Sweden’s court system is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and accessibility for everyone — including foreign nationals. It is divided into three main branches: general courts, administrative courts, and specialized courts. Each has its own structure and responsibilities.
1. General Courts (Allmänna domstolar)
The general courts handle civil and criminal cases. They are organized in three levels:
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District Courts (Tingsrätt) – The first instance for most cases. Civil disputes (such as contract or family matters) and criminal trials start here.
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Courts of Appeal (Hovrätt) – If a party disagrees with the district court’s judgment, it can appeal here. The court reviews both the facts and the law.
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Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen) – The highest instance, which focuses mainly on cases of precedential value. Only a small number of cases are granted permission to be heard here.
2. Administrative Courts (Förvaltningsdomstolar)
These courts deal with disputes between individuals and public authorities, such as immigration decisions, tax issues, or social welfare matters.
They also have three levels:
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Administrative Courts (Förvaltningsrätt) – The first instance for cases involving government decisions.
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Administrative Courts of Appeal (Kammarrätt) – The second instance, where most appeals go.
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Supreme Administrative Court (Högsta förvaltningsdomstolen) – The highest instance, focusing on cases of general legal importance.
3. Specialized Courts
Some areas require specific expertise, so Sweden also has specialized courts, for example:
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Labour Court (Arbetsdomstolen) – Handles employment and union disputes.
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Land and Environment Courts (Mark- och miljödomstolar) – Deal with property, planning, and environmental cases.
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Patent and Market Court (Patent- och marknadsdomstolen) – Handles intellectual property, competition, and marketing law matters.
Language and Accessibility
Proceedings in Swedish courts are generally conducted in Swedish, but interpreters and translations are available when needed. Documents in English can often be submitted, especially in business-related cases.
Sweden places great emphasis on transparency — court hearings are normally open to the public, and most judgments can be accessed online.
Legal Representation
Foreign clients are advised to engage a Swedish-qualified lawyer (advokat) for representation. An advokat understands local procedure, language, and court culture, and can ensure your rights are properly protected throughout the process.
