Transportation – children

The right to school transport applies to the school assigned by the municipality (the nearest suitable school).

If the guardian chooses another school, the right only applies if the transport does not create additional costs for the municipality.

Who is entitled to school transport

A student is entitled to free school transport if needed due to:

The distance between home and school
Traffic conditions along the route
Disability or other special circumstances

(Source: Education Act, Chapter 10 §32, Chapter 11 §31, Chapter 19 §20, etc.)

This applies to students in:

Preschool class
Compulsory school (grundskola)
Compulsory school for students with intellectual disabilities (anpassad grundskola)
Upper secondary school for students with intellectual disabilities (anpassad gymnasieskola, in certain cases)

Distance thresholds (vary by municipality)

Each municipality sets its own distance requirements for school transport.
Examples:

Grades F–3: 2 km
Grades 4–6: 3 km
Grades 7–9: 4–5 km

Disability or special needs

If a student cannot get to school independently due to a disability (e.g. physical, neuropsychiatric, or psychological), they may receive school transport even if the distance is short. Medical certificates or statements from doctors, psychologists, or the school are often required.

Examples include:

Children and youth using wheelchairs or with mobility difficulties
Children and youth with autism/ADHD who have difficulty navigating traffic or environments along the route
Children and youth with anxiety or other mental health issues that affect their ability to get to school

Types of school transport

School transport may be provided through:

Public transport (bus card)
Special school buses
Taxi or adapted vehicles (common for disabilities)
Sometimes coordinated with special transport services

How to apply

Applications are usually made via the municipality’s website, often once per school year.

You may need to provide:

Address and school
Medical or school certificates (for disability)
Any special circumstances

Upper secondary school (gymnasieskola)

Upper secondary students are not entitled to school transport (exceptions may be made for disabilities).
Instead, they may receive travel allowances or a public transport card.
This means the municipality or region helps cover the cost of travel.

Contact: The municipality’s contact centre and ask to be connected to the education department or the school transport administrator. Most municipalities provide an online application form (under “School Transport” or “School Travel”).

TRANSPORT FOR HEALTHCARE

If an asylum-seeking child/youth needs transport to a hospital, health centre, or assistive device centre, special healthcare rules apply. They have the same right to travel to and from healthcare as all other children in Sweden. This includes medical care, dental care, habilitation, and assistive device services.

Who is responsible for the trip to healthcare

Trips to and from healthcare count as medical transport (“sjukresor”).
The region is responsible for medical transport.
If the child cannot travel by public transport (due to illness, disability, etc.), the healthcare provider can book medical transport (e.g. taxi) through the region’s medical transport service.

Costs and reimbursement

For asylum-seeking children, medical transport is usually free, though rules vary between regions.
If you pay for the trip yourself, you can apply for reimbursement afterwards. Receipts and documentation from healthcare are required.

Who makes the booking

The healthcare provider (e.g. children’s hospital, clinic, assistive device centre) can book the trip through the region’s medical transport centre.
If the child/youth lives in asylum accommodation, staff at the accommodation or the Migration Agency can also help with practical arrangements.

Contact: The region’s medical transport service. They can provide details on the booking process in the specific region where the child/youth lives.