Do you have a personnummer?

It's the unlock. With it you can log into 1177.se (using BankID), choose a vårdcentral, book appointments digitally, and receive digital prescriptions. Without it your options are narrower but you still get emergency care.

Scenario: "I feel sick but not emergency-sick"

  1. Call 1177 (any time) and describe your symptoms. A nurse triages and directs you.
  2. Or log in to 1177.se and contact your chosen vårdcentral — many allow you to request advice or book an appointment online.
  3. Digital doctor apps like Kry, Min Doktor, Doktor.se, Doktor24 let you chat or video-call a doctor in minutes. Same-day prescriptions and sick-notes for common issues. Public funding covers this (you pay a visit fee similar to vårdcentral).

Scenario: "I need a specialist"

Public route: GP at vårdcentral → referral → specialist visit. Waits vary from weeks to many months.

Private route: Book directly with a private specialist. No referral needed. You pay the full fee or use insurance.

Use Curavi to browse private specialists — choose from 6 400+ listed across the country.

Scenario: "I need a psychologist"

Public psychologist access is rationed and often slow. Private psychology is widely used: 800–1 800 SEK per session, no referral. If you have a sjukvårdsförsäkring through work, it's usually covered.

Scenario: "Something is wrong right now"

Use this ladder:

  • 112 — life-threatening emergency (suspected heart attack, stroke, serious trauma, unconscious person).
  • Akutmottagningen (hospital ER) — urgent but not immediate. Expect long waits if triage says you're non-critical.
  • Närakut — urgent care clinic for issues like minor injuries, infections, etc. Located in bigger cities, shorter waits than ER.
  • 1177 — if unsure. They can direct you.

Scenario: "I'm new here, haven't got a personnummer yet"

You still have rights, especially if you're EU/EEA (use your EHIC card) or from a country with a reciprocal healthcare agreement.

  • Emergency care: You will always receive it. Billing happens later.
  • Paid private care: Any private clinic accepts you as a paying customer. Curavi lists them.
  • Asylum seekers get a LMA-card entitling them to healthcare including dental.

Useful apps to have

  • BankID — the national digital ID. Without it, most online services are inaccessible.
  • 1177 — the official healthcare app.
  • Your region's e-service (e.g. "Alltid öppet" in Stockholm, "Mittvårdmöte" in Skåne).
  • Digital doctor apps: Kry, Min Doktor, Doktor.se — pick one.

A note on insurance

If you're salaried, ask HR whether your employer offers sjukvårdsförsäkring. It's a common benefit. If yes, find out which provider (Skandia, If, Trygg-Hansa, Länsförsäkringar, Euro Accident, Moderna) — you'll use their care-planning hotline to access private specialists.