US embassy services in Sweden: passports, voting and STEP

For Americans living in Sweden, the US Embassy in Stockholm is where passports are renewed, births are registered and documents for US use are notarised. It also handles emergencies involving US citizens. Most services need an appointment, and some, such as Social Security questions, are handled elsewhere. This guide covers what the embassy offers, how to prepare, and the online tools that replace many visits, using the embassy's own pages.

Where and how to reach the embassy

The embassy's American Citizen Services unit is at Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31 in Stockholm. The main number is +46 8 783 5300; from the US, dial 011 46 8 783 5300. That number is for emergencies involving American citizens and is not for visa questions. Americans needing help can also call the State Department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 from abroad.

The embassy's site has an American Citizen Services Navigator to direct you to the right information and contact form.

### Outreach in Gothenburg

The embassy periodically travels to Gothenburg to accept applications for birth reports, passports and Social Security numbers only. These visits are announced on the embassy site, with a form to request an appointment.

Passports

### Appointments

All passport services, including emergency passports, require an online appointment. Schedule through the consular section's booking page or email [email protected]. You need one photo with each application.

### Renewing with form DS-82

You may be able to renew with DS-82 if all of these apply:

• you can submit your most recent passport book or card;
• you were at least 16 when it was issued;
• it was a 10-year passport issued within the past 15 years;
• it was not limited in validity because of damage or repeated loss;
• you are not changing data other than a name change supported by a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.

### When you need DS-11

You apply in person with DS-11 if your previous passport was issued before age 16 or more than 15 years ago, if you cannot document a name change, or for a first passport. A lost or stolen passport is reported and replaced with DS-11 and DS-64. Corrections use DS-5504.

### Your Social Security number

US law (26 USC 6039E) requires passport applicants to provide a correct Social Security number. Failing to provide one that has been issued can lead to a $500 fine enforced by the IRS.

### At the appointment

You may bring someone with you, such as an interpreter or family member, after emailing their name, date of birth and relationship. Laptops are not allowed; if you bring one, your appointment will be cancelled. Follow the embassy's instructions on traceable postage for the return of your passport.

Children born in Sweden

### Consular Report of Birth Abroad

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) certifies that a child born abroad acquired US citizenship at birth through a US citizen parent. To apply at the Stockholm embassy, the child must have been born in Sweden, and you must travel to Stockholm for the in-person interview.

### Applying online

Paper CRBA applications ended on 15 April 2024. You now apply through eCRBA:

1. Create a MyTravelGov account.
2. Complete the application, upload scanned documents and pay online with an international card or a US-dollar ACH account.
3. The embassy emails within five business days to request more documents or schedule an interview.
4. Attend with originals and single-sided photocopies, plus English translations of foreign-language documents.

### The child's passport

You can apply for the child's passport at the same interview. For a child under 16, both parents normally attend; if one cannot, they submit a notarised DS-3053 statement of consent with a copy of the ID used, or the applying parent shows documents such as a sole custody order.

Notarial services

Notarial services are for all nationalities, by appointment only, and usually for documents to be used in the US. Book one appointment even for several documents. You must:

• bring the complete, unsigned documents, including pages that need no signature;
• show a valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches the documents;
• understand the document, since staff cannot explain it;
• bring your own witnesses if needed.

Common uses include the DS-3053 consent for a minor's passport and powers of attorney when parents cannot apply in person for a child.

Voting from Sweden

The embassy explains that all US citizens can receive blank ballots electronically, by email, fax or download depending on the state. Go to FVAP.gov to complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), print and sign it and return it to your local election office. The embassy recommends completing an FPCA each January and including your email address.

STEP

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) lets US citizens receive security updates from the embassy. Enrol on step.state.gov so the embassy can reach you in an emergency.

Social Security and taxes

The embassy does not handle Social Security. If you live in Sweden, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit in Norway. If you already receive benefits, the payment method does not change.

The embassy reminds citizens and green card holders that they must file US federal tax returns while abroad, and points to the IRS site.

Emergencies

The embassy's services page covers:

• crime victims, who may face physical, emotional or financial harm in unfamiliar surroundings;
• arrests, where assistance to imprisoned US citizens is a priority;
• deaths abroad, where the Bureau of Consular Affairs helps locate and inform next of kin;
• scams, including someone claiming to be a relative in trouble;
• emergency money: first try family, friends, your bank or employer, or a commercial transfer service. When these are unavailable, family can send funds through the State Department, which charges a $30 fee. Destitute citizens may qualify for a repatriation loan, which must be repaid and limits the passport until it is.

A checklist before any visit

Each service has its own requirements, but the embassy's pages share several rules worth checking before you travel to Stockholm:

• Book first. Passport, CRBA and notarial services all work by appointment, and the embassy has at times limited routine services and asked people to reschedule.
• Bring originals and copies. CRBA interviews need original documents with single-sided photocopies, and DS-3053 forms need a copy of both sides of the ID used.
• Translate. Foreign-language documents for a CRBA need English translations.
• Leave the laptop at home. Bringing one cancels the appointment.
• Arrange witnesses yourself for any notarised document that needs them.
• Have your Social Security number ready for any passport form.

The embassy also posts a short informational video to help notarial applicants prepare.

A US mailing address

The embassy is not a mail service. Many Americans in Sweden still need a US address for banks, brokerages, state election offices and the IRS. A mail-forwarding service such as iPostal1 gives you a US street address and scans your mail. Before using one, check whether your bank, state election office or insurer accepts that type of address.

Common questions

Do I need an appointment for a passport at the embassy in Stockholm? Yes. All passport services, including emergency passports, require an online appointment.

How do I register my child's US citizenship? Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad through eCRBA with a MyTravelGov account, then attend an interview in Stockholm.

How do I vote from Sweden? Complete a Federal Post Card Application on FVAP.gov and return it to your local election office. The embassy recommends doing this each January.

Who handles Social Security questions for residents of Sweden? The SSA Federal Benefits Unit in Norway.