An Expat's Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Sweden
Last updated 22 OCTOBER 2025
Practical advice to help you navigate the system and move toward the support you’ve been needing.
Before we dive in…YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I talk to clients daily who are overwhelmed by the Swedish health system, particularly when Swedish isn’t their first language. And I’ve experienced it myself: the path to an ADHD assessment is filled with regional variations and some significant hurdles.
This guide explains your options, so you can better understand the process and advocate for the care you deserve.
Why GET a Diagnosis?
If you think you might have ADHD, getting an official diagnosis in Sweden isn’t a requirement. However, for some it can be an essential step.
Beyond just the relief of feeling validated, it can offer access access to some important tools that can really help: medication and securing workplace or school accommodations that allow you to thrive.
It can also help confirm or rule out overlapping conditions, which will make it so much easier for you to seek effective support.
When it comes to ADHD diagnosis, navigating the Swedish healthcare system poses some challenges. The approach to diagnosis and medication tends to be conservative, and many people experience logistical hurdles and long wait times. You might run into some lingering stigma (though this is quickly changing!)
It will require persistence, patience and the confidence to advocate for yourself. Understanding this from the start can help you prepare for the road ahead.
The Swedish Approach to ADHD Diagnosis
Three Paths to Assessment
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The Public System
This is the most common and affordable route. It typically starts with either a referral from your local doctor's office (vårdcentral) or by submitting a self-referral (Egen vårdbegäran or Egenremiss) through the 1177 health portal.
While cost-effective, be prepared for potential wait times that can be up to two years.
I’ve created a simple guide to submitting a self-referral on 1177 - scroll down to view.
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The Private Route
Going private is a more expensive option but often involves much shorter wait times. You contact these clinics directly to book an assessment. Some employer insurance plans may cover the cost.
Important Note: Not all private clinics handle ongoing medication management - which means you’ll eventually end up needing to navigate the public system as well AND there's a chance your region might not accept a private diagnosis for ongoing public treatment. It is essential to ask both the private clinic and your region's psychiatric intake line about this before you commit.
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Home Country Assessment
For some expats, returning to their home country for an assessment can be a quicker or cheaper alternative. If you were diagnosed in another country, providing the official paperwork can sometimes speed up the process back here in Sweden.
1177 Self-Referral Guide
Go to 1177.se, pick your region, and log in with BankID or Freja eID Plus.
Use Hitta mottagning to find Vuxenpsykiatri/Neuropsykiatri. On the clinic page, open Våra e-tjänster → Egen vårdbegäran/Egenremiss and submit the form.
Terms vary: Egen vårdbegäran, Egenremiss, or Egenanmälan are the same idea (self-referral).
In your form, describe symptoms, duration, impact on daily life, childhood history, and what help you’re seeking. Mention any previous assessments, other mental health diagnoses you may want them to assess for, and your language preference.
If no e-service is available: book your vårdcentral and ask for a remiss för neuropsykiatrisk utredning (ADHD).
If you can’t log in: search 1177 for “egen vårdbegäran blankett” for your region, print it, and post it to the address listed on the clinic page (don’t email patient data).
Under 18: Contact BUP, your vårdcentral, or an ungdomsmottagning.
While the process varies, a comprehensive assessment will look at your current symptoms, evidence of childhood onset, and confirmation that your symptoms are causing impairment in multiple areas of your life. It will likely include:
◦ Clinical interviews and ADHD questionnaires.
◦ A review of your childhood history (input from a parent or old school reports is often preferred).
◦ A process to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
After the assessment, you'll have a feedback session to discuss the results, and you may talk about medication options or referrals for psychoeducation and therapy.
What to Expect
The Wait Can Be Long,
But you can find Support right away.
I know from personal experience, having navigated both the public and private systems for myself and my children when we moved to Sweden last year, that waiting for an assessment can be frustrating (to say the least!)
But you don't have to do it alone, and it’s possible to start developing practical strategies and getting support right now, whether for your own executive functioning challenges or learning how to parent your kids who are struggling.
I designed my ADHD Screening Service to provide the clarity I wish I had leading up my official diagnosis. Through a holistic evaluation, personalized summary letter for your doctor, lifestyle recommendations for immediate relief and the tools you need to advocate for your care. While it does not provide an official diagnosis, it can be a powerful first step toward clarity.
For ongoing support, ADHD Coaching can help you manage immediate challenges with organization, time management, and focus while you wait for a full diagnosis.
FAQ
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Definitely. Most Swedish clinicians will speak English well enough, but it is also a good idea to mention that you’d like to be assessed in English when you first begin the process.
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This totally varies by region and maybe you’ll get lucky, but I have recently heard of folks waiting two years or longer.
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This varies by region, and may also depend on the specific private clinic. You’ll want to check with both the psychiatric department in your region as well as with the private clinic itself to determine the likelihood of their diagnosis being accepted.
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If you still have the paperwork, then there is a chance this can speed things up! Both public and private clinics will still want to conduct their own assessment, but sometimes showing evidence of a previous diagnosis can help.
This Just In!
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Stockholm Region Offers Help To Parents While they Await Their Child's Diagnosis
22.10.2025
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How ADHD Affects Your Driver's License - One Less Reason to Worry about Diagnosis
30.9.2025
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Vårdgaranti: Advocate for Your right to receive help within 90 days
10.9.2025
About the Author
Lacey Redding is a US-licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist Associate currently practicing out of Malmö, Sweden.