What's changing for internationals in Sweden: 2026-2028 timeline
Every rule change that affects people moving to or living in Sweden, with the date, who it affects, our guide and the official source. Proposals are marked as proposals.
The big ones
Citizenship now generally takes 8 years and requires Swedish and civics knowledge. Work permits need SEK 34,470 a month. Permanent residence is gone for refugees and EU long-term residents. From 1 January 2027, newcomers must qualify before getting child allowance and other residence-based benefits. After the election on 13 September 2026, no new government had been formed by early October, so more changes may follow.
Coming next
| Date | Change | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2026 | Booking opens for SverigeID, the Police's new e-ID (phone 114 14). Affects: People without Swedish ID | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Dec 2026 | SverigeID launches, with an ID card for registered non-citizens. Applications at selected police stations, including Göteborg Passcentralen. Affects: Newcomers needing ID | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Dec 2026 | Skatteverket may take fingerprints and a facial image at identity checks for personnummer and coordination numbers; new offence for promoting false population registration. Affects: Everyone registering in Sweden | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Dec 2026 | Transition ends: extensions of older work permits must also meet the new salary requirement. Affects: Work permit holders | Our guide · Source |
| Early Dec 2026 | State funding for the Västtrafik half price ends; whether it continues was undecided in October 2026. Affects: Public transport users | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Newcomers must qualify (5 years' residence in 15, or a set income) before getting child allowance and other residence-based benefits. Affects: Families moving to Sweden from 2027 | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2027 | SINK falls to 20%. Affects: Short-term workers living abroad | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2027 | New SFI syllabi with nine courses plus courses in basic literacy and the Latin alphabet. Affects: SFI students | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Price base amount rises to SEK 59,600, lifting benefit ceilings. Affects: Parents and anyone on benefits | Our guide · Source |
| 2027 | Citizenship civics test fee of SEK 2,000 per test. Affects: Citizenship applicants | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Oct 2027 | Swedish-language citizenship test due by law, but UHR recommended postponing it in September 2026. Affects: Citizenship applicants | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jul 2028 | Unpaid part-time parental leave extended to the end of the child's second school year. Affects: Parents | Our guide · Source |
Already in force in 2026
| Date | Change | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 | Stricter family-immigration rules, including a tougher maintenance requirement that also applies to extensions. Affects: Families and partners of permit holders | Our guide · Source |
| 13 Jul 2026 | Stricter good-conduct (vandel) test for all residence permits: debts, benefit claims, links to criminal networks. Affects: Everyone applying for or holding a permit | Our guide · Source |
| 12 Jul 2026 | No new permanent residence permits for refugees, people with subsidiary protection, EU long-term residents and their families. Affects: People on protection-based permits | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Preschool fee cap cut to SEK 1,547 a month for the youngest child. Affects: Families with young children | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Temporary half price on 30-day Västtrafik tickets (SEK 445). Affects: Public transport users | Our guide · Source |
| 11 Jun 2026 | Researchers, doctoral students and EU Blue Card holders can get permanent residence after 3 consecutive years. Affects: Researchers and highly skilled workers | Our guide · Source |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Västtrafik prices up: SEK 38 single, SEK 890 for 30 days (zone A). Affects: Public transport users | Our guide · Source |
| 6 Jun 2026 | New citizenship rules: generally 8 years of residence, own income, and Swedish and civics knowledge (ages 16-66). Affects: Everyone planning to apply for citizenship | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Work permits need a salary of at least 90% of the median: SEK 34,470 a month for applications from 16 June 2026. Affects: Non-EU job seekers and employers | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Lower employer contributions (20.81% up to SEK 25,000 a month) for employees aged 19-23, until 30 Sep 2027. Affects: Employers and young employees | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Applications for VAB, the 10 days at birth and contact days must be made within 30 days (was 90). Affects: Parents | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Apr 2026 | VAT on food cut from 12% to 6%. Affects: Every household | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Energy tax on electricity cut to 36.0 öre per kWh (45 öre with VAT). Affects: Every household | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Boplats queue registration free until you turn 22 (then SEK 200 a year). Affects: Young people joining the housing queue | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2026 | State agencies must offer login with both BankID and Freja+. Affects: Newcomers without BankID | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2026 | The right to SFI now lasts three years from the day you are first admitted. Affects: Everyone studying Swedish at SFI | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Tax for non-residents (SINK) cut from 25% to 22.5%. Affects: Short-term workers living abroad | Our guide · Source |
Proposals, not law
| When | Proposal | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 2027 (proposed) | Close Skatteverket's ID-card service; cards already issued stay valid. Sent to the Council on Legislation in September 2026, not yet law. | Our guide · Source |
| 1 Jan 2027 (proposed) | Expert tax relief: tax-free share up from 25% to 30%, no recruitment-difficulty test, no seven-year limit on the intended stay, Swedish citizens eligible, and a seven-year (instead of five-year) look-back on earlier residence. Draft bill of 11 June 2026; no bill had reached the Riksdag by early October. | Our guide · Source |
| Postponed | Making existing permanent residence permits revocable: proposed by an inquiry, postponed to the next electoral term. | Our guide · Source |
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Frequently asked questions
What changed for immigrants in Sweden in 2026?
The biggest changes: citizenship now generally requires 8 years and Swedish and civics knowledge (since 6 June); work permits need a salary of at least SEK 34,470 a month (since June); refugees and EU long-term residents can no longer get new permanent permits (since 12 July); a stricter good-conduct test applies to all permits (since 13 July); and family-immigration rules tightened on 1 October.
What changes in Sweden on 1 January 2027?
People who move to Sweden must qualify before getting residence-based benefits such as child allowance; SINK tax falls to 20%; new SFI syllabi start; and the price base amount rises to SEK 59,600.
Is the Skatteverket ID card being abolished?
It has been proposed, from 1 March 2027, but in October 2026 it was still a proposal. Cards already issued would stay valid. From 1 December 2026 the Police offer SverigeID, which can come with an ID card for non-citizens.