Sweden will introduce digital passport checks for foreigners applying for study or work in 2025. Find out who can use the new system, how the digital checks work and what the requirements are for applicants

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Before a decision is made on your application for a study or work permit in Sweden, the Swedish Migration Agency must check your passport.

For applicants from certain countries, a digital check is now available, replacing the need to present your document in person. In this case, there is no need to visit an embassy or consulate to verify your passport.

Who can use the simplified passport check system in Sweden in 2025? How will the system work? We tell you.

What will change for expats in Sweden with the introduction of digital passport check?

International students and professionals planning to move to Sweden can now use a mobile app to go through the passport check procedure.

From September 10, 2025, this option has become available to citizens of all 74 countries that have a visa-free regime with Sweden.

The innovative system will simplify the application process for the permit, eliminating the need for potentially expensive and time-consuming trips to the Swedish embassy for passport verification.

Requirements for applicants for digital passport control in Sweden

You will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to undergo a digital passport check if you meet all of the following conditions:

- You have applied for a residence permit to work or study in Sweden;

- You have completed your application through the electronic service;

- You are a citizen of one of the 74 visa-free countries or territories for which digital passport verification is available.

Citizens of which countries are eligible to undergo digital passport control in Sweden?

From September 10, 2025, citizens of the following countries can go through digital passport control in Sweden:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, East Timor, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States, Vatican.

How does the digital passport control process work in Sweden?

To pass the digital passport control, expats will need:

Requirement 1 – Receive a personal link to the digital passport check

In order to pass the digital passport control, you must receive an email from the Swedish Migration Agency with a personal link to the electronic digital passport check service.

Requirement 2 – Passport with a chip (e-passport)

Your passport must be an electronic type with a chip that stores your digital passport information. A symbol on the front of your passport indicates that your passport contains a chip. If your passport does not have this symbol, it cannot be verified digitally.

Requirement 3 – Download the Freja app to your mobile phone or tablet

Freja is a mobile electronic identification service approved by the Swedish authorities. It allows you to scan your passport and send it digitally to the Swedish Migration Agency.

What if you are applying for more than one person at a time?

Freja can only verify one passport at a time. Therefore, we recommend using a separate mobile phone or tablet for each passport.

If you do not have multiple devices, there are two options:

1. Borrow a mobile phone

You will need access to it until Freja has verified the identity of the co-applicant and transferred the passport data to the Swedish Migration Agency. After that, you can delete the app - no information will be saved on the device.

2. Use one phone for multiple passports

In this case, after verifying each passport, you will have to delete the app and start the process again.

Important! Identity verification in Freja can take up to 24 hours. Only after that can you share your passport data with the Migration Agency. The link you receive by email will be valid for 7 days, so if you plan to verify multiple passports on one device, we recommend starting the process as soon as possible.

Checking in for children

The digital passport check service is also available for co-applicants under the age of five.

Children do not need their own app. When you share your passport details, the system will offer to add the child’s passport to your app.

The Swedish Migration Agency does not require identity verification for children, but only checks the validity of the passport. Therefore, it is enough to scan the child’s passport in its app – there is no need to take a photo and wait for confirmation from Freja.

If the child turns five years old before you are asked to provide passport details, they will need their own Freja app. The digital passport check service shows which children can be added to the parent’s app and which require separate registration.

What if the Freja app cannot verify your identity?

If the Freja app cannot verify your identity, you may have to go through a personal passport check.

- Use your personal link to the electronic digital passport verification service to inform that you cannot provide your passport details via the app. This will allow your application to be processed more quickly.

- If necessary, you will be contacted to make an appointment for a passport verification at the Swedish Embassy or one of the Migration Agency's Service Centers.

Can I continue to use Freja as an electronic identification after arriving in Sweden?

Yes. Using the Freja app to submit my passport to the Swedish Migration Agency is the first step towards creating a full electronic identity card (e-ID) in Freja that is also recognized by other government agencies. To obtain such an ID, you need to:

- register with the Swedish Tax Agency;

- apply for a personal identification number or coordination number.

Once you have received your residence permit and set a moving date, you can notify the Tax Agency of your move via the Freja app and start the process of obtaining a personal or coordination number.

The introduction of digital passport control in Sweden from 2025 is an important step towards simplifying migration procedures for international students and professionals. The innovation allows you to significantly save time and resources, as now passport control can be completed online without the need to visit an embassy or consulate. For applicants from 74 countries, this paves the way for a more convenient and faster residence permit application.

At the same time, the procedure remains legally responsible, and it is important to complete all steps correctly - from downloading the Freja app to confirming your passport or using alternative methods in case of technical difficulties.

If you are planning to study or work in Sweden, professional assistance from migration lawyers will be your advantage.

Our experts will help you:

- prepare a complete package of documents for submission;

- accompany the process of digital passport verification;

- avoid rejections due to technical or procedural errors;

- get advice on further steps after moving (obtaining a personal number, registering with the Tax Agency, etc.).

By contacting specialists, you will gain confidence in your actions and be able to focus on the main thing - building an educational or professional career in Sweden.

Reminder! In 2025, Laos will completely switch to digital immigration forms. We have already told you who is required to fill out the LDIF, what data needs to be specified, how to get a QR code for crossing the border and what travelers should consider before traveling.

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