Stricter
requirements for citizenship in June – here are the changes
03 Mar
2026
Understand
the significant alterations to the Swedish citizenship regulations set to come
into effect in June 2026.
Swedish
version here
On 10
February, the Government submitted a bill to the Council on Legislation
proposing stricter rules in the Swedish Citizenship Act, with the aim of
strengthening the status of citizenship and protecting the value of Swedish
citizenship. The new requirements include longer residence periods, a new
maintenance requirement, knowledge tests in Swedish and civics, and a sharply
limited possibility to acquire citizenship through notification. Here is an
overview of the most important changes.
Longer
residence period – eight years becomes the new main rule instead of five
The
Government proposes increasing the main rule for residence when applying for
citizenship from five to eight years. Exceptions are proposed for various
groups of applicants: Nordic citizens and former Swedish citizens will need to
have lived in Sweden for two years, stateless persons for five years, and
refugees (those with formal refugee status), as well as those married to or
cohabiting with a Swedish citizen (with durability requirements), and young
adults under 21 years of age will need a residence period of seven years. For
spouses and cohabitants, the relationship must have lasted for at least five
years and the Swedish partner must have been a Swedish citizen for at least
five years.
Stricter
conduct requirements – from “honorable” to “orderly and honorable”
The
Government proposes requiring that an applicant has had, and can be expected to
have, an orderly and honorable way of life. The current requirement of
“honorable conduct” is proposed to be changed in the law to “orderly and
honorable conduct.” In practice, this means the assessment should consider not
only any crimes committed in Sweden but also indebtedness inside or outside
Sweden, involvement in an organization responsible for systematic abuse, or
being subject to restraining orders. The Government also believes that the
waiting periods — the time after crimes, etc., before citizenship can be
granted — should be extended and provides updated guidelines. For children who
have reached the age of 15, orderly and honorable conduct will also be required
when applying for naturalization (i.e., through application, not by birth or
adoption in Sweden).
New
maintenance requirement introduced
A
maintenance requirement will be introduced when applying for Swedish
citizenship. The requirement is met if the applicant has salary or self‑employment income and has not received income support
for more than six months in total during the three years prior to the
application. The income must be at least three income base amounts per year;
certain subsidized employment or income types will not be counted, and the
ability to support oneself must not be only temporary. The most recently
established income base amount is 83,400 SEK (2026), which means the
maintenance requirement would be 250,200 SEK per year or 20,850 SEK per month
(gross income before tax). Exemptions can be given, for example, to those
entitled to certain pension benefits, full‑time
students (with conditions), upper‑secondary students, or if it cannot
reasonably be required for other personal reasons.
Knowledge
requirements – citizenship tests in Swedish and civics
The
Government also proposes introducing requirements for sufficient knowledge of
the Swedish language and Swedish society to obtain citizenship. These
requirements will apply to those aged 16 to 67. Knowledge can be demonstrated
through a passed result on a special citizenship test. The Swedish test will
assess reading and listening comprehension at a functional level, as well as
writing and speaking skills at a basic level. The Swedish Council for Higher
Education (UHR) has been tasked with developing the test with support from
Stockholm University and the University of Gothenburg. The different parts of
the test will be rolled out in stages and the full version should be possible
to complete by 1 October 2027. Until then, the Government proposes that language
skills can be shown through alternative approved Swedish qualifications from
grade 9 in Sweden or another Nordic country, upper secondary school, Swedish
for Immigrants (SFI), municipal adult education (Komvux), or an approved result
on a language test used by universities to assess Swedish proficiency required
for higher studies. It will be up to the deciding authority (the Migration
Agency) to assess what corresponds to an approved language test.
The
civics test will assess basic knowledge of Swedish society and be designed in
Swedish at a functional level. The law also provides alternative ways to
demonstrate knowledge, such as through a passing grade in civics or social
sciences (e.g., from grade 9, upper secondary school, or Komvux). Exemptions
may be granted if, due to disability or other personal circumstances, it is not
reasonable to require the applicant to demonstrate the knowledge.
The
notification procedure will be phased out – more individuals referred to
application
Citizenship
can currently be obtained through application or notification. Notification is
a simplified procedure used for specific groups considered to have a special
connection to Sweden (e.g., Nordic citizens) and involves fewer requirements.
The Government proposes phasing out notifications as far as possible. Stateless
children and young adults, children and young adults with foreign citizenship,
and former Swedish citizens will no longer be able to obtain citizenship
through notification. Notification will mainly remain only for stateless
individuals born in Sweden and stateless since birth, certain children born
abroad to Swedish fathers (transitional rules), children who acquire
citizenship as a consequence of a parent’s notification, and Nordic citizens
according to Nordic agreements.
Children
gain opportunity to apply for citizenship
The
Government proposes enabling children to independently acquire Swedish
citizenship through application. Previously, children’s citizenship was not
separately regulated; it was processed alongside a parents’ application or
notification. In the new legislation, special conditions for children’s
naturalization are regulated, including requirements for identity, permanent
residence permit, residence periods varying by age and status, conduct
requirements from age 15, knowledge requirements from age 16, and consent from
age 12 in certain cases.
Possibility
to regain citizenship lost at age 22
The
Government proposes enabling individuals to regain, with retroactive effect,
Swedish citizenship lost through “prescription period” (loss at age 22),
without any application deadline. The reason includes aligning Swedish law with
EU law and case‑law from the Court of Justice of the
European Union, which requires an individual proportionality assessment and the
possibility to retain or regain citizenship retroactively.
When can
the changes enter into force?
The main
legislative changes are proposed to enter into force on 6 June 2026. Parts of
the regulation concerning the Swedish language test are proposed to take effect
later — 1 October 2027, or earlier for certain elements — while other parts of
the language test will come into force at a time decided by the Government.
EY’s
analysis
The
proposed changes represent a comprehensive overhaul of Swedish citizenship law.
Requirements for longer residence, Swedish language proficiency, and self‑support introduce entirely new conditions for many who
plan to apply or have already applied for citizenship. Today, the processing
time for most adult citizenship applications is nearly 4 years (47 months).
Introducing additional requirements subject to individual assessment is
unlikely to shorten existing processing times under the current system.
Employers hiring foreign workers should note that the path to Swedish
citizenship will become both longer and more demanding, which may affect
workforce planning and the retention of international talent. EY is happy to
assist with advice regarding citizenship or other grounds for residing and
working in Sweden.
Authors
Andreas
Bråthe, Partner Global Immigration, 073-397 24 33
Elin
Harrysson, Senior Manager Global Immigration, 073-255 77 02
Karin
Falkman Lundberg, Manager Global Immigration, 072-186 11 65
Elsa
Tirén, Manager Global Immigration, 076-853 19 79
Summary
EY Tax
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