Swedish Citizenship: Requirements, Application Process and New Rules

Swedish citizenship rules changed significantly on 6 June 2026. The main rule is now that applicants must generally have lived in Sweden for at least eight years, while new requirements cover self-support, knowledge of Swedish and Swedish society, identity and an orderly life. Some groups are subject to shorter residence periods or special rules.

For people planning to apply for Swedish citizenship, the changes mean that simply having lived in Sweden for several years is no longer enough. Applicants must meet several conditions before citizenship can be granted, and the Swedish Migration Agency assesses each case individually.

Who can apply for Swedish citizenship?

For adults, the standard route is an application to the Swedish Migration Agency. The applicant must generally have an appropriate status giving a right to remain in Sweden, prove their identity, satisfy the residence requirement, demonstrate knowledge of Swedish and Swedish society, meet the maintenance requirement and have lived an orderly and honourable life.

The residence-status requirement normally means having one of the following:

• a permanent residence permit
• residence status
• a right of residence or residence card
• citizenship in another Nordic country.

There are now exceptions to the permanent-residence-permit requirement for certain people with temporary residence permits, including some refugees and people with other specified protection-related grounds. These applicants must generally have well-founded prospects of receiving a long-term residence permit.

How long do you need to live in Sweden?

The main rule is eight years of continuous habitual residence in Sweden. However, the law provides shorter periods for certain groups.

For applicants living with a Swedish citizen, the seven-year rule also requires the couple to have lived together for the previous five years. If the Swedish partner previously held another nationality or was stateless, that partner must generally have been a Swedish citizen for at least five years.

Residence is not calculated simply by counting every day physically spent in Sweden. Certain permits, including visitor permits and some study permits, normally do not count toward habitual residence. Extended periods abroad can also reduce the period that can be counted. For EU/EEA citizens and their family members, the Migration Agency also examines whether the person had a right of residence during the relevant period.

Identity must be verified

Applicants must be able to prove their identity. The Migration Agency normally requires an identity document and a personal visit so that officials can verify that the applicant is the person shown in the document.

The Migration Agency can make exceptions in limited circumstances. For example, a person who cannot obtain acceptable identity documents may, in certain cases, have their identity considered credible after at least ten years of uninterrupted residence in Sweden under the same identity, provided there are no circumstances contradicting the claimed identity.

The personal identity check takes place after the Migration Agency contacts the applicant. The agency currently lists Malmö, Gothenburg, Norrköping, Sundbyberg, Sundsvall and Boden among the locations where such visits can be booked.

Swedish language and Swedish society requirements

One of the major changes introduced in 2026 is a knowledge requirement covering both the Swedish language and Swedish society.

The requirement applies to applicants aged 16 to 66, with exemptions for some groups, including certain stateless people born in Sweden and Nordic citizens. Exemptions may also be possible where a disability or other circumstances prevent an applicant from meeting the requirement.

For Swedish, the Migration Agency currently identifies the following target levels under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:

• B1 for reading and listening comprehension
• A2 for speaking and writing.

Applicants can demonstrate their language knowledge through recognised educational qualifications, including certain Swedish-language school grades, municipal adult education and the highest level of Swedish for Immigrants (SFI). The Tisus test is also recognised for demonstrating Swedish proficiency.

Knowledge of Swedish society can similarly be demonstrated through approved social-studies qualifications.

Citizenship tests

The citizenship test is being introduced in stages. The test on Swedish society became available from August 2026. The Swedish-language citizenship test is currently expected to become available from autumn 2027 at the earliest. Until the Swedish-language test is introduced, applicants can use recognised alternatives such as Tisus and certain other proficiency tests accepted by the Migration Agency.

This means applicants should not assume that a single citizenship test covering every requirement is already in place. The system is being introduced progressively.

New maintenance requirement

Applicants must also generally be able to support themselves.

The maintenance requirement applies to people aged 18 to 67 who are applying for Swedish citizenship. The applicant must have regular personal income from employment or self-employment. Capital or investment income does not satisfy the requirement. Certain subsidised forms of employment and several types of benefits also do not count.

For 2026, the required annual income is at least three income base amounts, or SEK 250,200 before tax. This corresponds to SEK 20,850 per month before tax.

There is also a social-assistance condition: during the three years before the citizenship decision, the applicant must generally not have received income support for more than six months in total.

Some applicants are exempt from the maintenance requirement. The Migration Agency lists, among others, certain old-age pension recipients, people studying full-time under specified conditions and people for whom meeting the requirement cannot reasonably be expected, such as in certain disability situations.

Good conduct and debts

Citizenship applicants must have lived, and be expected to continue living, an orderly and honourable life.

