personnummer

The number Skatteverket gives you when you are first entered in the Swedish population register. It starts with your date of birth and is followed by four more digits, and you keep the same number for the rest of your life, even if you move abroad.

You use it with almost everyone: employers, banks, the health centre, schools, phone companies and every government agency. Many services, such as BankID or a contract with a landlord, are hard or impossible to get without it.

You get a personnummer by reporting your move to Sweden to Skatteverket, which generally applies if you plan to live here for at least one year. People who stay for a shorter time can get a coordination number (samordningsnummer) instead.