Debt Collection in
Sweden
- Effortlessly start your case within 2 minutes
- Swedish-speaking debt collection lawyers
- Assistance in the pre-legal phase with an inkassokrav or through a betalningsföreläggande procedure in the judicial phase
- Debt collection in Stockholm, Göthenburg, Malmö or anywhere else in Sweden? We have a 95% success rate
- No Cure No Pay debt collection

Debt recovery in Sweden comes with some unique traits. For example, a large share of all debt collection cases in Sweden are handled by a government agency called Kronofogden. Kronofogden isn't a court of law, but does have the authority to enforce payment of unpaid debts (by seizing assets, bank funds and more, for example). In some situations, this route may be more effective than a regular court procedure.
Having a local lawyer who knows all the ins and outs of Swedish debt collection procedures and laws can help you recover the payment you are entitled to. With Swedish-speaking specialists, our lawyers can solve your debt collection cases in Sweden on a No Cure No Pay basis. For complex legal cases, our lawyers can also tell you everything about relevant Swedish debt collection laws and strategies such as the betalningsföreläggande.
With our Swedish Desk by your side, we won’t let your debtor get away with non-payment and solve your debt collection in Sweden as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Why wait around? Get started and upload your claim today.
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Recover your unpaid invoices in Sweden in 7 simple steps
- Step 1: You can easily upload your claim here. All you have to do is enter your details, your debtor’s details and information regarding your unpaid invoice in Sweden.
- Step 2: Your Swedish caseworker will send a kravbrev (a demand letter). This will be written in Swedish and customised according to your case.
- Step 3: We start our investigation by checking international credit reports and local databases such as the Bolagsverket or the debt registers of Kronofogden (the Swedish Enforcement Authority). This way we can understand why the invoice was not paid. This helps us to define our strategy too.
- Step 4: Your Swedish caseworker will reach out to you. Whether you prefer a harsh or soft approach, we adjust our strategy accordingly. Moreover, you can track the status of your case 24/7 through our online portal.
- Step 5: If your Swedish debtor fails to respond to the kravbrev, then we are just about to get started. Our efforts do not just stop there. We will contact your debtor by phone and e-mail. We speak to your debtor, which puts them off their guard and avoids any miscommunication.
- Step 6: We can also pay your Swedish debtor a visit. With our contacts across Sweden and private detectives, we can further investigate your debtor.
- Step 7: 95% of our cases are solved in the extrajudicial phase without court intervention. With the expertise of our native in-house specialists and the various resources that we have in store for your Swedish debtor, we can collect your claim. If your debtor refuses to pay or disputes the case, we can continue in the legal phase in consultation with you. Before doing so, we extensively discuss your options and possible costs.
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Swedish-speaking lawyers: our international experts
With our in-house specialists, we can overcome any language or cultural barriers. Our Swedish specialists contact your debtor in their native language and are familiar with the Swedish business culture. Based on our experience, we’ve seen that this works. Because we adapt our strategy by sending letters drafted in Swedish and customising according to your case, your debtor is more inclined to pay. Your debtor is made aware of all the consequences of non-payment and knows we mean business.
Free case evaluation by the best debt collection specialists
Debt collection costs: No Cure No Pay debt collection in Sweden
When solving your debt recovery in Sweden, our starting point is to recover your debt without court intervention. We start on a No Cure No Pay basis, whereby we charge €185 for administrative costs. This allows us to investigate your debtor and act according to the best strategy. Our aim is to collect the interest and costs from your debtor; however, this depends on the amount and complexity of the case. With No Cure No Pay debt collection in Sweden, you can expect the following:
- Personal contact with your caseworker
- Personal contact with your Swedish debtor by phone and in writing
- Customised strategy according to your case
- Access to the largest national and international B2B debt collection databases
- Real knowledge of local business cultures and payment behaviours
- Knowledge of national and international judicial procedures
- Honest advice if legal action is necessary
If legal action is required, then we move to an hourly or fixed fee. Before doing so, our Swedish lawyers will discuss the costs with you in advance. You can view a complete overview of our fees here.

Swedish debt collection procedures
We solve the vast majority of our cases before there is a need to initiate legal proceedings, but when such steps do become necessary, we offer solid judicial solutions. Every country has its own set of laws, business customs, and debt collection procedures, but not to worry: our experts know exactly which procedure is the best fit for your situation.
You will find more information on the most effective Swedish debt collection procedures below.


Betalningsföreläggande
The betalningsföreläggande (payment order) is an accelerated procedure for undisputed claims. It is lodged with the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden). This procedure is known for its speed, simplicity, and low cost. Your debtor only has a few weeks to lodge an appeal. If that does not happen, then the payment order becomes legally binding, after which Kronofogden will be able to help enforce it through wage garnishment, asset seizure, and other means.
Ordinary civil proceedings
If a case is disputed, Kronofogden is not authorised to pass a ruling, which means that the case will need to be forwarded to the Tingsrätten (District Court). Both parties must then argue their case and substantiate their statements with supporting documents. After one or more court hearings, the court will render a judgment. We generally only advise opting for this route if your debtor disputes your claim.


Debt collection enforcement in Sweden
Once our lawyers have received a judgment against your Swedish debtor, the judgement will still have to be enforced. Under EU law, judgments obtained in an EU Member State are recognized in other EU countries as well.
If you have obtained a judgment against your debtor in your country, you can apply to Kronofogden for the execution of said judgment in Sweden. If all the criteria are met, Kronofogden can immediately proceed and deploy the necessary enforcement measures.
The limitation period in Sweden
An outstanding invoice cannot be collected forever. Once an invoice becomes time-barred, you cannot recover the unpaid amount through court intervention. That’s why it is important to know that payment claims in Sweden usually have a limitation period of 10 years, but this heavily depends on what was agreed upon in the contract. The limitation period begins as soon as the claim becomes due and payable.
It is possible to prevent your invoice from "expiring" by interrupting the limitation period. The interruption stops and resets the limitation period. In Sweden, there are several ways to interrupt a limitation period:
- A recognition of debt, such as a letter from the debtor confirming that there is an outstanding invoice
- The initiation of legal action regarding the debt by the creditor
- A written demand letter or reminder sent to the debtor before the limitation period would otherwise have expired
While the most common limitation period of 10 years applies to payment claims, there are exceptions for certain types of claims and claims within specific sectors.

Why hire Bierens rather than a regular debt collection agency in Sweden?
- Swedish-speaking, specialised debt collection lawyers
- Highest collection rate throughout Sweden
- Extensive measures to recover your Swedish debt extrajudicially and judicially
- No Win No Fee debt collection
- Immediate action after uploading your claim
“Did you know that in Sweden, it is often much more efficient and effective to start a procedure with Kronofogden over ordinary civil proceedings?”
Start your debt collection in Sweden today
Start your debt collection case in Sweden today! While our Swedish Desk gets started on your case, you can resume your regular business operations. Upload your case for immediate action or contact our experts today.
