Authorities and public services
A service office helps you use services from several authorities.
Goal: understand the basics and find the right official help route.
Translated from Swedish. Always rely on the Swedish text and the official source.
Show the original Swedish text
Myndigheter och samhällsservice
Ett servicekontor kan hjälpa dig att hitta rätt i flera myndigheters tjänster.
- Statens servicecenters kontor ger vägledning från flera myndigheter.
- Myndigheternas egna webbplatser har deras e-tjänster och kundtjänster.
- Kontoren kan ge stöd när du saknar e-legitimation eller behöver förstå hur en tjänst fungerar.
- Skriv ned ärendet och vilken myndighet brevet kommer från.
- Hitta närmaste servicekontor och kontrollera dess tjänster.
- Kontrollera öppettider och eventuell bokning före besöket.
Vägledning är inte ett beslut i alla myndighetsärenden. Tjänster och bokning varierar mellan kontor.
Good to know
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Statens servicecenter (the Government Service Center) has offices that give advice for several authorities.
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Each authority’s own website has its e-services and customer service.
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The offices can support you when you do not have an e-ID or need to understand how a service works.
Three steps to get started
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Write down what you need help with and which authority sent the letter.
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Find the nearest service office and check its services.
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Check opening hours and any booking before your visit.
A practical checklist to try. It does not add any legal requirements.
Important distinctions
Advice is not the same as an official decision on your case. Services and booking rules differ between offices.
Practice question
Show the right answer and explanation
A. Ask a service office for guidance.
The Government Service Center offers support even without an e-ID.
This question is practice, not a test. Answers are not saved.
Sources
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Statens servicecenter
Besök servicekontor (opens in a new tab)“På respektive myndighets webbplats hittar du deras e-tjänster samt kundtjänst om du har frågor.”
Checked . Check the source again before you act. Rules and contact routes can change.
In depth
Modules and guides
11 modules in this area. Everyone can read the modules marked Free. The rest are part of Premium.
11 modules in this area. You have Premium and can read everything.
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The different jobs of the authorities
Which authority does what, and what you can expect when you contact them.
The different jobs of the authorities. Which authority does what, and what you can expect when you contact them.The essentials
- Authorities have different responsibilities. Contact the authority in charge of your case.
- An authority must give suitable help so you can protect your interests.
- Authorities must be objective and impartial.
- A service centre can help you use several authorities' e-services and forms.
Key words
- myndighet
- A public body with a role set by law.
- förvaltningslagen
- The law that sets rules for how authorities handle cases and contact you.
- handläggning
- The work an authority does to look into and decide a case.
- saklig och opartisk
- Based on rules and facts, not personal views.
After this module, you can…
- Understand which authority is responsible for different matters.
- Know what help you can ask an authority for.
Example: Amir contacts the right authority
Amir has questions about tax and financial assistance. He contacts Skatteverket about tax and the social services in his municipality about assistance. If he is unsure where a question belongs, he can ask the authority he contacts.
Who does what?
- Skatteverket [the Swedish Tax Agency]: population registration, personal numbers, ID cards and tax.
- Försäkringskassan [the Swedish Social Insurance Agency]: payments, for example when you have children, are sick, or take part in a programme with Arbetsförmedlingen [the Swedish Public Employment Service].
- Arbetsförmedlingen: support for people who look for work, including the establishment programme [an introduction programme for newly arrived people].
- Migrationsverket [the Swedish Migration Agency]: residence permits, asylum and citizenship.
- The municipality: preschool, school, social services and financial assistance.
- The region: health and medical care.
- Polisen [the Swedish Police]: crime, passports and national ID cards for Swedish citizens.
You have the right to good treatment
People who work at an authority, in a municipality or in a region must treat everyone equally. They must not discriminate. This applies regardless of, for example, gender, age, ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation.
Read more (2 sections)
The authority must help you
The Administrative Procedure Act (förvaltningslagen) sets rules for how authorities handle cases and contact you.
- Contact should be simple. The authority must give suitable help without unnecessary delay.
- The authority must be objective and impartial.
- The authority may only do what the rules allow.
- Ask the authority to explain something if you do not understand it.
Authorities work together
Authorities must work together within their areas of responsibility. When reasonable, they should get information or comments from other authorities to help you.
- You may not need to give the same information more than once.
- Skatteverket tells other authorities when your registered address changes.
- Contact the authority in charge of your case if you are unsure what to do next.
Practice question
Show the right answer and explanation
A. Skatteverket
Skatteverket is responsible for tax and population registration, among other things.
