
For the national ID card, new rules applied starting in August 2021. Fingerprints are now mandatory, and the validity period is limited to three years for children under twelve, compared to five years previously. For people temporarily unable to provide fingerprints (e.g., due to injury), the card’s validity is capped at one year.
Summary of main administrative and legal validity periods.
Valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
Valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
Valid for 15 years, subject to a medical check after age 70.
Valid for life, but must be updated in case of changed circumstances.
Duration varies by type: temporary (1 year), multi-year (2 to 4 years), or long-term resident (10 years).
Valid for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
| Document | Current standard validity |
|---|---|
| Adult biometric passport | 5 years |
| Old adult passport (pre-biometrics) | Up to 10 years (older models) |
| Child passport | 5 years (depending on model and age) |
| Adult national ID card | Generally 5 years |
| Child ID card < 12 years | 3 years since the new rules |
In some specific cases (for example, professional obligations or travel difficulties related to visas for certain countries), it is possible to hold two valid Swedish passports simultaneously. This possibility, however, is time-limited and must not exceed the validity of the primary passport.
Since April 2016, a limitation has also been introduced to combat misuse and resale of passports: a person can no longer obtain more than three standard passports within a five-year period, except in very special situations.
Lost, stolen, or found passport: what to do?
In case of loss or theft of a Swedish passport, the first step is to report it immediately to the police so the document can be blocked. In Sweden, this is done at any police station; abroad, the person concerned can either contact the Swedish police via the international number +46 77 114 14 00, or turn to the nearest Swedish embassy or consulate.
Once reported lost or stolen, a passport is immediately deactivated and becomes unusable. If it is found, the authorities must be informed. Furthermore, when a new passport is issued, any old document, including the found one, must be surrendered for cancellation.
These rules also apply to the national ID card. Failure to comply with these obligations can create confusion at borders and exposes the holder to administrative difficulties, or even suspicion of misuse.
Provisional and emergency passports
There is a separate category of travel document: the provisional passport, sometimes also called an emergency passport. It is intended for situations where imminent travel is essential but the holder does not have a valid standard passport, either because it has expired, been lost or stolen, or because the processing time for a new document exceeds the departure date.
This document is issued as a non-machine-readable A4 sheet, without biometric data. It is valid only for a single journey, often a return to Sweden or to the country of residence. Its maximum validity is seven months, but it is generally issued for a specific trip planned within the next two to three days.
To obtain one, the applicant must demonstrate the urgency and present proof of travel (ticket or reserved itinerary). The application is always made in person, by appointment, and only certain police stations in Sweden, as well as certain consulates and embassies abroad, are authorized to issue this type of document. The cost in Sweden is higher than for a standard passport: 980 SEK. At some consulates, the fee is set in local currency, for example 141 British pounds at a given post.
The holder of a Swedish provisional passport must absolutely verify, before departure, that the destination country, transit states, and the airline accept this temporary document. Some countries may indeed refuse it at borders or boarding, as noted by authorities and travel agencies.
It is also important to know that applying for a provisional passport while still possessing a valid standard passport automatically leads to the revocation and blocking of the latter.
Application specifics: biometrics and identification
Swedish passports have been biometric since 2005, with the addition of fingerprints in 2009. This characteristic has several practical consequences for applicants.
For any passport application, including a renewal, new biometric capture is mandatory. It is impossible to reuse an old photo or old data. The holder must appear in person to be photographed and for fingerprint capture. Photos must be taken on site (police station, embassy, or consulate); photos brought by the applicant are refused.
Furthermore, fingerprints are stored on the document’s chip, but not in a central database that can be accessed remotely. Authorities only have what is necessary to establish the match between the document and its holder at the time of issuance and subsequent checks.
These requirements explain why no Swedish passport application can be completed entirely online or by mail. Even if some preparatory forms are downloadable or transmittable electronically, the applicant’s presence remains mandatory for the biometric capture and identity verification phase.
Link between Swedish citizenship and passport
A Swedish passport is a right attached to citizenship, but it is not its source. It is therefore important to clearly distinguish the passport application procedure from the rules for acquiring or retaining nationality.
Swedish nationality can be obtained by birth (if at least one parent is Swedish), by descent or adoption, by naturalization after a certain period of residence, or via marriage/partnership with a Swedish citizen under certain conditions. Sweden permits dual citizenship, meaning acquiring Swedish nationality does not necessarily require renouncing another nationality, unless the other state requires it.
For persons born and residing abroad without a demonstrated real connection to Sweden, Swedish citizenship is automatically lost at age 22, unless it would result in statelessness. To retain nationality, an application must be submitted to the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) between the ages of 18 and 22.
A person who has lost Swedish citizenship before a certain date due to acquiring another nationality may, in some cases, recover it by contacting the same agency, upon payment of a specific fee.
Around the passport revolves a whole set of related services provided by embassies, consulates, honorary consulates, and various Swedish authorities. Honorary consulates cannot issue standard passports or ID cards, but they can often:
This consulate can: certify copies of documents or IDs; issue certificates of existence (levnadsintyg) for retirees receiving a Swedish pension; assist in submitting applications for retention of citizenship or civil status certificates; and hand over passports already manufactured by an embassy or the Swedish police, subject to a handling fee.
Furthermore, the Swedish Tax Agency can issue a national ID card separate from the passport, useful in Sweden for identification with banks, government agencies, and many services. This card is not equivalent to a passport as a travel document, but it often remains essential for daily life for residents.
Practical tips for planning your application
In many countries, appointment slots for passports have become scarce, which has also affected Sweden. To avoid unpleasant surprises, several best practices emerge from official information.
First, it is advised not to wait until the last minute. Many countries require that the passport be valid for at least three or six months after the planned return date, even though a specific agreement between the United States and Sweden allows Swedes to enter U.S. territory with a passport valid only for the duration of the stay. For other destinations, it’s better to check the minimum validity rules in advance.
It is advisable to regularly check for new appointment slot openings in the Swedish police system. Private services also exist to detect freed-up appointments, especially via cancellations, more quickly than a standard search. It is important to note that these services are not affiliated with the police and operate independently by monitoring the platform.
Finally, for Swedes residing abroad, a temporary return to Sweden to submit the application at a police station may be faster and cheaper than processing the entire file through an embassy or consulate. The possibility of then having the passport shipped to a diplomatic post for pickup offers some flexibility, provided you have a valid document for the return trip after application.
Summary: key steps to obtain a Swedish passport
Without turning this guide into a list, it is useful to gather the essential points that apply in all situations. Obtaining a Swedish passport essentially comes down to, in order: ensuring your citizenship and the existence of an identity or coordination number, choosing the application authority (police office in Sweden, embassy or consulate general abroad), booking an appointment, gathering the necessary identification documents (and for minors, the consent of holders of parental authority), then appearing in person for the photo, fingerprint capture, and signature.
Once the passport application is paid and validated, you must wait during the manufacturing and shipping period for the document. To pick it up, you must appear again at the counter, with the receipt and the old passport, which will then be canceled. In an emergency, a provisional passport can be a backup solution, provided you verify in advance its acceptance by destination or transit countries as well as transport companies, as its validity is limited.
By following these rules and planning sufficiently ahead, obtaining or renewing a Swedish passport remains a relatively smooth process, supported by an extensive police and consular apparatus that is largely digitized for the appointment booking and document exchange parts.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