The Migration Agency checks information from several authorities, including records concerning debts and criminal offences. Unpaid taxes, fines, maintenance payments and certain debts handled by the Swedish Enforcement Authority can affect an application. Even after debts have been paid, a period may need to pass before citizenship can be granted so that the applicant can demonstrate continued financial responsibility.

Criminal convictions can also result in a qualifying period before citizenship becomes possible. The length varies according to the offence and sentence. The Migration Agency’s current guidelines, for example, indicate qualifying periods of at least seven years after a one-month prison sentence and longer periods for more serious sentences. Each application is assessed individually.

How much does a Swedish citizenship application cost?

The application fee for Swedish citizenship is currently SEK 2,900. The fee is not refunded if the application is rejected. Certain stateless people with refugee status or qualifying travel documents are exempt from the fee.

Applicants who meet the requirements for the online service need an electronic ID, a valid email address and a payment card issued by Visa or Mastercard. People who cannot use the e-service can submit the paper application form to the Swedish Migration Agency.

How long does the citizenship process take?

There is no guaranteed processing time because the length of an individual case depends on factors such as whether the application is complete and whether the Migration Agency needs information from other authorities.

The Migration Agency currently reports that 75% of recently decided adult citizenship cases were decided within 53 months. This is a statistic based on cases decided during the previous 12 months, not a promise that a new application will be decided within that period.

Applicants should therefore avoid making travel, employment or other long-term plans on the assumption that citizenship will be granted by a particular date.

Special rules for Nordic citizens

Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway have separate routes to Swedish citizenship.

A Nordic citizen can generally apply after two years of residence in Sweden. There is also a notification route after five years of residence, provided the other conditions for notification are met. For the notification procedure, the applicant must be at least 18 and must not have been sentenced to imprisonment or other incarceration during the previous five years.

The notification fee for Nordic citizens is currently SEK 475.

What Swedish citizenship gives you

Citizenship is different from permanent residence. Swedish citizens have an absolute right to live and work in Sweden and are entitled to vote in elections to the Swedish Parliament. Citizenship is also required for certain positions, including election to the Riksdag, and can be required for some jobs in the public sector.

Sweden permits dual and multiple citizenships. A person who becomes Swedish can normally retain their previous citizenship if the other country’s law permits dual citizenship. The rules of the other country must therefore be checked separately.

What changed in 2026?

The citizenship reforms that entered into force on 6 June 2026 introduced several substantial changes:

The Swedish Parliament approved the amendments before they entered into force. The Migration Agency stated that there were no transitional arrangements for pending applications: cases that had not been decided by 6 June 2026 are assessed under the new rules.

What applicants should check before applying

Before submitting an application, prospective applicants should verify:

1. Residence: Calculate the period of habitual residence that actually counts under the rules.
2. Residence status: Check that the residence permit, residence status, right of residence or other qualifying status meets the requirements.
3. Identity: Make sure the identity documentation and personal identity check can be completed.
4. Language and society knowledge: Check whether existing grades or qualifications satisfy the requirements or whether a test will be necessary.
5. Income: Confirm that personal employment or self-employment income meets the maintenance requirement.
6. Debts and criminal records: Check whether unpaid debts, convictions or other circumstances could affect the orderly-life requirement.
7. Documents: EU/EEA applicants and their family members should prepare evidence of their right of residence for the relevant period.
8. Fee: Budget for the SEK 2,900 application fee, unless an exemption applies.

Because citizenship decisions can take several years, checking the rules before applying is particularly important. The Migration Agency’s requirements and test arrangements should be consulted directly before an application is submitted.

Frequently asked questions

How many years do I need to live in Sweden to get citizenship?

The general rule is eight years of habitual residence. Shorter periods apply to certain groups, including Nordic citizens, former Swedish citizens, some people living with Swedish citizens, stateless people and people with refugee status.

Do I need to speak Swedish to become a Swedish citizen?

For most applicants aged 16 to 66, knowledge of Swedish is now required. The current requirement includes B1-level reading and listening comprehension and A2-level speaking and writing, with specific recognised ways to demonstrate proficiency.

How much do I need to earn to qualify for Swedish citizenship?

For 2026, the general maintenance requirement is an annual income of at least SEK 250,200 before tax, equivalent to SEK 20,850 per month. The requirement applies to applicants aged 18 to 67, subject to exemptions.

Can I keep my current citizenship after becoming Swedish?

Sweden allows dual and multiple citizenships. However, whether you can keep your original citizenship depends on the law of your other country of citizenship.

Can I apply without a permanent residence permit?

In general, a qualifying permanent residence status has been required, but since July 2026 certain people with temporary residence permits can apply without a permanent residence permit. This applies to specified groups and is subject to additional conditions.