It is Wednesday morning and when the clock strikes ten, the room quickly fills with customers. For Malin and her colleagues, the usual tasks await, but also some new ones. Office area manager Sanna Ranneberg and staff from the office in Luleå are also on site.
– It's the first time in ten years that the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) has chosen to expand its service range for ID cards, so it's great that it's happening right here in Skellefteå, says Sanna.
The Statens service center is a state authority with several areas of activity. Sanna and Malin work in Citizen Service, which is available in 130 locations in Sweden. They have commission agreements with the Employment Service, the Swedish Pensions Agency, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and the Swedish Tax Agency.
– We must be available to increase the government's presence for the citizens, says Sanna. It is not an exercise of authority: we make no decisions, but do offer support and help with applications and digital services.
Sanna says that approximately one million Swedes are not digital today and many of them need regular support, while others manage on their own once they get help to get started. This is a service that has existed in Skellefteå for several years, and now the ID card service will be included as a part.
– The ID cards made here are only valid in Sweden, unlike those issued by the police which are valid for the entire Schengen area and require Swedish citizenship, says Sanna.
Malin and her colleagues have been looking forward to this day. There have been major changes in their work recently.
– With Northvolt, everything has changed. Now we mostly deal with tax issues and issues related to moving to Sweden. The need for ID cards has increased enormously and the new service was fully booked at once, says Malin.
In 2022, there were 1,240 people in Skellefteå who received help with moving to Sweden. Malin describes the work as "great fun but complex".