Swedish citizenship: the 6 June 2026 reform

From 6 June 2026: 8 years of habitual residence, self-sufficiency of about 20,000 SEK a month, and Swedish and civics requirements. No transition rules.

⚠️ The most serious point: no transition rules

The new rules were introduced without transitional provisions. Migrationsverket applies the new rules to every case not decided before 6 June 2026, even if it was filed earlier.

If you applied in 2024 meeting the five years that applied then, and are still waiting, you will be assessed under the new requirements.

Habitual residence: from 5 to 8 years

General rule for adults: at least 8 years living in Sweden (previously 5).

Permanent residence: no longer always required

Until now you needed a permanent residence permit (PUT) to become a citizen. From 12 July 2026 the PUT is no longer granted as a general rule. So some holders of a temporary permit can apply for citizenship without a PUT:

• long-term residents (varaktigt bosatt);

• refugees and persons in need of subsidiary protection;

• permits for particularly distressing circumstances;

• certain lasting obstacles to enforcing an expulsion;

• family members of any of the above.

Condition: you must have well-founded prospects of a lasting permit, meaning a good chance your permit will be extended. With 10 years of habitual residence and the other requirements met, that condition is no longer required.

⚠️ You must hold a valid permit when you apply. You cannot apply while waiting for a decision on an extension. Anyone who already has a PUT is unaffected.

Self-sufficiency requirement (new)

• Annual income of at least three inkomstbasbelopp, about 20,000 SEK a month before tax.

• Lasting income from a job or your own business that is not subsidised employment, and stable over time.

• Not having received försörjningsstöd (social assistance) for more than six months in total in the last three years.

Do not count: a partner's income, assets (savings, property) or temporary jobs without continuity.

Exempt, among others: children, people receiving a retirement pension, people with a lasting disability and people studying with good results at certain levels.

Swedish and civics knowledge (new)

Required for applicants aged 16 to 66. It can be shown, for example, with:

• grades from Swedish primary or secondary school;

• studies at komvux or folkhögskola;

• a pass in SFI course D.

Without grades that prove it, a citizenship test (medborgarskapsprov) is offered, introduced in phases: the civics part from August 2026, the Swedish-language test later. It is run by UHR, only people who received a letter from Migrationsverket can register, and it takes place in Stockholm.

Conduct

You must have led an orderly and honest life. Anyone who has committed a crime must wait a period (karenstid) before becoming a citizen, and that period is longer under the reform.

Children

• From 6 June 2026 children are no longer included in their parents' application: each needs their own application, signed by the person with custody.

• Residence required: 3 years if under 15; 2 years if stateless or a Nordic citizen; 5 years if 15 or older.

• From age 15, good conduct is required, and from 16 the Swedish and civics requirement. Children do not have to meet self-sufficiency.

Identity is still the bottleneck

Without an established identity, the required residence rises to at least 10 years, and the other requirements are not even assessed. Resolving it early, with documents from your home country in a valid format, pays off the most.

Losing citizenship: possible from 2027, only with dual nationality

• Decided: the Riksdag approved, for the second time and after the 2026 election, the amendment to the Constitution (Regeringsformen, bet. 2026/27:KU9). From 1 January 2027 a law will be able to withdraw Swedish citizenship from someone who also holds another citizenship and either obtained it improperly, or was convicted of crimes that seriously harm Sweden's vital interests.

• Still missing: the law that applies it. The inquiry SOU 2026:21 proposes changes to the citizenship act with effect from 1 January 2028. Nothing is decided yet.

• Cases foreseen, according to Migrationsverket: citizenship obtained improperly, for example by knowingly giving false or misleading information; and very serious crimes that threaten Sweden's security.

• Never if the person would become stateless.

What to check today

1. Pending application: the new rules apply. Check the years for your group, self-sufficiency, Swedish, and whether you have a PUT or fit the exception.

2. Planning to apply at five years: the plan changes. Recalculate the date with the table above.

3. Near the income threshold: continuity of income is now part of the file.

4. Received social assistance in the last three years: count the months.

5. Have children: each child needs their own application.

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