In your late teenage years, you get to do a lot of new things. Here are some age milestones that are good to know.
15 Years Old
- You become criminally responsible. This means you can be punished for a crime.
- You can drive a moped. (First, you need to have a driving permit or license.)
- You can watch movies rated for adults at the cinema.
- You can ride a bicycle without a helmet.
- You can give someone a ride on a bicycle or moped if the person is younger than 10 years old.
- You may have heard that you must be 15 years old to have sex? Yes, the law says that no one can have sex with someone under 15. But it’s not illegal for two people under 15 to have sex with each other—as long as both want to. The law is there to prevent someone older than 15 from taking advantage of someone younger. That’s what’s forbidden!
16 Years Old
- Mandatory schooling ends when you finish ninth grade.
- You can take a regular, risk-free job, meaning you can work 40 hours a week. However, your employer has a bit more responsibility for you than for your adult coworkers.
- You can start your own business (a company).
- You have the right to manage the money you earn.
- You can get a license to drive a light motorcycle and tractor.
- You can start learning to drive a car with a learner’s permit.
- You can report a change of address and sign the form yourself.
- Your parents will no longer receive child allowance for you. Instead, you will receive a student grant if you continue your studies.
- You become liable for national service and may be required to contribute to Sweden’s peace and security as part of the civilian defense. You cannot have roles that involve combat, law enforcement, or security duties.
18 Years Old
- You become an adult.
- You can get married.
- You can vote.
- You can buy cigarettes and snus (a type of tobacco).
- You can buy alcohol in restaurants and beer in stores.
- You can get a driver’s license for a car and a medium-sized motorcycle.
- If you receive a letter with login details for the conscription registry the year you turn 18, you must fill it out. If you are then called for conscription, pass the evaluation, and are enrolled for military service, you must complete the basic training.
- According to the law, your parents' obligation to support you ends when you turn 18. This means they are no longer required to provide for you. However, if you are still in school, their obligation to support you continues. They must support you until you finish high school or turn 21.