The various parts of the pension consist of a national public pension from the state, usually an occupational pension from the employer and possibly own savings. You may need to apply yourself in order for you to receive all parts of your pension.
It is up to you to decide at what age you wish to start receiving all or part of your national public pension, but you cannot do this before the age of 63. From 2026, the age limit will gradually increase in accordance with increasing life expectancy. You have the right to work until you reach the age of 69. In some cases, you can work longer if you and your employer agree on it.
Some occupational pensions are paid automatically when you reach the age of 65, while you need to apply for other occupational pensions. Please contact your occupational pension company in order to find out what applies to you. The time you choose to start your withdrawal will strongly affect how large your pension will be.
You will receive a national public pension as long as you live. Payment of an occupational pension and your own savings may be made for a limited period.
Before you apply for a national public pension
Please apply approximately three months before you want to receive your first payment. If you have worked or lived abroad, you should apply six months before you want to receive your first payment. If you live outside Sweden, you can read more under the heading Plan your pension if you live or plan to live outside Sweden.
Your tax changes and will in most cases be lower from January of the year you turn 67, regardless of when you start receiving
your pension. This applies regardless of whether you are still working and earning a salary.
Please decide if you wish to receive your entire pension or parts of it. You can choose to receive full, three quarters, half or a quarter of full pension per month. You can continue working and receive a pension at the same time.
The later you decide to receive your pension, the higher your pension will be. This is because your pension is paid to you for less years. Continued work also gives you a higher pension. When life expectancy increases, younger people must expect to work a few years longer in order to receive a pension that, in terms of size, corresponds to previous years.
If you receive a low income-based pension, you may be entitled to a guarantee pension. You do not need to apply separately for a guarantee pension, as it is automatically included when you apply for a national public pension. You cannot receive a guarantee pension until you have reached the age of 66. From 2026, the age limit will gradually be increased in line with increasing life expectancy. Guarantee pension
How to determine if you must apply for an occupational pension
Most people who have worked in Sweden have an occupational pension from their employer. Some occupational pensions are paid out automatically when you reach the age of 65, while you need to apply for other occupational pensions.
In most cases it is possible to take out the occupational pension throughout your whole life or for a shorter period of time, for example for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. It is important to consider how you choose to take out your occupational pension, as the choices you make cannot be changed afterwards. Please contact the pension company that manages your occupational pension in order to find out what applies. Plan your pension if you live or plan to live outside Sweden
If you live or plan to live outside Sweden with a pension, you have the right to have your income-based pension paid to the country you live in.
The income pension complement is paid as a supplement to the national public pension. The income pension complement can be paid if you live in Sweden or within the EEA or Switzerland (EEA is the EU countries as well as Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein) or a country that Sweden has signed social security agreements with.
You do not need to apply separately for the income pension complement, as it is automatically included when you apply for a national public pension. You can receive an income pension complement when you have reached the age of 66. From 2026, the age limit will gradually be increased in line with increasing life expectancy.
The amount you may receive is affected by your income-based national public pension and your old age pension from other EU/EEA-countries or Switzerland. Your year of birth affects how many years of pensionable income you need in order to receive an income pension complement with an unreduced amount. Income pension complement (Inkomstpensionstillägg)
If you have had a low or no income in Sweden, you will receive a low or no income-based pension. Your national public pension may then consist of a guarantee pension that can be paid from the age of 66. From 2026, the age limit will gradually be increased in line with increasing life expectancy.
A guarantee pension is calculated on how long you have been a resident in, or insured through, work in Sweden. If you have income-based pensions such as an income pension, widow's pension or a foreign pension, the guarantee pension is gradually reduced and is then completely terminated when you reach a certain level. Your marital status also affects the size of a guarantee pension.
In order to be entitled to a guarantee pension when you live in Sweden, you must have lived or worked in Sweden for at least three years. If you have lived or worked in the EU/EEA or Switzerland (EEA is the EU countries as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), those years can be combined with the time you have in Sweden, but you must have lived or worked in Sweden for at least one year.
We recommend that you apply six months before you want the first payment of your Swedish pension. Please contact customer service if you have questions regarding what applies to the country you live in.
If you live in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you must apply for your Swedish pension in the country where you live. The authority corresponding to the Swedish Pension Agency of that country then sends your application to Sweden.
If you live outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and are about to retire, you must submit a pension application via a form. Sweden has signed social security agreements with a number of countries outside the EEA, these agreements can affect which pension you receive and which country you should apply from. The application form for a Swedish pension if you live outside Sweden
Withdrawal Planner
On minPension.se, there is a Withdrawal Planner, which is a tool that helps you plan how you can receive your pension. The tool gives you an overview of your entire pension and you will find out what your pension will be per month after tax.
The withdrawal planner is primarily intended for those who are considering taking out any part of or a full pension within one year. In order to use the service, you must be at least 54 years of age, have earned towards your pension in Sweden and have an e-ID that is approved in Sweden. The withdrawal planner (in Swedish)