BankID and Swedish e-services abroad – do you need a VPN?
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For most Swedes, BankID is the key to everything: the bank, the Swedish Tax Agency, the Social Insurance Agency, 1177, CSN and Kivra. When you live or travel abroad it is therefore good to know how BankID works, what can go wrong and whether you need a VPN. The short version: BankID works all over the world, and you do not need a VPN to use it. But there are a few things worth sorting out before you leave.
Does Mobile BankID work abroad?
Yes. The banks say that Mobile BankID works all over the world as long as your phone or tablet is connected to the internet, via Wi-Fi or mobile data. Mobile BankID is not tied to your phone number, so it works even if you switch to a foreign SIM card.
What can go wrong abroad
- You change phones. To move or get a new Mobile BankID you often need a valid BankID on another device, or a digital ID check with a Swedish passport or national ID card. Some banks require a branch visit if it cannot be done digitally.
- Your BankID expires. Mobile BankID is usually valid for a few years. Renew it in your bank's app before it expires to avoid problems.
- Your app store is set to another country. The BankID app and Swedish banking apps can be hard to find if your app store is set to a different country. Switch to Sweden or search for the exact name.
- Old phones. BankID sometimes raises its system requirements. Keep your phone updated.
Step by step: prepare BankID before you travel
- Check the expiry date in the BankID app and renew if less than six months remain.
- Bring your Swedish passport or national ID card. It is often needed for the digital ID check when you get a new BankID remotely.
- Get BankID on two devices, for example a phone and a tablet, if your bank allows it. If you lose one, you can use the other to get a new one.
- Download the apps you need while you still have a Swedish app store and a good connection.
- Save your bank's contact details and find out how to block BankID if your phone is stolen.
When is a VPN useful?
BankID itself does not need a VPN. But a VPN with a Swedish IP address can be useful for other things you do when you sign in:
- Open Wi-Fi. In hotels, airports and cafés it is hard to know who runs the network. Grip VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and our server in Sweden.
- Swedish websites that restrict foreign traffic. Some Swedish sites and services are built for visitors in Sweden and may restrict or add extra checks for visits from other countries. With a Swedish IP address you look like a visitor in Sweden.
- Everything in one place. One account gives you a Swedish IP on your phone, tablet and Apple TV. Read more in Swedish IP address abroad.
It is also good to know what a VPN does not do. It does not change where you live, where you pay tax or what rules your bank has. If your bank asks where you are, answer truthfully.
If you have moved abroad
If you have moved permanently, the rules around BankID and your account can differ between banks. You need a Swedish personal identity number for BankID, and the bank decides itself whether it offers BankID to customers living abroad. Contact your bank before you move if you are unsure.
Get started
Grip VPN is available for iPhone, Android and Apple TV, and for computers and routers via WireGuard. Choose a period on the pricing page. For the whole home there is our VPN router, which also gives you Swedish TV on your smart TV. Read Watching Swedish TV abroad if you want to know more about that.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Swedish phone number for BankID?
No. Mobile BankID is not tied to your phone number, so you can use a foreign SIM card.
Can I renew BankID abroad?
Often yes, in your bank's app with a valid BankID or a digital ID check using a Swedish passport or national ID card. The rules differ between banks, so check with yours.
Do I have to use a VPN to log in to my bank abroad?
No. BankID and the banks' apps work abroad without a VPN. A VPN is extra protection on open Wi-Fi and gives you a Swedish IP address for services built for Sweden.
Can I use the Tax Agency and 1177 abroad?
Yes, you sign in with BankID as usual. Some services may have their own rules, so read the information on each agency's website.