After arrival

The following is information about arrangements that should be done after arrival.

Registration at the University

You must register for your courses within the time span given by your department. If you do not register, you will lose your place. During the introduction for international students you will receive assistance in registering for your courses. If you miss the introduction you should visit the Student Centre on level 3 of the B-corridor to receive a welcome package and to register for your courses.

Swedish Personal Identity Number

If you are eligible for a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) you should apply for one as soon as possible since it facilitates opening a bank account, renting an apartment etc. and grants you free health care. The Swedish personal identity number is a registration number used to identify people living in Sweden. It is granted by the Tax Agency and is necessary to gain access to the Swedish health care system, making a telephone subscription, applying for loans, obtaining an ID card, etc.

Who can get the number?

The registration number is only given to students who have a residence permit longer than 12 months (365 days) or students from inside the EU/EEA who are able to prove that they intend to stay in Sweden at least 12 months.

What does the number look like?

The personal identity number is a ten digit number where the first six numbers consist of your birthday plus four extra digits, e.g. (YYMMDD-XXXX). If you were born on March 17th 1979, then your number could appear as follows: 790317-4361

Applying for the number

To apply for a Swedish personal identity number you need to go to the local tax office (Skatteverket) and register in the population register (folkbokföring). You should take with you the material outlined below. After your visit to the tax office expect to wait between 1-3 weeks for your personal identity number to arrive in the mail.

Local tax office (Skatteverket) is located at Österlånggatan 30.

Skatteverket map »

Visiting hours: mon - fri: 09.00-16.00, Tel: 0771-567 567 

Bring the following:

• Passport
• Residence permit
• Registration papers from the university showing how long your studies will last
• If you are married bring your marriage certificate
  

If you are an EU citizen and you would like to have a Swedish Personal Identity Number you need to register at the Migration Board (”right of residence”), you can read more about the procedure in the section Residence Permit. You then need to visit your local tax office and register in the population register (folkbokföring). The officer handling your case will decide if you are granted a Swedish Personal Identity Number. You need to show that you intend to stay at least a year (e.g. admission letter, work contract) and that you can support yourself (e.g. bank statement, transaction receipt). Note that you do not need a Swedish Personal Identity Number to work and pay taxes, a co-ordination number (which you also apply for at the tax office) is enough.

ID cards 

Swedish ID cards are only granted to students who have a Swedish Personal Identity Number. You can apply for an ID card at the tax office in Borås, but you need to pick up the card at the tax office in Gothenburg (Östra hamngatan 16, in the shopping centre called Nordstan). You need to bring your passport and
a receipt showing that you have paid the application fee of SEK 400.

The University does not provide students with student identity cards. But if you become a member of the Student Union you will receive a student card (sometimes called “mecenatkort” in Swedish) in the mail a couple of weeks after you have become a member, which gives you the right to many student discounts.

Bank Account

Before you open a bank account, check with your bank in your home country what their fees are for withdrawing money, paying using your credit card and online banking for purchases in Sweden. It might not be necessary for you to open a Swedish bank account.

Opening a bank account

For details on costs for opening an account and receiving an ATM-card and online banking, please read How to open a bank account in Borås.

To open a bank account in Sweden you should be prepared to bring with you the following:

• Passport
• Residence permit
• Letter of admission or registration papers from the university showing how long your studies will last (they should be stamped and signed by the University. The Student Centre or the International Coordinator Emma Bergstedt in room J434 can help you with this)
• Proof of your address (a copy of your rental contract or a receipt from an invoice will work)
• At some banks you are required to have a Swedish personal identity number in order to open a bank account. If you have registered for a Swedish personal identity number you should being a recent copy (no more than 2 weeks old) of a personbevis. A personbevis is a paper showing your personal identity number. It can be acquired by either ordering one over the telephone 020-567 000, or by visiting the local office tax office (Skatteverket).

Available banks

SEB
Kyrkängsgatan 8, tel: 033-169800 or 0771-62 10 00

Handelsbanken
Stora Torget, tel: 033-44 23 30

Swedbank
Allégatan 55, tel: 033-16 65 00

Nordea
Torggatan 11, tel: 0771-22 44 88