Move to Sweden and you'll soon discover that many important letters never arrive in your mailbox. Tax notices, pension updates, invoices, and government communications increasingly land in Kivra instead.
If you're planning to stay long-term, setting up Kivra is one of the simplest ways to avoid missing important information.
One of the biggest surprises for newcomers is how little paper mail they receive.
While many countries still rely heavily on physical letters, the Swedes have largely moved official communication online. At the centre of this shift is Kivra, a secure digital mailbox used by millions of residents.
If you're planning to stay long-term, Kivra is one of the most useful apps you'll install, after BankID, of course.
Kivra is Sweden's most popular digital mailbox service, even if it takes a while getting used to.
It allows organisations to send official documents electronically instead of by post.
Common examples include:
- tax declarations and tax decisions
- invoices and bills
- pension information
- healthcare communications
- insurance documents
- salary statements from some employers
- municipal and government correspondence
Instead of checking your physical mailbox, you'll receive a notification when new mail arrives.
who can use it?
For most expats, eligibility depends on your Swedish digital identity rather than your nationality.
You'll generally need:
- a personnummer (Swedish personal identity number)
- BankID
- to be at least 18 years old
Once you have a personnummer and BankID, registration usually takes only a few minutes.
why expats should set it up early
Many newcomers assume official communication arrives by post.
In reality, some of Sweden's most important organisations increasingly communicate digitally.
Without Kivra, you may miss:
- tax-related notifications
- pension information
- invoices
- healthcare communications
- messages from organisations you've interacted with
Setting it up early helps ensure you don't miss important deadlines or documents.
how does it work?
The process is simple:
- Download the Kivra app.
- Log in with BankID.
- Activate your digital mailbox.
- Start receiving documents from participating organisations.
Once activated, many organisations automatically switch from paper delivery to digital delivery.
does kivra replace my physical mailbox?
Not completely.
You'll still receive some paper mail, especially from organisations that don't use Kivra or for certain legal and international communications.
However, for many people, Kivra becomes their primary mailbox for official documents.
what happens if I leave sweden?
Kivra can continue working even if you move abroad.
However, continued access usually depends on maintaining access to your BankID and other Swedish digital services.
Many former residents continue using Kivra to receive Swedish documents after leaving the country.
- Set up Kivra as soon as you get BankID: Many newcomers don't realise important tax and government documents may start arriving digitally
- Enable notifications: You'll receive alerts when new mail arrives and avoid missing deadlines
- Check it regularly: Treat Kivra like an official mailbox, not another social media app
- Keep your physical mailbox active: Some important documents still arrive by traditional post
- Use it for document storage: Kivra can become a useful archive for tax records, invoices, and official correspondence
↗ Get Kivra
↗ Get BankID
↗ Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency)
↗ Swedish Pensions Agency
can non-swedish citizens use kivra?
Yes. Many internationals and expats use Kivra as soon as they obtain a personnummer and BankID. Citizenship is not required.
is kivra mandatory?
No. It's voluntary, but widely used and highly recommended.
do I need bankID?
Yes. BankID is generally required to register and access your account.
can I use kivra as a newcomer?
Yes, once you have a personal identity number and BankID.
will I stop receiving paper mail?
Not entirely. Some organisations still send physical letters.
Is kivra safe?
Yes. Access is secured through BankID and encrypted communication.
is kivra free?
Yes. For individuals, creating and using a Kivra account is free.