How to form a company in Sweden from India
Most Indian founders register a private aktiebolag (AB) with SEK 25,000 of share capital. Get the UIN through Form FC, sign the memorandum, have a Swedish bank certify the capital and apply to Bolagsverket; then register for tax with Skatteverket. Plan the board first: at least half of it must live in the EEA, unless you obtain an exemption.
Where each Swedish form sits on risk and structure
The map places five forms by whether they are a separate legal person and how far the owner's liability is limited. Select a point to read its profile.
Private AB
Privat aktiebolag
A Swedish limited company. Owners can be anywhere; the board must meet the EEA residence rule unless exempted.
- Capital
- SEK 25,000
- Liability
- Limited
- Owners
- People or companies
- Fit
- Most Indian founders
Points are placed for comparison, not to scale.
Eight stations on the line to trading
The amber stations are planning and India work. The large station is the Bolagsverket filing, where the company comes into existence.
Board planned
Choose the name, activity, share capital and board, and check now that at least half the members and deputies live in the EEA.
You and adviserForm FC and UIN
Your authorised dealer bank reports the ODI and issues the UIN before the capital is remitted.
Indian bankMemorandum signed
Founders sign the stiftelseurkund with the articles, the share subscription and the board appointment. A six month clock starts.
FoundersCapital certified
Pay at least SEK 25,000 into a Swedish bank and obtain a bank certificate, or an auditor's statement.
Bank or auditorRegistration filed
Apply through verksamt.se with Swedish electronic ID for SEK 2,400, or on paper for SEK 2,700.
BolagsverketAgent named if needed
If no board member, managing director or signatory lives in Sweden, appoint a Swedish resident to receive official documents.
With the filingF tax and VAT
Register for F tax, VAT and, if you will have staff, as an employer.
SkatteverketOwners registered
Use the capital, register the beneficial owners with Bolagsverket and set up bookkeeping.
Companyis the limit between signing the memorandum and Bolagsverket receiving the application. Arrange the bank certificate before you sign, not after.
Three folders to prepare
Swedish filings are short. Most of the effort goes into the Indian parent records and the capital certificate.
Stiftelseurkund
Memorandum with subscription, price and board appointment
Bolagsordning
Articles: name, seat, activity, share capital limits
Capital certificate
Bank certificate or an auditor's statement
Application form
Online on verksamt.se or the paper form
Passports
Founders, board members, deputies and any managing director
Residence details
To show the EEA board rule is met
Exemption request
Only if the EEA rule cannot be met
Service agent consent
If nobody in management lives in Sweden
Registry extract and constitution
Certificate of incorporation, MoA and AoA
Board resolution
Approves the investment and names the signatory
Form FC and UIN
ODI reporting through your authorised dealer bank
Will your board pass the EEA rule?
This is where living in India changes the setup. Set the board size and how many members live outside the EEA to check it.
Board checker
Each circle is a board seat. Small circles are deputies.
- Managing directorOptional for a private AB; if appointed, must live in the EEA unless exempted.
- ExemptionBolagsverket can approve a board outside the EEA when reasons are given.
- Service agentNeeded only if nobody in management lives in Sweden.
Subsidiary or branch, then online or paper
Sweden has one national register, so the choices are the type of presence and how you file. The gauges are indicative comparisons.
Swedish AB subsidiary
- CapitalSEK 25,000, kept by the company
- BoardEEA residence rule applies
- Tax20.6% on its own profit
- Best forA lasting business, hiring and local contracts
Filial of your Indian company
- CapitalNone required
- ManagementEEA resident managing director
- TaxSwedish tax on branch profits
- Best forProjects run directly from India
verksamt.se
Needs Swedish electronic identification such as BankID; usually the fastest route.
Paper application
Works for founders without Swedish electronic ID; allow extra postage and processing time.
Six problems and the stage they hit
The amber dot shows when each one usually surfaces, so you can deal with it before it arrives.
Too few EEA residents on the board
Bolagsverket refuses the application if half the members and deputies do not live in the EEA.
Hits at: PlanAppoint a trusted EEA resident director, or apply for an exemption with clear reasons.
No BankID for online filing
Verksamt.se and many Skatteverket services expect Swedish electronic identification.
Hits at: FileFile on paper, or let an adviser with Swedish electronic ID submit under your authority.
The capital account is not opened
Banks must identify every owner and the source of funds before issuing a certificate.
Hits at: BankSend a complete group file and ask about the auditor's statement route; see our Sweden bank account guide.
The six month window closes
If Bolagsverket does not receive the application within six months of signing the memorandum, the formation lapses.
Hits at: FileLine up the bank and the filing before signing, and track the date.
Invoicing before F tax
Without F tax approval, Swedish customers may withhold tax from payments to you.
Hits at: TaxApply to Skatteverket the day Bolagsverket registers the company.
A screened sector is missed
Investments in protected activities must be notified to the ISP before completion since 1 December 2023.
Hits at: PlanCheck the activity against the screening rules first; see our Sweden FDI rules guide.
From profit in Sweden to money in India
Formation fees are small. What matters more is how profit is taxed on the way back to India and the yearly reporting rhythm.
A worked example
SEK 1,000,000 of profit, all paid as a dividend to an Indian parent
Illustration only: it ignores the tax allocation reserve, other deductions and Indian tax, where the Swedish tax is credited.
