Foreign business operation in Sweden

Credit institutions domiciled in an EEA country may conduct business in Sweden either through a branch or by providing services in Sweden from their home country. Credit institutions domiciled in a non-EEA country may conduct business in Sweden through a branch or a representation office. Through a representation office, such a credit institution may conduct business that primarily relates to representation and provision of banking and financing services in Sweden.

Credit institutions domiciled in an EEA country must inform the competent authority in the EEA country where the institution has authorisation. The homeland supervisory authority then assesses whether the information is complete and correct and notifies FI that the institution wants to conduct business in Sweden.

Credit institutions domiciled in a country outside of the EEA that would like to conduct business through a branch in Sweden must apply for authorisation from Finansinspektionen. If the institution would like to conduct business that primarily relates to representation and provision of banking and financing services through an office or some other fixed place of business (representation office) in Sweden, it must notify Finansinspektionen of this.

Contents of the application/notification

For information regarding the content of the notification for credit institutions domiciled in the EEA, see the respective homeland authority's website and Regulation (EU) No 926/2014 laying down implementing technical standards with regard to standard forms, templates and procedures for notifications relating to the exercise of the right of establishment and the freedom to provide services according to Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.

For information regarding the content of an application or notification from a credit institution domiciled in a non-EEA country, see Chapter 2 of Finansinspektionen's general guidelines (FFFS 2023:18) regarding applications for authorisation to conduct banking and financing business.

Fee

Applicants must pay a fee in conjunction with the application/notification. See the fact box for payment information.

There is no charge for firms within the EEA.

For firms outside the EEA:
Establishment of branches	1,400,000
Representation offices	7,000
Other cross-border operations	No fee

Processing time

For firms within the EEA

• Operations from a branch in Sweden may be conducted starting two months after FI has received a notification from the homeland authority (or prior to that if FI grants permission). The firm must notify FI when it begins its operations in Sweden.
• Business through other cross-border operations may start being conducted as soon as FI has received a notification from the homeland authority.

For companies outside the EEA

• Decisions on authorisations to establish a branch from firms outside the EEA are made within four months from when FI has registered the fee.
• Operations in the form of a representation office may start being conducted as soon as FI has received a notification from the firm.

FI will begin processing the matter when the fee has been paid.