How to start a business in Sweden, also as a foreigner

To start a business in Sweden you choose a business type, register it with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket), and register with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) for F-tax, VAT or as an employer. Citizens of another EU or EEA country can do this under the same rules as a Swede. Citizens of other countries who want to live in Sweden to run the business need a residence permit first. Fees and rules below were read on official pages on 3 October 2026 and can change, so check the pages before you pay.

Updated 3 October 2026

Can a foreigner start a business in Sweden?

Yes, but the route depends on your citizenship. The government portal verksamt.se says: "If you are a citizen of another EU/EEA country, you have the right to live and work in Sweden without a residence permit." [1] For citizens of a country outside the EU/EEA who wish to live in Sweden to run a business, it says they "will need a Swedish residence permit." [1] That page was last updated on 2 June 2026.

What are the steps for a foreign citizen?

Verksamt.se lists five steps for a foreign citizen. [1]

Apply for a residence permit if you are not an EU citizen.
Apply for a coordination number.
Prepare your start.
Choose a business type and register your company with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
Register your company with the Swedish Tax Agency.

The page adds that "Your residence permit must be approved before you travel to Sweden." [1]

What residence permit do I need if I am from outside the EU or EEA?

The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) has a permit for self-employed people. On 3 October 2026 the page listed these requirements, among others: [2]

you must "own at least 51 percent of it" (the business);
"good experience in the industry and in running your own business";
"relevant knowledge of Swedish or English";
"SEK 200,000 in a bank account," plus "SEK 100,000 for your accompanying spouse" and "SEK 50,000 for each accompanying child."

The page gives the fee as: "Employees/self-employed people: SEK 2,000." It also says: "If you are applying for a residence permit for the first time, you must do so from outside Sweden." [2] Exceptions exist for people who already hold certain permits, so read the full page for your case.

There is a second route for some graduates. Migrationsverket says a person who has completed studies equal to a second-cycle qualification can come to look for work or explore starting a business. The permit lasts at most nine months, requires bank assets of at least SEK 13,000 for each month applied for, and has a fee of SEK 2,200. [3]

What is a coordination number?

It is an identity number for people who are not registered in Sweden. Verksamt.se explains: "A coordination number is an identity designation for those who are not or have not been registered in Sweden." You apply for one "via an e-service or on a form to the Swedish Tax Agency," and you must make an appointment at a service office to verify your identity. [1] The page says you can use verksamt.se's services with it only after your identity is verified.

Which business type should I choose?

Verksamt.se describes the main types like this. [4]

Sole trader: "a form of business where you, as a private individual and sole owner, run and are responsible for the business." [4] The sole trader page says "You have unlimited personal liability." [5]
Limited company: "a company in which the partners are normally not personally liable for the company's debts." [4] You need at least SEK 25,000 in share capital. [6]
Trading partnership and limited partnership: partnerships for two or more parties; in the limited partnership the liability of some partners is limited to what they invested. [4]

For a sole trader, registering a business name is optional: "You can, but are not usually required to, register your business name." [5] A limited company must have a board with "at least one member and one alternate." [6] This guide does not say where board members must live, because the official Bolagsverket page could not be read. Check that with Bolagsverket before you choose a limited company.

What does registration cost?

Verksamt.se lists these fees, with the first price for the e-service and the second for paper. Read on 3 October 2026; the page says it was last updated on 6 May 2026. [7]

The same page says "All cases that you submit to the Swedish Tax Agency are free of charge." [7]

Which tax registrations do I need?

The Tax Agency explains three. F-tax: "When your business is approved for F-tax, your customers do not have to deduct taxes on payments made to you for work performed in Sweden." VAT: "If your business is liable for VAT, you are required to register for VAT." Employer: "If you have employees (including yourself if you are working for a limited liability company) you need to register as an employer". [8] For a sole trader the portal adds: "If you only have income from your sole trader, you must apply for F-tax." [5]

A short checklist

I know whether I need a residence permit, and I have it before I travel.
I have a coordination number, or a Swedish personal identity number.
I chose a business type and know my personal liability.
I have the registration fee and, for a limited company, SEK 25,000.
I registered with Bolagsverket and then the Tax Agency.
I checked whether my activity needs a permit.

What should I read next?

Work out your first costs with the startup budget template and the guide to startup costs and runway. If you are new to business, see how to start a business with no experience.

Easeable helps a person structure an idea, take it into execution, and run the business with them. You can describe your idea in the box at the end of this page.