If you live abroad - how your occupational pension is paid out
Payment to account
You can choose whether you want your pension paid into an account in Sweden or in another country. We normally pay out pensions in Swedish kronor, but if you have an account abroad you can choose another currency. If you want the pension paid in a different currency, you must inform us.
You log in using an e-identification, such as BankID or Freja+. If you do not have an e-ID, you are welcome to contact us and we will send you an account form instead.
Obtain and renew BankID when living abroad
To obtain or renew a Swedish BankID while living abroad, you must be registered in the Swedish population address register (SPAR). When you emigrate and are deregistered from the population register, your data is automatically deleted after five years. To remain in SPAR, you can apply for postponed removal or re-registration.
How to apply for postponed removal or re-registration with SPAR
Tax
We deduct 30% tax from your pension if you have not informed us otherwise.
Special income tax for non-residents
Contact the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) if you want to apply for special income tax for non-residents (SINK). In your application, it is important that you specify the type of income from AMF as “Pension income.” You also need to indicate the type of pension income, for example occupational pension from private employment. You can tick more than one box if you have multiple policies.
If you receive a decision regarding special income tax, you must send it to us, either via My Pages or by post. The decision from the Tax Agency must clearly state that it applies to your payments from AMF.
Reduced special income tax from January 1, 2026
From January 1, 2026, the special income tax for non-residents (SINK) will be reduced from 25% to 22.5%. From January 1, 2027, it will be further reduced to 20%.
We automatically apply the lower tax rate
If we already have a SINK decision with 25% tax for your payments, we will adjust the tax deduction automatically. You do not need to take any action.
TIN (Tax Identification Number)
If you have a tax residence outside Sweden, you must provide your foreign TIN to us. We need it because we are legally required to report correct information about your payments to the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket).
If you move
If you already live outside Sweden and change your address, you must notify us of your new address immediately. The easiest way is via My Pages. If you do not have a Swedish e-ID, you can contact us and we will send you a form. You must also include a copy of your passport or ID card.
If you move from Sweden to an address abroad, you should instead notify the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). We will receive your address automatically from them.
Life certificate
In order for us to pay your pension, we need proof once a year that you are still alive. This applies even if your pension payments are paused. In most cases, we receive this information directly from the Swedish Pensions Agency, but in some cases we need it from you. If so, we will contact you.
Important: respond if you receive a life certificate
We usually send the life certificates in May each year. The letter states the deadline for your response. If you do not respond, we will temporarily stop your payments. As soon as we receive your life certificate, we will resume your pension payments.
How to respond:
- If you have a Swedish e-ID (BankID or Freja+), you can certify directly via My Pages and do not need to return the certificate by post.
- If you do not have a Swedish e-ID, you must complete and return the life certificate by post. An approved authority must stamp and sign it. The certificate lists which authorities are approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
If we already have a SINK decision (Special Income Tax for Non-Residents) with a 25 percent tax rate for your payments, we will adjust the tax deduction automatically. You do not need to do anything.
From January 1, 2026, the special income tax for non-residents (SINK) is reduced. It is lowered from 25 percent to 22.5 percent. From January 1, 2027, it will be reduced further to 20 percent.
If you do not have a SINK decision for your payments from AMF, you can contact the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and apply for Special Income Tax for Non-Residents (SINK).
If you already live outside Sweden and are changing your address, you need to report your new address directly to us. The easiest way is through My Pages.
If you do not have Swedish e-identification, you can contact us and we will send you a form instead. Along with the form, we will need a copy of your passport or ID card.
If you live abroad, the tax on your pension payments may be lower. You can contact the Swedish Tax Agency and apply for Special Income Tax for Non-Residents (SINK).
If the Swedish Tax Agency approves your application, you will receive a SINK decision with information on how much tax you need to pay.
If you receive a decision on special income tax, you need to send it to us. It must state that the decision applies to payments from AMF.
In order for us to pay out your pension if you live abroad, we need to receive a certificate once a year confirming that you are still alive. The life certificate must be stamped and signed. The form we have sent you explains where you can go to complete this.
If you have Swedish e-identification, such as BankID or Freja+, you can certify directly via My Pages. This means you do not need to complete and return the life certificate by post.
We must receive a valid certificate no later than August 31; otherwise, your upcoming payments will be temporarily stopped.