Losing your job in Sweden: registration and unemployment benefit

Who is this guide for?

This guide covers employees whose jobs have ended and who can seek new work in Sweden. It does not cover dismissal disputes, business owners, cross-border work, programme benefits, pensions or residence-permit rules.

Register with the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), then apply separately to an unemployment insurance fund (a-kassa). Registration alone does not mean you will receive money.

Register on your first unemployed day

Arbetsförmedlingen says to register on the first day you are unemployed. You can prepare the online form earlier, but submit it on that day. State that you want to apply for unemployment benefit.

The fund assesses your right to benefit from the day you are both unemployed and registered. This is not a promise of payment from that date.

If you cannot get electronic identification, a government service office can help. Bring identification and check opening hours. Your registration date normally starts with your personal visit. The linked guidance explains what to do if the office is closed or far away.

Apply to your unemployment insurance fund

Use your fund’s website to apply for benefit and provide the details it requests. If you cannot use its online service, contact the fund for a form.

The fund obtains income information from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). Follow its instructions about employment records and any employer’s certificate (arbetsgivarintyg) it needs.

If you are not a member, you can apply to join a fund. You can also apply for benefit through Alfa-kassan without becoming a member. Arbetsförmedlingen explains these application routes.

Check which rules apply

New benefit periods decided from 1 October 2025 use income-based rules. An ongoing period decided before that date can still follow the older rules.

If you had benefit before a break, ask your fund whether you can return to that period. Having unused days does not settle this. The length of the break and what you did during it matter.

What does the fund check?

Under the new system, basic conditions include being at least 20, registered and able and willing to take work immediately. You must also meet an income condition.

Sveriges a-kassor, the funds’ umbrella organisation, explains the income conditions. The usual assessment covers 12 months. The main test requires:

• At least 120,000 kronor in qualifying income in total.
• At least 11,000 kronor before tax from work in each of at least four months.

If you miss the total, four consecutive months with at least 11,000 kronor from work can qualify under an alternative rule. This can give a shorter, 66-day period. Other conditions still apply.

Illness, parental leave or full-time study can allow the fund to look further back. The fund decides your entitlement, period and amount. Previous income and membership history affect the amount.

Keep the two reports separate

While seeking benefit, actively apply for suitable jobs and attend agreed meetings. These duties apply even while you wait for the fund’s decision. Leaving a job without a valid reason can also lead to days without benefit.

Send Arbetsförmedlingen an activity report between the 1st and 14th each month. It covers the previous month’s job search. Keep evidence of applications for at least three months.

Under the new rules, also send your fund a monthly benefit application after the month ends. Report income and time when you could not take work. The normal deadline is three months after that month’s end. Late applications are rejected unless there are special reasons. For an older benefit period, follow your fund’s reporting instructions.

Where to get help

Contact your fund about entitlement, documents and payments. Report changes affecting your benefit or job search to the fund and Arbetsförmedlingen.

If your fund refuses benefit, you can contact your municipality to apply for financial support.