Free SFI for registered residents, private and university courses for everyone else, and conversation groups to practise what you learn. Swedish now also matters for citizenship.
SFI is free for adults registered in Göteborg or Öckerö, from 1 July of the year they turn 16. You start by booking an information meeting through the City (held in Swedish, English, Arabic or Ukrainian). Since 1 January 2026 SFI must normally be finished within three years. Not registered yet, or need evening or intensive classes? Use a private school or a university course. Under the June 2026 citizenship rules, applicants aged 16-66 must show Swedish language and civics knowledge.
The free municipal course for registered residents.
The City of Gothenburg's municipal Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) programme, with an English-language information page. Information meetings are held in English.
Run by the City of Gothenburg's labour market and adult education department (Brogatan 4). EU citizens without a personnummer can go to International House Gothenburg.
goteborg.se ↗Evening, intensive and business Swedish for a fee.
Adult education association that runs Swedish courses at its centre on Norra Allégatan, near Järntorget in Gothenburg. Course information is available on its English-language pages.
Gothenburg centre at Norra Allégatan 6, 413 01 Göteborg.
folkuniversitetet.se ↗Swedish group courses and customised language training in Gothenburg for expats and international professionals, delivered in small groups.
Lindholmspiren 7, Göteborg
growinternationals.com ↗Language centre in the World Trade Center in Gothenburg offering language training, including Swedish for Expats. Part of the international Berlitz network.
World Trade Center, Teatergatan 19, 411 35 Göteborg
berlitz.com ↗Gothenburg-based provider of Swedish language training, workplace-communication workshops and one-to-one coaching for international professionals and the organisations they work in.
Contact page gives Gothenburg, Sweden as its location; SweTeach AB (org. no. 559200-2041) is registered in Gothenburg.
sweteach.se ↗Swedish for international students and staff.
Information on Swedish courses at the University of Gothenburg. Free courses are open only to admitted or registered international students; the university does not offer full-time Swedish studies.
University based in Gothenburg.
gu.se ↗Low-pressure speaking practice.
International meeting place and café in Gothenburg that hosts language evenings, including Swedish and English evenings, alongside French, German and Spanish.
Esperantoplatsen 7-9, 411 19 Göteborg
sprakcafeet.com ↗Yes, for anyone registered (folkbokförd) in Göteborg or Öckerö from 1 July of the year they turn 16 who lacks basic Swedish. People registered elsewhere need special reasons. You can apply up to three months before you want to start.
Normally you need to be registered. EU citizens without a personnummer can apply in person at Arbetsmarknad och vuxenutbildning (Brogatan 4) or at International House Gothenburg (Järnvågsgatan 3). Everyone else can take a private course until registration comes through.
It depends on your pace and study form: full-time (15-30 hours a week), part-time, evening, distance or flexible. Since 1 January 2026 SFI must normally be completed within three years.
Under the rules in force since 6 June 2026, applicants aged 16-66 must show knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society. Accepted proof includes a passed SFI level D, Swedish school grades, a Tisus result or the citizenship tests as they are introduced. See our citizenship guide.
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