How to Get Your First Swedish Passport After Citizenship: The 2026 Step-by-Step

What you'll pay in 2026

From Polisen's official fees (current as of May 2026):

• Passport — SEK 500
• National ID card — SEK 400
• Provisional (temporary) passport — SEK 980
• Applying via a Swedish mission abroad — fees differ by embassy/consulate; check directly with the relevant Swedish mission

Payment is made at the appointment, by credit or debit card. Cash is not accepted at most passport terminals.

Where you apply

You apply in person at a police station with a passport terminal — these are listed on the Polisen website. You can never apply for a Swedish passport entirely online: biometric data (photo, fingerprints, signature) must be captured at the appointment.

You must book a time in advance via Polisen's booking system. Walk-ins are not accepted. Booking can usually be done online with BankID; if you don't yet have BankID, contact Polisen for alternative booking options.

What to bring to the appointment

Polisen's official checklist for adults applying in Sweden:

• Valid identification. A valid passport (including your previous non-Swedish passport, if applicable) is one of several accepted ID documents.
• Your old passport, if it is still valid — Polisen explicitly mentions this.
• Payment by credit or debit card (SEK 500 for the passport; SEK 400 for the ID card; both if you want both).

You do not need to bring Migrationsverket's citizenship decision letter — Polisen checks your status against Skatteverket's population register (folkbokföring), which is updated automatically when Migrationsverket grants citizenship. That said, bringing the decision letter as a backup is harmless and can speed things up if there's any system delay.

The "right after citizenship" timing question

A common practical question: "My citizenship was granted yesterday — can I book a passport appointment today?"

In principle yes. The citizenship decision takes effect on the day Migrationsverket issues it. Skatteverket then updates the population register, which Polisen uses to confirm your status. In practice:

• The population register update is usually quick (days), but not always same-day.
• If you book too early and the register hasn't updated yet, Polisen may not be able to process the application.
• A pragmatic approach: wait a few business days after the decision, then book. By the time the appointment slot itself arrives, the register will reflect your new status.

What happens at the appointment

1. You check in at the police passport terminal.
2. Your identity is verified against your existing documents and the population register.
3. Your photograph is taken on-site. You don't bring your own photo — Polisen captures it to the required specification.
4. Your fingerprints are captured digitally.
5. You sign electronically.
6. You pay by card.
7. The appointment typically takes 15-20 minutes.

Processing time and pickup

Polisen states that in Sweden, the passport is typically ready within one week. You can pick it up at the same office where you applied. Note:

• Processing time varies seasonally (summer is busier).
• If you ordered both a passport and a national ID card, both will normally be ready around the same time.
• You can choose to have certain documents posted to you in some cases — confirm at the appointment.

Passport vs. national ID card: which to get?

Both prove Swedish citizenship. The differences in practice:

• Passport (SEK 500): full international travel document, accepted everywhere. The default choice for new citizens.
• National ID card (SEK 400): valid for travel within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and some other European countries. Wallet-sized, more practical as everyday ID inside Sweden.
• Many new citizens choose both — passport for international travel, national ID card for daily use. Total cost: SEK 900.

Validity periods

Polisen sets passport and ID-card validity periods at issue. For adults, the regular passport is normally valid for several years; renewals follow the same in-person application process. Validity for children's national ID cards is shorter — under-12s receive a card valid for three years per Polisen's published rules.

If you're abroad when your citizenship is granted

You can apply for a Swedish passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate (a "Swedish mission abroad"). Fees differ by location and processing typically takes longer than in Sweden. You may need additional documentation to confirm your Swedish citizenship; embassies sometimes request a personal identity document, a citizenship certificate, or your residence permit / previous Migrationsverket decisions. Contact the specific embassy in advance for their fee schedule and document requirements.

What the Swedish passport unlocks

Sweden's passport is one of the world's most travel-friendly documents, consistently ranked in the global top 10 for visa-free destinations (Henley Index 2026: Sweden in the top tier). Practical immediate benefits:

• Visa-free travel to a large number of countries — check the country-specific rules before each trip.
• Right to live and work anywhere in the EU/EEA as an EU citizen (Sweden is an EU Member State).
• Consular protection from Swedish embassies abroad.
• Right to vote in Riksdag elections, regional and municipal elections (Swedish citizenship is required for Riksdag voting; municipal voting was already possible after three years of residence).
• Some career options (police, military, certain government roles) become accessible.

A note on these rules

This guide is based on Polisen's official passport and national ID card page (current as of May 2026). Fees and processing times are updated periodically — confirm with Polisen directly before booking. This is general information, not legal or travel advice.