How to receive your Swedish pension
Have you earned pension in Sweden? Learn how to apply for Swedish pension and what you need to know if you live in Denmark or another country when you retire.
How to apply for Swedish pension
If you have worked and belonged to the social security in Sweden, you may be entitled to Swedish pension when you retire. You must apply for your pension yourself, as it is not paid automatically.
If you live in Denmark when you retire, you should contact Udbetaling Danmark. They will forward your application for public pension to the Swedish Pensions Agency, Pensionsmyndigheten. If you have also earned occupational pension, you apply directly to your occupational pension provider.
If you live in another country, you should normally contact the pension authority in your country of residence.
Apply well in advance
You should apply for Swedish pension around three months before you want your pension payments to begin.
If you live outside Sweden or have worked in several countries, Pensionsmyndigheten recommends applying around six months in advance.
Apply for Swedish pension at Pensionsmyndigheten
Receiving Swedish pension outside Sweden
You can usually receive income pension and premium pension from Sweden even if you live abroad.
Guarantee pension is generally only paid if you live in Sweden.
If you live outside Sweden and receive Swedish pension, you may also need to submit a life certificate each year to continue receiving payments.
Read about pension when living outside Sweden at Pensionsmyndigheten
Tax on Swedish pension
If you live outside Sweden, your Swedish pension is usually taxed in Sweden under the special income tax for non-residents, known as SINK tax. SINK tax is a fixed tax rate deducted directly from your pension payments. If you pay SINK tax, you normally do not need to file a Swedish tax return.
You apply for SINK tax at the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket.
Sweden also has tax agreements with many countries to help avoid double taxation. Which country has the right to tax your pension depends on the tax agreement between Sweden and your country of residence.
As a general rule, if you live in Denmark and receive pension from Sweden, the pension is also taxed in Denmark. You must therefore declare your Swedish pension in your Danish annual tax return. Double taxation is avoided because Denmark gives credit for tax already paid in Sweden.
Read about SINK tax on pensions at skatteverket.se
Need help with Swedish pension?
The Swedish Pensions Agency regularly hosts live information seminars in English.
The seminars cover different parts of the Swedish pension system, including pension entitlements, pension payments, living abroad as a pensioner and survivor’s benefits.
You do not need to register or download any software, and you can ask questions in the chat during the seminar.
Find webinars about Swedish pension at pensionsmyndigheten.se
Contact Øresunddirekt or Pensionsmyndigheten
You can find more information about applying for and receiving Swedish pension at the Swedish Pensions Agency, Pensionsmyndigheten, or contact the advisers at Øresunddirekt’s information centre in Malmö.
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