If you fall ill in Sweden

1177 are open 24 hours a day and you can get help in English. You can also use the search service at 1177.se. 

Emergency medical care 

If you become acutely ill, you should visit your nearest emergency department or call the emergency number 112 for ambulance assistance. If you are unsure of the severity of your condition, call 1177 for advice (or +46 771 11 77 00, if you are calling from a foreign number).  

Interpreting assistance when required 

You have the right to understand what is happening during your health care visit and the information you receive about your health and any treatment. If necessary, you can get free interpreting assistance. Tell the healthcare centre that you need an interpreter when you book an appointment. 

How much does health care cost in Sweden? 

In order to have access to complete and subsidised health care and dental care in Sweden, you must be a registered resident in Sweden, an EU/EEA citizen or a Nordic citizen. A health care visit usually costs between SEK 100-400, depending on the region you live in and the level of care required. There is a high-cost threshold, which means that if after several visits you reach the sum of SEK 1,400, you will then pay nothing for further visits that take place within a 12-month period.  

Dental care for students 

If you are from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK and are studying in Sweden, you can receive emergency dental care if you show your EU card. You will then pay the same price as those who live in Sweden. If you come from another country, you must pay the entire cost of any dental care in Sweden. This applies to both emergency and planned dental care.  

Registered residence in Sweden and Swedish personal identity number 

Anyone who is going to study in Sweden for more than 12 months, and either has a right of residence or has been granted a residence permit in Sweden for more than 12 months, must apply to be registered in Sweden. You will then be given a Swedish personal identity number and can receive treatment under the same conditions as other registered residents. You must contact the Swedish Tax Agency yourself and apply to be registered as resident in Sweden. Keep in mind that it normally takes from a few weeks up to a couple of months before you receive your personal identity number. When you receive your personal identity number, your residency registration is usually valid retroactively from the day your application was submitted. If you had expenses for health care fees before you received your personal identity number, you can then get back the part of the costs that exceeds the subsidised fee. 

EU/EEA citizens  

As resident and registered in an EU/EEA country, you can order and use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for free. This gives you the right to necessary health care in Sweden for the same charge as others who are registered as resident in Sweden. Necessary health care refers to medical and dental care that cannot wait until you return to your home country. This means not only emergency care, but also heath care caused by chronic illness. It is always the doctor or other healthcare professional who decides what is necessary care. You can use the card while waiting for your Swedish personal identity number when you have applied to be registered as resident in Sweden.  

Nordic citizens 

If you are a Nordic citizen, you need to show identification documentation and that you are resident in another Nordic country to be entitled to necessary health care in Sweden.  

Visiting exchange students 

As an exchange student who will be staying in Sweden for less than 12 months, you cannot apply for a Swedish personal identity number. This means that you are only eligible for health care as provided by your insurance coverage, and that you are otherwise required to pay the full, unsubsidised cost of health care visits. Your insurance usually covers only emergency health care and dental expenses. Read the terms and conditions carefully so that you know exactly what your insurance covers.  

Pharmacies  

You can pick up prescription medicines and other items prescribed by doctors, as well as buy other health care products, at any pharmacy in Sweden. Some non-prescription medicines, such as fever-reducing medications and painkillers, can be purchased in grocery stores and supermarkets – but you may be asked to show your ID because the minimum age is 18 to buy most of them. Check your nearest pharmacy for their opening hours.  

If you are not entitled to subsidised health care 

If you are not entitled to subsidised health care, you can still seek emergency and necessary health care and pay the unsubsidised price, i.e. the entire cost of your health care. Ask the clinic you intend to visit for more information or call 1177.  

Other health services in Sweden

Student health services 

Study in good health! The student health service works preventively and, at most higher education institutes, provides students with the opportunity to book an appointment for counselling and often also to participate in groups on various health-related themes. The content provided by the services varies between higher education institutes, so find out what your student health service offers!  

The student health service can also give you guidance on where to turn if you need other care or treatment. Visiting the student health service is almost always free, so find out what applies at your local student health service.  

Youth Guidance Centres 

If you are under 23 years old (for some centres, under 25 years old), you can visit the Youth Guidance Centre closest to your place of study free of charge. You can book a time to talk to a counsellor, book an appointment with a midwife for help with contraception, testing for STIs or questions about your body and sex, among other things. At some centres, it is also possible to book free appointments with a psychologist or a gynaecologist.   

If you fall ill and can’t study    

It is important that you contact your department when you are ill to have a dialogue about how your period of illness will affect your studies and if there is a need to make adjustments. For longer periods of illness or sick leave, it may sometimes be necessary to interrupt your studies. This will then need to be done in accordance with the procedures in place at your higher education institute or department.   

• Contact your study adviser or a study administrator for more information about possible solutions and adjustments to your studies in connection with illness.  
• Contact your administrator at the exchange university and/or home university according to their procedures for cases of illness.