Sweden’s new citizenship rules require longer residence and your own income

Most adults applying for Swedish citizenship must now have lived in Sweden for eight years and earn just over SEK 20,000 a month before tax under rules introduced on 6 June.

According to the Migration Agency, the requirements also apply to applications submitted before that date that remain undecided. Applicants must prove their identity, show good conduct in Sweden and abroad, support themselves through long-term employment or business income, and demonstrate knowledge of Swedish and Swedish society.

A partner’s income cannot be combined with the applicant’s. Temporary parental or sickness benefits linked to employment may count, while unemployment insurance and several forms of subsidised employment do not.

Eight years is the main residence rule. Shorter periods apply to Nordic citizens, recognised refugees, stateless people and some applicants living with Swedish partners. Applicants who cannot fully prove their identity may need ten years.

Since 12 July, certain long-term residents can apply without a permanent residence permit if they have well-founded prospects of retaining that status.

The civic-knowledge test begins in August 2026. A separate Swedish-language test is not expected before autumn 2027.

The agency received more than 28,000 applications by mid-June. It granted 38,800 citizenships in 2025, down from 65,600 in 2024, and said additional security checks had slowed decisions.

DailySweden

DailySweden's desk of editors, reporters, researchers and investigative journalists. We bring readers factual, truthful and objective reporting on the issues that matter to them.

Contact the editorial desk ›