Daily life · Sweden
Digital Sweden
The complete app setup guide
Setup Order
The Digital Setup Chain
Sweden is one of the world's most digitalised countries. Getting set up requires following a specific order — each step unlocks the next.
- Step 1
- Personnummer (from Skatteverket)
- Step 2
- Bank account (with personnummer)
- Step 3
- BankID (from your bank)
- Step 4
- Swish + 1177 + Skatteverket + Kivra
- Total time
- 4–10 weeks from arrival
- Get your personnummer registered at Skatteverket
- Open a bank account (SEB or Handelsbanken recommended)
- Activate BankID through your bank
- Download Swish, 1177, Skatteverket, and Kivra apps
- Log in to each service with BankID to verify setup
Official sources
Must-Have Apps
Essential Apps
These apps are non-negotiable for daily life in Sweden. Install them as soon as you have BankID.
- BankID
- Digital identity — needed for everything
- Swish
- Peer-to-peer payments — replaces cash
- 1177
- Healthcare booking and records
- Kivra
- Digital mailbox for official letters
- Skatteverket
- Tax filings and personal information
- Install BankID and activate through your bank
- Install Swish and connect your bank account
- Install 1177 and register at your vårdcentral
- Install Kivra to receive digital mail
- Install the Skatteverket app for tax management
Official sources
Daily Life Apps
Daily Life Apps
Beyond the essentials, these apps make everyday life in Sweden smoother — from transit to grocery delivery.
- SL / Västtrafik / Skånetrafiken
- Regional public transit tickets and routes
- Mat.se / Mathem
- Online grocery delivery
- PostNord
- Track and collect parcels
- Hemnet
- Property listings
- Blocket
- Buy/sell anything second-hand
- Download your regional transit app (SL, Västtrafik, or Skånetrafiken)
- Install PostNord for parcel tracking and locker collection
- Try Mat.se or Mathem for grocery delivery
- Download Blocket for second-hand furniture and goods
- Install your bank's own app for everyday banking
Official sources
Before Personnummer
Apps That Work Without Personnummer
While waiting for your personnummer, these apps and services still work and make life manageable.
- Wise
- International payments and SEK account
- Revolut
- Multi-currency card with Swedish IBANs
- Freja eID Plus
- Digital ID — works without personnummer
- SL app
- Buy transit tickets with any card
- Foodora / Uber Eats
- Food delivery — works with any payment method
- Open a Wise account for receiving salary and payments
- Get a Revolut card for daily spending
- Register for Freja eID Plus at a pharmacy
- Buy SL tickets with your foreign bank card
- Use Foodora or Uber Eats for food delivery
Official sources
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