Nurse responsible for general care educated in EU or EEA

På svenska

If you are a specialist nurse trained in the EU or EEA, you can apply for the right to call yourself a specialised nurse following the instructions on this page.

1. Swedish licence first, then permission to use the title

If you want to work as a specialised nurse in Sweden you need to have a Swedish licence to practice as a nurse first and then permission to use the title of specialised nurse. This professional title is protected. This means that only those who have the right to call themselves a specialised nurse may call themselves a specialised nurse in their specialist area.

Go to Apply for a license

2. How to apply

Apply via our e-service by identifying yourself using e-identification (Bank ID). You can pay the application fee directly in the e-service. If you do not have a Bank ID, you can apply using our web form, but you will then need to pay the fee before you apply and also verify your identity by attaching a copy of your identification document.

The application must contain

(Attached files must be in digital form in pdf format.)

your diploma
attachments to your diploma (for example, Diploma Supplement)
certificate which is not older than three months to show that you are not prohibited from pursuing your profession (Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Current Professional Status)
document showing name change if you have changed your name since you completed your education (for example, marriage certificate)
certificate of professional experience (in some cases, a certificate of professional experience is required).

Translation

Documents written in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English do not need to be translated. The translation can be done in any country. Translation means that a certified translator translates your documents to Swedish or English. The Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet) has a register of certified translators. The National Board of Health and Welfare also accepts translations from the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen).

Certificate of Current Professional Status (Certificate of Good Standing)

In order for the National Board of Health and Welfare to process your application, you must submit a certificate of good standing or a certificate of current professional status.

The certificate must:

confirm that you have not been restricted in your occupation due to professional negligence or criminal action
be issued within three months from the date of your application
be issued by the competent auhtority in the country where you obtained your qualifications. Please note that your university is not a competent authority.

For information about competent authorities, see the Regulated Professions Database.

If you are unable to submit a certificate of good standing

If there is no professional register in your country of training that issues certificates of good standing you must submit an extract from the country’s criminal record.

Proof of professional experience

When a certificate of professional experience is mandatory

If the country in which you obtained your qualifications does not regulate your profession and it also does not regulate training for your profession, you must submit proof that you have practised the profession in question for at least 1 year during the last 10 years.

The certificate must:

state what position you held
be dated and signed by your employer
contain the exact dates of your employment, average number of hours undertaken per month and description of duties.

Please note that an employment contract is not sufficient!

When a certificate of professional experience is optional

In some cases the National Board of Health and Welfare will asses both your training and professional experience. If you have any professional experience it could be beneficial for your application. You have the option to submit proof of professional experience with your application.

The application must contain

(Attached files must be in digital form in pdf format.)

an account statement or an image that shows that you have paid the application fee
a copy of a valid ID document (e.g. a copy on the first page of your valid passport or a copy of a national ID card)
your diploma
attachments to your diploma (for example, Diploma Supplement)
certificate which is not older than three months to show that you are not prohibited from pursuing your profession (Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Current Professional Status)
document showing name change if you have changed your name since you completed your education (for example, marriage certificate)
certificate of professional experience (in some cases, a certificate of professional experience is required, read more below).

Translation

Pay the application fee when you send in your application

The fee for applying for a licence is SEK 990. Please send your payment to Bankgiro 790‑3750 when you send in your application. Write your Swedish social security number (personnummer) in the message box in the format YYYYMMDDXXXX, without hyphens, dashes or spaces.

If you do not have a Swedish social security number, you enter your coordination number in the format YYYYMMDDXXXX, i.e. without hyphens or spaces.

If you do not have a social security number or coordination number, you enter your date of birth in the format YYYYMMDD and your name in the format firstnamesurname, i.e. without hyphens or spaces.

Remember that even if someone else makes the payment for you, it is still your personal date that must be filled in (security nummer, coordination number or date of birth, and your name).

Certificate of Current Professional Status (Certificate of Good Standing)

In order for the National Board of Health and Welfare to process your application, you must submit a certificate of good standing or a certificate of current professional status.

The certificate must:

confirm that you have not been restricted in your occupation due to professional negligence or criminal action
be issued within three months from the date of your application
be issued by the competent auhtority in the country where you obtained your qualifications. Please note that your university is not a competent authority.

For information about competent authorities, see the Regulated Professions Database.

If you are unable to submit a certificate of good standing

If there is no professional register in your country of training that issues certificates of good standing you must submit an extract from the country’s criminal record.

Proof of professional experience

When a certificate of professional experience is mandatory

The certificate must:

state what position you held
be dated and signed by your employer
contain the exact dates of your employment, average number of hours undertaken per month and description of duties.

Please note that an employment contract is not sufficient!

When a certificate of professional experience is optional

Fill in your e-mail address

We will send the decision to you by e-mail, so you need to fill in your email address in the application form. If you have not filled in your e-mail address, the decision will be sent via regular mail.

Licence application web form

Application form

If you are unable to use the e-service or the web form, you can apply using the application form, which you send by post. The application process will then be longer than for both the e-service and the web form. Download and print the application form:

Application form for the right to call yourself a specialsed nurse (educated within the EU or EEA) (pdf)

3. Frequently asked questions

How do I request a certificate from an authority?

Contact the competent authority of the EU or EEA country where you were educated or last worked in your profession to request the certificates showing that you

Meet the requirements of the EU directive.
Have not been prohibited from pursuing your profession.

If you do not know which authority to contact, search the EU Regulated professions database.

What rules apply to translation of documents?

Documents which are written in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English do not need to be translated. The translation can be performed in any country. Translation means that a certified translator translates your documents to Swedish or English. Kammarkollegiet (The Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency) has a register of authorized translators.

Do you have questions about how to apply?

Telephone: 075-247 30 00
Telephone hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9–11
E-mail: socialstyrelsen@socialstyrelsen.se

Do you have questions about your current application?

If you have submitted an application and have questions about your application, you can contact us. Always state your case number (diary number).

Telephone: 075-247 30 00
Telephone hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9–11
E-mail: socialstyrelsen@socialstyrelsen.se

Publication date: 2023-06-01