2026-05-06

New rules for Swedish citizenship from 6 June 2026

The Swedish Parliament has decided on new rules for obtaining Swedish citizenship. The requirements for habitual residence in Sweden and for leading a orderly life will become stricter. In addition, applicants will be required to be self-sufficient and to have a good knowledge of the Swedish language and Swedish society. The rules will come into force on 6 June 2026.

– These changes introduce higher expectations for what is required to become a Swedish citizen. For the Swedish Migration Agency, this means extensive preparatory work ahead of the legislative changes, as we adapt both our case processing and our information to the new regulations, says Director-General Maria Mindhammar.

The rules will be introduced without transitional arrangements. This means that the Swedish Migration Agency will assess all cases that have not been decided before 6 June 2026 according to the new rules.

Stricter requirements for habitual residence and an orderly life

The main rule for how long a person must have been resident in Sweden will increase from five to eight years. Different time limits apply to certain groups. There will be stricter requirements regarding living an orderly life. This means, among other things, that a person who has committed a crime will have to wait longer before they can be granted Swedish citizenship.

New maintenance requirement

A new maintenance requirement will be introduced. This requirement does not apply to children.

To meet the requirement, the applicant must

have an annual income of at least three income base amounts (approximately SEK 20,000 per month before tax)
have a long-term income from employment or self-employment
not have received income support (försörjningsstöd) for more than a total of six months over the past three years.

Some people may be exempt, for example those receiving an old-age pension or those with permanent disabilities. Exemptions may also apply to people studying at a certain level with satisfactory results, for example full-time studies at a Swedish university or university college leading to a degree.

New knowledge requirement

Knowledge of the Swedish language and Swedish society will become mandatory for applicants aged 16 to 66. Knowledge can be demonstrated, for example, through school grades, Swedish for Immigrants (SFI course D), municipal adult education or a folk high school. If it is not possible to provide evidence of knowledge, the applicant will be offered the opportunity to take a citizenship test.

Citizenship tests will be introduced gradually. The first part will be introduced in August 2026 and will cover knowledge of Swedish society. Tests in the Swedish language will be introduced at a later stage.

The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for assessing applications and for instructing applicants to register for the test, while the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) is responsible for developing, administering and marking the test.

More information about the test is available on the Council’s website (uhr.se, only in Swedish) External link..

Further changes

From 6 June 2026, there will also be changes to how to make a notification of Swedish citizenship. At the same time, a new possibility will be introduced for certain individuals to regain their Swedish citizenship.