The public healthcare system in Sweden is decentralized, funded mostly by local and regional taxes, and provides highly subsidized care to all residents. Under the Communicable Diseases Act (Smittskyddslagen), testing and treatment for STIs (including HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia) are completely free of charge.

How National Health Insurance Works

In Sweden, access to the fully subsidized public healthcare system is tied directly to being registered in the Swedish Population Register (Folkbokföret), which grants you a Personnummer (personal identity number).

With a Personnummer, you pay heavily subsidized standard patient fees (patientavgift) for GP visits and prescriptions (like PrEP), which are capped at a maximum annual amount. STI care remains completely free regardless. Most interactions with the healthcare system, including booking appointments online via 1177.se, require a Personnummer and a digital ID (BankID).

If you are staying in Sweden for less than 12 months, you generally cannot get a Personnummer. You may be issued a coordination number (Samordningsnummer), but this does not grant automatic access to subsidized healthcare.

How Foreigners Can Register

Accessing healthcare relies entirely on obtaining your Personnummer through the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). The path to getting this number depends on your citizenship.

EU/EEA Citizens

  • Right of Residence: As an EU citizen, you automatically have the "right of residence" if you work, study, or have sufficient funds to support yourself.
  • Registration: If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, you must visit Skatteverket to register your move and obtain a Personnummer.
  • Short-term stays: If you are staying less than a year or waiting for your registration, use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access necessary medical care on the same terms as Swedish residents.

Non-EU Citizens

  • Residence Permit Requirement: Non-EU citizens must have a valid residence permit (issued by the Swedish Migration Agency, Migrationsverket) before they can register.
  • Registration: Once your residence permit is approved and you arrive in Sweden (planning to stay 12+ months), you apply for your Personnummer at Skatteverket.
  • Short-term/Waiting period: While waiting for your permit or Personnummer, you do not have access to subsidized care (except for free emergency STI testing/treatment under Smittskyddslagen). It is highly recommended to have comprehensive private health insurance during this gap.

National Health Hotline

Sweden’s national health hotline and digital portal is 1177 Vårdguiden. You can call 24/7 to speak with a nurse who will assess your symptoms and guide you to the right clinic.

  • From abroad / Non-Swedish SIM: +46 771 11 77 00
  • From within Sweden: 1177

1177 is for medical advice and triage. In a life-threatening medical emergency, immediately call the European emergency number 112.