Swedish companies and Indians living in Sweden can handle Indian legal work without travelling. Documents are signed before a notarius publicus, who in Sweden also issues the apostille, and are then couriered to India and stamped there. We set up subsidiaries, draft employment documents under Indian labour law, register companies for GST, and handle property sales and NRI tax returns through a power of attorney. India is three and a half to four and a half hours ahead of Stockholm, which leaves a full shared morning.
- Document route
- Notarius publicus certifies and issues the apostille
- Time difference
- India is 3h30 (summer) to 4h30 (winter) ahead
- Foreign judgments in India
- Not reciprocating: fresh suit
- Apostille with India
- In force
Swedish business and Indian professionals in Sweden
Swedish engineering, telecom, automotive, bearings and furniture groups have had Indian operations for decades, many with large factories and research centres. Swedish companies tend to bring strong internal compliance standards and expect Indian advisers to match them: documented decisions, clear employment terms and careful tax treatment. More recently, Swedish software, fintech and sustainability companies have started hiring in Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, often beginning with a small team before forming a company.
Indians in Sweden are mostly working professionals and their families, many on work permits who later take permanent residence or Swedish citizenship. Their Indian legal needs are practical: selling or renting a flat, a power of attorney for parents, Indian tax returns, and marriage or birth documents for Swedish authorities.
Notarisation and apostille in Sweden
Sweden is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, which is in force between Sweden and India. Sweden has an unusually simple system: a notarius publicus, appointed by the county administrative board and found in most cities, both certifies signatures and issues the apostille. A power of attorney or board resolution for India can therefore often be completed in a single appointment.
Swedish company documents, such as a registration certificate from Bolagsverket, can be apostilled by a notarius publicus as well. If the original is in Swedish, an authorised translator (auktoriserad translator) should provide an English version, since Indian authorities work in English. Personal identity numbers and Swedish addresses should match the passport and residence permit used in India, or Indian banks and registrars may raise questions. After the original reaches India it is stamped within three months under the relevant stamp law.
Most requested services from Sweden
Swedish requests are led by business entry, hiring and tax, reflecting the strong Swedish corporate presence in India, followed by the property and tax needs of Indians living in Sweden.
Indian Subsidiary Setup
Swedish groups and startups usually build an Indian team through a wholly owned private limited company.
Employment Law for Foreign Employers
Swedish employers must adapt Nordic employment practices to Indian labour codes, state laws and social security rules.
GST for Foreign Businesses
Swedish software and service companies selling to Indian customers need to know when GST registration or reverse charge applies.
Power of Attorney
Indians in Sweden rely on a relative in India acting under a power of attorney certified and apostilled by a notarius publicus.
Buying & Selling Property
Many Indian families in Sweden sell or buy a flat in India while settling long term in Sweden.
NRI Income Tax & DTAA
Indian rent, deposits and gains of Swedish residents must still be returned and taxed in India.
Tax treaty, social security and money flows
India and Sweden have a double taxation avoidance agreement. Swedish companies paying or receiving royalties, technical service fees or dividends should apply the treaty rate, supported by a Swedish tax residence certificate from Skatteverket and Form 10F in India. India and Sweden also have a social security agreement, which helps employees posted between the two countries avoid double contributions for a limited period with a certificate of coverage.
For individuals, Sweden taxes the worldwide income of its residents. Indian rent, interest and capital gains are taxed in India first, and credit is generally available in Sweden. Indian balances in NRO accounts can be sent to Sweden up to USD 1 million per financial year after Form 15CA and 15CB, and NRE funds are freely repatriable. See NRI income tax in India for filing.
Family law and Swedish judgments in India
Sweden is not a reciprocating territory under section 44A of the Code of Civil Procedure. A Swedish judgment for money cannot be executed directly in India; a fresh suit is required, in which the Swedish judgment is relied on subject to section 13. Swedish divorces, which can be granted without proof of fault, may be questioned in India if the ground does not match the Indian personal law, so we review them before they are relied on for remarriage or property.
Swedish social services and courts make decisions about children based on Swedish law, and India is not a party to the Hague Child Abduction Convention. Families facing cross-border custody questions should get advice in both countries before moving a child. For estates, Sweden applies the EU Succession Regulation, while India applies its own law to Indian immovable property, so Indian assets are best covered by a separate Indian will.
Working with us from Sweden
A 9 am call in Stockholm is 12.30 or 1.30 pm in India, depending on the season, so we can usually meet the same day. We send drafts by email and use electronic signatures for company forms and contracts where Indian law permits. For property and wills, wet-ink signatures before a notarius publicus are still the norm.
Couriers from Stockholm or Gothenburg typically reach North India in four to seven working days. Business clients often prefer to start with a short scoping call and a written plan with fixed stages. Swedish public holidays and the long summer break in July are worth planning around: if a board resolution or notarised document is needed for an Indian deadline, arrange the notarius publicus appointment before the holiday period. Indian courts and registries close on different dates, and we share the relevant holiday calendar at the start of a matter so nobody is caught out. If your group operates elsewhere in the Nordic region, see also our pages for Norway and Denmark.
All services for clients in Sweden
NRI Property Law
- Property Disputes
- Encroachment & Illegal Possession
- Partition of Family Property
- Buying & Selling Property
- Title Search & Due Diligence
- Tenant Eviction
- Builder Delay & RERA
Inheritance & Documents
Cross-Border Family Law
- Divorce for NRIs
- International Child Custody
- Maintenance & Alimony
- Marriage Registration
- 498A & Dowry Case Defence
- OCI Card Issues
Doing Business in India
- Company Setup for Foreigners
- Indian Subsidiary Setup
- Branch & Liaison Office
- FDI & FEMA Compliance
- Trademark Protection in India
- Commercial Contracts
- Employment Law for Foreign Employers
- GST for Foreign Businesses
- Investing in Indian Startups
- Legal Advisory for NRI Investors
Disputes & Enforcement
- International Arbitration
- Enforcing Foreign Judgments
- Money Recovery from India
- Shareholder Disputes & NCLT
- Accident Compensation Claims
- Cyber & Investment Fraud
- Criminal Defence & Look Out Circulars
Cross-Border Tax & Money
Indian missions in Sweden
The embassy in Stockholm provides passport, OCI and consular services for Indian nationals and OCI applicants across Sweden.
- Embassy of India, Stockholm
Frequently asked questions
Who issues apostilles in Sweden?
A notarius publicus. They can certify your signature and attach the apostille in one step, which India accepts without embassy attestation.
Can a Swedish company hire employees in India without an Indian entity?
It can engage contractors or use an employer of record, but direct employment without an entity raises permanent establishment and labour law risks. Most companies form a subsidiary once the team grows.
Does India tax a Swedish company on software sales to Indian customers?
Income tax depends on the treaty and whether there is a permanent establishment. GST applies separately: B2B imports are usually taxed on reverse charge, while online services to Indian consumers may require GST registration.
Will a Swedish divorce be accepted in India?
It may be, if it satisfies the tests in section 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Because Swedish divorce does not require fault, some Indian courts may question it, so take advice before relying on it.
Can I keep Indian citizenship if I become Swedish?
No. Sweden allows dual citizenship, but India does not. You must surrender your Indian passport and can apply for an OCI card.
Do I need a Swedish tax residence certificate for India?
Yes, to claim lower treaty rates on Indian income. Skatteverket issues it on request.
How long does a courier take from Sweden to India?
Usually four to seven working days to major Indian cities.
Can you work with our Swedish legal and HR teams?
Yes. We usually work alongside the in-house team or Swedish counsel, covering the Indian law points and filings.