At a glance
- State issuer
- Skatteverket
- Accompanying document
- passersedel in Swedish and English or French
- City role
- Kyrkogårdsförvaltningen manages Stockholm’s municipal cemetery services
- Administrative difference
- the issuer of the international document is not the City of Stockholm
- Service availability
- calls are received 24 hours a day
Why is passersedel not issued by the City of Stockholm?
Swedish funeral regulations entrust the issuing of passersedel to the state tax and registration authority Skatteverket. The same document must accompany the deceased during the international transfer. The city's Kyrkogårdsförvaltningen manages funerals and cemeteries in Stockholm, but this local function is not responsible for an international travel document.
That is why the information about the city funeral service is not used as a substitute for the decision of the state registry or for the consular document of the final destination.
This division determines which part of the file to check. Medical evidence comes from the doctor and institution; the death enters the national register; Skatteverket then reviews the conditions for a passersedel. A local cemetery service may be relevant to storage or cremation, but those functions do not make it the authority issuing Sweden's international accompanying document.
Which records are required before a Swedish passersedel is issued?
Official guidance states that there must be conditions for confirmation of burial or cremation. A statement from the funeral company about the contents of the coffin and compliance with the prescribed technical rules is also required, except in specifically mentioned Nordic cases. For the departure to the Balkans, this exception is not assumed.
After departure, the transport organiser confirms to Skatteverket that the deceased has left Sweden. This later step shows that the passersedel is not merely a form obtained before the journey: the Swedish system also records completion of the international transfer. Destination-country authorisation is obtained separately under the rules of the actual country of burial.
How are official roles distributed in Stockholm?
Table separates medical fact, state registry, international document and local funeral system. A special investigation may be instituted by an additional authority.
| Document | Issuing authority | Role in the case |
|---|---|---|
| Dödsbevis | doctor | starts the death record |
| Registration information | Skatteverket | connects identity and death status |
| passersedel | Skatteverket | accompanies the deceased outside Sweden |
| Destination-country permit | competent mission of the destination country | addresses admission to the intended destination |
What changes between the four countries of destination?
The Swedish part remains based on the passersedel, but the admission document is not shared. Serbia, BiH, Croatia and Montenegro publish their own consular rules. The confirmed burial locality and the confirmation of the place of burial are checked against the relevant official instructions, so the Stockholm case does not end with the issuance of the Swedish form.
The land route can use Denmark and continue through Central Europe, and in some organisations the maritime or air segment is considered. These are possibilities, not a publicly promised route. The documented handover takes precedence over the road description.
What to send for case check from Stockholm?
The information required at the outset includes the passport of the deceased, the name of the institution, information on whether the doctor reported the death, the confirmed burial locality and the phone number. These elements indicate whether a registration step, passersedel or destination-country permit is pending. The question about the city cemetery service is only asked if it is relevant to the place where the deceased is located.
An initial response is provided within 10 minutes. Arrival within 48 hours is planned for a routine case after official approval; an open medical or police procedure postpones the start. Further planning begins only after official release and review of the destination-country documents.
Process for this case
- Step 1 of 4
Medical report
The doctor submits the information required for Swedish death registration.
- Step 2 of 4
Review by Skatteverket
The state administration determines whether the conditions for submission have been met.
- Step 3 of 4
Issue of passersedel
The travel document is linked to the deceased and the specified destination.
- Step 4 of 4
Coordination with the destination country
The destination-country permit determines the final handover in the region.
Sources and review date
The official sources listed below were reviewed for the statements on this page. Responsibilities and forms can change, so the current version published by the relevant authority remains decisive.
- Sveriges riksdag – official guidance — Sveriges riksdag · reviewed
- Skatteverket – official guidance — Skatteverket · reviewed
- Stockholms stad – official guidance — Stockholms stad · reviewed
- Council of Europe – official guidance — Council of Europe · reviewed
- European Commission — DG MOVE – official guidance — European Commission — DG MOVE · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
- Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine – official guidance — Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine · reviewed
- Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova – official guidance — Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova · reviewed
- Vlada Crne Gore – official guidance — Vlada Crne Gore · reviewed
Frequently asked questions
Does the City of Stockholm issue a passersedel?
No. Swedish regulations give that authority to Skatteverket, while the city manages local funerals.
In which languages can the Swedish passersedel be?
The regulation provides for Swedish in addition to English or French for international export outside the Nordic exception.
What is registered after leaving Sweden?
The transport organiser records that the deceased has left Sweden on a copy of the passersedel and returns that copy to Skatteverket within the period set by the regulation.
Does the city cemetery administration replace the competent diplomatic mission of the destination country?
No. It manages municipal burial services in Stockholm, while the consular permit is issued under the rules of the country of burial.
When does the deadline for arrival from Stockholm apply?
It applies to a straightforward case after death registration, issue of the passersedel and completion of the destination-country permit.