How to Rent an Apartment in Sweden Without a Personnummer

Why personnummer matters (and why it doesn't have to)

The personnummer is a 10-digit personal identification number issued by Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency) to anyone who officially resides in Sweden. It sits at the center of Swedish administrative life: without one, you cannot get a BankID, open most bank accounts, access the healthcare system as a resident, or use the formal credit check services that landlords typically rely on.

When a landlord asks for a personnummer, they usually want to run a credit check through Kronofogden (the Swedish Enforcement Authority) or UC (Upplysningscentralen). These services reveal unpaid debts and payment defaults. They are a proxy for financial reliability.

But here is the important distinction: a personnummer is a landlord's preferred screening tool, not a legal requirement. Swedish tenancy law (Hyreslagen) says nothing about identification numbers. The requirement is a private convention, not a statutory one — and in the andrahand market, it is routinely bypassed by expats with the right documents.

The andrahand workaround

Andrahand means "second-hand" — a sublet from a private individual who holds the primary lease (förstahand). The primary tenant is subletting their apartment to you, usually because they are temporarily abroad, moving in with a partner, or between situations.

This market operates on a more human scale than the formal housing system. You are dealing with an individual who needs a reliable tenant, not a housing corporation running bulk credit screenings. Private landlords on andrahand platforms are generally flexible on documentation — if you can demonstrate you will pay rent on time, the mechanism by which they verify that is negotiable.

The andrahand market also bypasses the bostadskö entirely. You do not need queue points. You do not need to have been registered in Sweden for years. You compete on the strength of your application package and your response speed.

For a deeper explanation of how these contracts work legally — including what the primary tenant's landlord has to approve — read what is andrahand and how does it work.

8-step guide to renting without personnummer

1. 1

   Understand andrahand vs förstahand

   Förstahand (first-hand) contracts are direct rentals from housing companies and require years in the bostadskö — typically 10+ years in Stockholm. Andrahand (second-hand) contracts are sublets from private individuals and bypass the queue entirely. As a newly arrived expat, andrahand is almost always your only realistic short-to-medium term option, and it does not legally require a personnummer to sign.

2. 2

   Prepare your documents before you start searching

   Assemble a single PDF before you start: passport photo page, employment contract or signed job offer showing salary and start date, last 3–6 months of bank statements, a reference letter from a previous landlord if available, and a short cover letter in English. Having this ready before your first application saves critical hours — popular listings in Stockholm fill within 24–48 hours of posting.

3. 3

   Choose platforms that accept foreign renters

   Not all Swedish rental platforms are equally accessible to expats. Qasa and Samtrygg handle identity verification internally and do not require a personnummer to apply. HousingAnywhere and Spotahome are built for international renters. Start with Qasa and Samtrygg as your primary channels, then supplement with others. See the platform breakdown below for details on each.

4. 4

   Set up real-time alerts so you apply first

   Speed is disproportionately important when applying without a personnummer. The longer a listing sits, the more Swedish-registered applicants will have applied ahead of you. Set up free email alerts on Expatriate to be notified the moment a matching andrahand listing appears across all major platforms simultaneously. Being one of the first 5 applicants versus one of the first 50 makes a measurable difference.

5. 5

   Write a strong application in English

   Write a half-page cover letter: who you are, why you're in Sweden, your occupation, your income, and why you'll be a reliable tenant. Be factual rather than flattering. Mention if you're a non-smoker and have no pets. Include your employment contract and bank statements inline — landlords reviewing multiple applications respond faster to someone who makes their job easier. Many andrahand landlords are individuals, not agencies, and appreciate a human explanation when they cannot run a standard credit check.

6. 6

   Verify the landlord is legitimate before paying anything

   Before transferring any money, verify the landlord owns or has the right to sublet. Ask for proof of their own lease agreement or property ownership. Never transfer a deposit before seeing the contract in writing and, ideally, viewing the apartment. Scam listings typically show below-market rent, use pressure tactics ('decide today'), and ask for deposit before showing the property. If anything feels off, walk away.

7. 7

   Sign the contract — know which terms to check

   A legal andrahand contract must include: monthly rent amount, rental period (start and end dates), deposit terms (must be returned within 2 weeks of move-out unless documented damage), notice period (typically 1–3 months), and confirmation that the primary landlord has approved the sublet. Review the inventory list carefully if the apartment is furnished. The Hyreslagen (Tenancy Act) applies to you regardless of your nationality or personnummer status.