Formation fees
- Bolagsverket, onlineSEK 2,400
- Bolagsverket, paperSEK 2,700
- Share capital, kept by the companySEK 25,000
The yearly rhythm, calendar year AB
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary tax | ||||||||||||
| Employer returns | ||||||||||||
| VAT, quarterly filers | ||||||||||||
| Annual meeting | ||||||||||||
| Annual report filed | ||||||||||||
| Income tax return | ||||||||||||
| India: FLA and APR |
- 3employees
- SEK 1.5Mbalance sheet
- SEK 3Mturnover
Sources checked October 2026: Bolagsverket, Skatteverket, ISP and the RBI.
Board, bank and Bolagsverket in one plan
₹95,000starting price
- Board planned around the EEA rule
- Memorandum and articles drafted
- Capital certificate supported
- Bolagsverket filing made
- Skatteverket registrations done
- Form FC filed in India
Sweden answers, topic by topic
Choose a tile to open that topic. The last tile shows all 33 questions.
Is it possible to own a Swedish AB from India?
Yes. Sweden places no nationality or residence condition on shareholders, so an Indian person or company can hold all the shares.
Which structure do most Indian owners use?
The private aktiebolag. It gives limited liability, needs SEK 25,000 of share capital and is the format Swedish banks and customers expect.
How long does it take from India?
Usually four to eight weeks. Bolagsverket often registers within one to three weeks; the capital account and any paper filing add time for owners abroad.
Which authorities will I deal with?
Bolagsverket for registration, Skatteverket for F tax, VAT and employer registration, and the ISP if the activity falls under investment screening.
What number does the company receive?
An organisationsnummer, issued at registration and used on invoices, contracts and tax filings.
Are apostilled Indian documents accepted?
Yes. Sweden accepts apostilles from India's Ministry of External Affairs. Bolagsverket works in Swedish, so ask whether a translation is needed for each document.
What does the EEA residence rule require?
At least half of the board members, and at least half of any deputies, must live in the EEA, unless Bolagsverket grants an exemption.
When is a deputy board member needed?
When the board has fewer than three members. A one or two member board must appoint at least one deputy.
Does a private AB need a managing director?
No. A private AB may choose not to appoint one. If it does, the managing director must live in the EEA unless exempted.
What is a service agent?
A person living in Sweden who receives official documents for the company. It is required when no board member, managing director or authorised signatory lives in Sweden.
Can the residence rule be waived?
Bolagsverket can grant an exemption on application when there are good reasons, for example that the owners in India run the business. Each case is judged on its facts.
Can I move to Sweden to run the AB?
Only with a residence permit. The permit for self employed people asks for relevant experience, a viable business plan and enough money to live on; see our Sweden visa guide.
What is in the stiftelseurkund?
The founders, the share subscription and price, the board and any auditor, with the bolagsordning, the articles of association, attached.
How do I file without BankID?
Use the paper application, which costs SEK 2,700 instead of SEK 2,400 online, or authorise an adviser who has Swedish electronic ID.
How is the share capital proven?
With a certificate from a Swedish bank showing the payment, or a statement from an auditor, attached to the application.
What happens if the filing is late?
The application must reach Bolagsverket within six months of signing the memorandum. After that the formation lapses and must be started again.
What must an Indian parent company provide?
A registry extract, its constitutional documents and a board resolution approving the investment and naming the signatory, each with an apostille.
When are beneficial owners registered?
Within four weeks of the company being registered, and kept up to date afterwards.
What is the corporate tax rate?
A flat 20.6% on profit. Up to a quarter of profit can be set aside in a tax allocation reserve for up to six years; read our Sweden corporate tax guide.
Which VAT rates apply?
25% standard, with reduced rates of 12% and 6% for items such as food, hotels, books and passenger transport.
How much reaches India from a dividend?
Sweden's domestic withholding is 30%, cut to 10% under the India Sweden treaty. India gives credit for the Swedish tax.
What are the official setup costs?
SEK 2,400 online or SEK 2,700 on paper for Bolagsverket. The SEK 25,000 share capital is not a fee; it stays in the company.
What does running an AB cost each year?
Bookkeeping, the annual report, payroll and any auditor make up most of it. Our cost of running a business in Sweden guide breaks this down.
What does Comply Globally charge for Sweden?
Swedish AB formation support starts from ₹95,000. Government fees and any director or agent services are quoted separately.
When is the annual report due?
The annual general meeting approves it within six months of year end, and it must reach Bolagsverket within seven months of year end.
When does an AB need an auditor?
Only when it exceeds two of these limits in each of the last two years: more than 3 employees, a balance sheet over SEK 1.5 million, net turnover over SEK 3 million.
How is tax paid during the year?
Through monthly preliminary tax based on estimated profit, settled after the income tax return.
How often is VAT reported?
Yearly, quarterly or monthly depending on taxable turnover. Most new small companies report yearly or quarterly.
What continues in India each year?
The Annual Performance Report by 31 December and the FLA return by 15 July. Our Skatteverket guide covers the Swedish side.
How much can an individual send under the LRS?
Up to USD 250,000 per financial year. TCS applies to remittances above ₹10 lakh and can be adjusted against your income tax.
What does Comply Globally handle for Sweden?
Board planning, the memorandum and articles, the capital certificate process, Bolagsverket and Skatteverket filings and Form FC in India. See our Sweden registration guide.
Can Comply Globally help with the EEA board rule?
Yes. The team can prepare an exemption request or introduce a suitable EEA resident director through Swedish partners.
Can Comply Globally compare Sweden with its neighbours?
Yes. Start with our Nordic comparison for Indian founders, then book a call to test your plan.
From to do to done
A Swedish AB registers quickly once the board, the capital certificate and the UIN are lined up. Settle the board first; the rest follows in order. Tick a task to move it across.
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