This question is practice, not a test. Answers are not saved.
Practice question
Show the right answer and explanation
A. Objectively and impartially.
The Administrative Procedure Act requires objective and impartial work.
This question is practice, not a test. Answers are not saved.
Sources
- Sveriges riksdag: Förvaltningslag (2017:900), 5–8 §§ (opens in a new tab)
- Informationsverige.se (Länsstyrelserna): Kontakt med myndigheter (opens in a new tab)
- Informationsverige.se (Länsstyrelserna): Att göra den första tiden (opens in a new tab)
- Statens servicecenter: Besök servicekontor (opens in a new tab)
- Skatteverket: Att vara folkbokförd (opens in a new tab)
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Your municipality and social services
What social services can help with and how you ask for financial help.
Part of Premium
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Your municipality and social services. What social services can help with and how you ask for financial help.Financial assistance Locked
Locked section. Part of Premium.
What do you need to qualify? Locked
Locked section. Part of Premium.
How to apply Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
If your application is refused Locked
Locked section. Part of Premium.
Budget and debt advice Locked
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Sources
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Försäkringskassan and cases about support payments
How you apply for benefits, what you should check and why it is important to report changes.
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Launch price 49 SEK/month
Försäkringskassan and cases about support payments. How you apply for benefits, what you should check and why it is important to report changes.What payments can you get? Locked
Locked section. Part of Premium.
How to apply Locked
Locked section. Part of Premium.
Report changes right away Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
After you get a decision Locked
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When can the penalty fee be lower? Locked
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Sources
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Arbetsförmedlingen and help with work
Who can take part in the introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet), what is expected and how long the programme lasts.
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Arbetsförmedlingen and help with work. Who can take part in the introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet), what is expected and how long the programme lasts.What is the establishment programme? Locked
Locked section. Part of Premium.
Contact Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
What is expected of you? Locked
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How long does the programme last? Locked
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Sources
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Skatteverket and tax matters
Tax return, tax you still owe and tax adjustment – the most important things to know about tax.
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Launch price 49 SEK/month
Skatteverket and tax matters. Tax return, tax you still owe and tax adjustment – the most important things to know about tax.Your tax return Locked
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Tax you owe and tax refunds Locked
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Questions? Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
Tax adjustment (jämkning): pay the right tax during the year Locked
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Deduction for travel to work Locked
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Sources
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Service centres and other ways to get help
Where you get help from several authorities in one place, and other ways to get in touch.
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Service centres and other ways to get help. Where you get help from several authorities in one place, and other ways to get in touch.What is a service centre? Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
Other ways to get in touch Locked
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Get ready before you contact them Locked
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Sources
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Interpreters and clear communication
Your right to an interpreter and translation, and how you ask for it.
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Interpreters and clear communication. Your right to an interpreter and translation, and how you ask for it.Written or spoken information Locked
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Someone to help you Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
Your right to an interpreter Locked
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How to ask for an interpreter Locked
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Sources
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Applying and sending more information
What an application must include and what you do when the authority asks you to add missing information.
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Applying and sending more information. What an application must include and what you do when the authority asks you to add missing information.What should an application include? Locked
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How to add missing information Locked
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Before the authority makes a decision Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
If something is missing or unclear Locked
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If your case is taking a long time Locked
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Sources
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Decisions, reasons and appeals
How you read a decision and appeal it step by step if you think it is wrong.
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Decisions, reasons and appeals. How you read a decision and appeal it step by step if you think it is wrong.Read the decision carefully Locked
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How to appeal Locked
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What happens next? Locked
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Reconsideration at some public authorities Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
Decisions from Migrationsverket Locked
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If your appeal arrives late Locked
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Sources
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Public documents and information kept private
What Sweden's public access rule means, when information may be kept private and how to see your own case.
Part of Premium
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Public documents and information kept private. What Sweden's public access rule means, when information may be kept private and how to see your own case.Most documents are public Locked
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Secrecy: when information is private Locked
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See your own case file Locked
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Your personal data Locked
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Protected personal data Locked
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Read more (2 sections)
How to request a document Locked
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If the authority says no Locked
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Sources
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Complaints and checks on services
Where to go if you think an authority has made a mistake or treated you badly.
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Launch price 49 SEK/month
Complaints and checks on services. Where to go if you think an authority has made a mistake or treated you badly.Start with the public authority Locked
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Read more (3 sections)
Where can you turn? Locked
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If you face discrimination Locked
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What JO can and cannot do Locked
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Sources
General information, not individual legal, medical or financial advice.