8. 8

   Register for personnummer after you have an address

   Once you have a signed rental contract, register your Swedish address with Skatteverket and apply for a personnummer — provided you intend to stay for at least one year. A personnummer unlocks Swedish banking, BankID, and most administrative services. Until then, a samordningsnummer (coordination number) can serve as a partial substitute. You cannot register without a physical address, which is exactly why securing the apartment comes first.

Platform-by-platform: which accept foreign tenants?

Expatriate aggregates listings from all of the platforms below. Here is an honest assessment of each from an expat's perspective.

• QasaBest for expats

  The most expat-accessible Swedish platform. Handles identity verification internally via BankID or passport upload. Explicitly states on many listings that personnummer is not required. English interface available. Highest listing volume in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Requires a phone number that can receive SMS — international numbers generally work, though Swedish SIM improves reliability.

• SamtryggVery good for expats

  Strong expat option. Samtrygg builds tenant verification and contract management into the platform, so individual landlords do not need to run their own checks. Does not require a personnummer at the account or application level. Good volume in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Swedish-language interface but navigable.

• HousingAnywhereBuilt for international renters

  Built for international renters — fully English, designed around medium-term stays (1–12 months). Lower listing volume for Sweden than Qasa, but landlords here expect foreign applicants. Strong for furnished apartments. Service fee applies on top of rent.

• SpotahomeGood for remote applications

  Verified listings in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Known for virtual tours and detailed apartment descriptions, which reduces the risk of applying from abroad sight-unseen. English interface. Service fee applies. Lower volume than Qasa but higher quality control.

• BofridVariable — check each listing

  Strong in the Stockholm area, especially for stays of 3–12 months. Growing platform. Landlord requirements vary — some require personnummer, others do not. Worth checking, but personnummer requests appear more frequently here than on Qasa or Samtrygg. Swedish interface.

• ResidensportalenSecondary channel

  Smaller platform with verified landlords and generally less competition per listing. More domestic-focused. Personnummer requirements appear on a significant share of listings, but not all. Worth checking as a secondary channel once you have your Qasa/Samtrygg applications active.

• HomiiSecondary channel

  Covers Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala, Linköping, and Lund. Good for medium-term stays. Not specifically designed for international renters but does not impose a universal personnummer requirement. Swedish interface.

• StudentlyaBest for students

  Student-focused platform across Sweden. If you are enrolled at a Swedish university or recently graduated, this is worth checking. Some listings are specifically for international students and are more accessible without a personnummer.

Documents checklist

Compile all of the following into a single PDF before you start applying. This is your application package. Have it ready to attach to every inquiry.

• Passport (photo page scan — clear, current, not expired)
• Employment contract or signed job offer showing monthly salary and start date
• Last 3–6 months of bank statements (with translation if not in English)
• Reference letter from a previous landlord confirming on-time payment and clean move-out
• Proof of enrollment and funding source (students only)
• Residence permit or work permit if applicable (non-EU residents)
• Short cover letter in English (half a page, customized per listing)
• Samordningsnummer if you already have one
• All of the above compiled into one clearly named PDF

Common scams to avoid

Rental scams disproportionately target expats and newly arrived renters, who may be less familiar with Swedish rental norms and under pressure to secure housing quickly. Learn to recognize the red flags before you send any money.

• Rent significantly below market rate

  A 2-room apartment in Södermalm for 6,500 SEK/month is not a deal — it is a scam flag. Know the market rates. If it looks too good, it is.

• Landlord is 'abroad' and cannot show the apartment

  Classic scam setup. The landlord is always traveling, in another country, or otherwise unable to meet you in person. They will ask for deposit or first month's rent upfront to 'hold the apartment' before showing it.

• Pressure to decide immediately

  'I have three other people interested, you need to transfer today.' Legitimate landlords understand that a renter needs time to review the contract and verify details. Pressure is a control tactic.

• Asking for payment before you have a signed contract

  Never transfer a deposit, first month's rent, or any amount before you have a written contract and have verified the landlord's right to rent the apartment. No legitimate landlord requires pre-contract payment.

• The listing is copy-pasted from another platform

  Scammers copy real listings, repost them at lower prices, and use them to collect deposits. Reverse image search the apartment photos. If the same images appear on another platform with a different landlord or different price, report and walk away.

For a comprehensive guide to rental scams in Sweden, read rental scams in Sweden: how to identify and avoid them.

Frequently asked questions