Until June 2026, Sweden generally required five years of residence, with no language test and no income check. That is over. Most adults now need eight years of residence, a stable income of at least about 20,850 SEK a month, and proof of Swedish language and society knowledge. Sweden still allows dual citizenship.
- What changed: old vs new rules
- How many years you need now
- The income (self-support) requirement
- Swedish language and society requirement
- Good conduct, in and outside Sweden
- Children now apply separately
- Dual citizenship
- How to apply, step by step
- What to do now, by situation
- Frequently asked questions
What changed: old vs new rules
| Requirement | Before 6 June 2026 | From 6 June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard residence (incl. EU citizens) | 5 years | 8 years |
| Married / cohabiting with a Swede | 3 years | 7 years + 5 years living together |
| Refugees | 4 years | 7 years |
| Stateless | 4 years | 5 years |
| Applicants under 21 | 5 years | 7 years |
| Nordic citizens | 2 years | 2 years |
| Can't prove identity | 8 years | 10 years |
| Income requirement | None | 3 income base amounts/year (~20,850 SEK/month) |
| Swedish language + society | None | Required, ages 16–66 |
| Children | Could be included in a parent's application | Own separate application |
How many years you need now
The general rule is now eight years of continuous habitual residence (hemvist) in Sweden. This applies to EU citizens and non-EU citizens alike. The exceptions:
- Nordic citizens (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway): 2 years. Nordic citizens also keep a simpler notification route after longer residence; check Migrationsverket's Nordic page for which route suits you.
- Married to, registered partner of, or cohabiting with a Swedish citizen: 7 years, provided you have lived together for 5 years. If your partner was previously a citizen of another country or stateless, they must also have been a Swedish citizen for at least 5 years.
- Refugees: 7 years. Stateless persons: 5 years.
- Under 21: 7 years.
- Unable to prove identity: 10 years.
You must also hold a permanent residence permit, a right of residence (EU citizens), a residence card or residence status. Since 12 July 2026 some groups with good prospects of long-term residence are exempt from the permanent-permit requirement.
Long stays abroad can count against you. Short trips for visits or holidays do not affect your period of habitual residence, but if you are abroad for more than a total of six weeks in a year, all the time you spent outside Sweden that year is subtracted. If you move to another country and settle there, your period in Sweden ends and a new one starts when you move back. If you travel a lot, keep records.
Our calculator applies the 2026 rules to your own dates.
Open the Citizenship Clock →
The income (self-support) requirement
You must support yourself through your own long-term income from work or self-employment of at least three income base amounts per year. With the 2026 income base amount of 83,400 SEK, that is 250,200 SEK a year, or about 20,850 SEK a month before tax.
- Your partner's income does not count, and neither do savings or property.
- Subsidised jobs (such as nystartsjobb), unemployment benefit and start-up grants don't count.
- You can't have received income support (försörjningsstöd) for more than six months in total over the past three years.
- Parental benefit and sickness benefit while employed count like salary.
- Part-time and hourly work are fine if the income is stable and high enough.
Exempt: people receiving an old-age pension, people who can't reasonably meet it because of disability, and full-time university students with satisfactory results.
Swedish language and society requirement
If you are between 16 and 66, you must show knowledge of both the Swedish language and Swedish society.
Swedish (reading and listening at CEFR level B1, speaking and writing at A2) can be shown with:
- a pass grade in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from year 9, upper secondary school, folk high school or Komvux (municipal adult education)
- a pass in SFI course D, the highest SFI course (Swedish for Immigrants)
- a pass in the Tisus test, and during a transition period other recognised tests such as Swedex
Swedish society is shown with a pass grade in social studies from year 9, upper secondary school or Komvux, or with the citizenship test on Swedish society, run by UHR. The first society test was held in August 2026 and more dates are planned. The Swedish language test may be introduced later than planned, so for now Migrationsverket accepts the proofs of Swedish listed above. Source: Migrationsverket.
Practical advice: if you are anywhere on the citizenship path, start SFI now. It's free, and SFI course D is the simplest proof of your Swedish. See our SFI guide and the language schools directory.
Good conduct, in and outside Sweden
You must have lived, and be expected to continue to live, an "orderly and respectable life". Since June 2026 this covers conduct outside Sweden as well. Migrationsverket checks with Kronofogden (debts), the police and the Security Service.
- Unpaid debts: individual assessment; typically you can apply no earlier than 2 years after the debt record has gone.
- Crimes: a waiting period after the offence or sentence. Examples from Migrationsverket: a fine of 60 day-fines means waiting 3 years after the offence; prison of 6+ years means 17 years after release.
Request your own Kronofogden and criminal-record extracts before applying so nothing surprises you.
Children now apply separately
Children can no longer be included in a parent's application. A guardian applies for each child separately, and a child aged 12 or older must consent. Children under 15 need 3 years of residence (2 if stateless), children over 15 need 5 years, and Nordic children need 2 years. Children don't need to meet the income requirement, but from 16 the knowledge requirement applies.
A child born on or after 1 April 2015 to a Swedish citizen parent is Swedish from birth, wherever they are born. A person born abroad who has never lived in Sweden loses Swedish citizenship at age 22 unless they have a connection to Sweden.
Dual citizenship
Sweden allows dual citizenship, so you don't need to give up your current nationality. Your home country may have its own rules: India, China, Japan and Singapore, for example, restrict dual nationality. Portugal, the UK, the US, Brazil and most EU countries allow it.
How to apply, step by step
- Check eligibility on the day you apply. Use the Citizenship Clock for the years, then check income and knowledge.
- Gather documents: valid passport or other identity document, documents showing your income, and proof of Swedish and society knowledge (for example SFI D, school grades, Tisus and a social-studies grade). EU/EEA citizens must also attach documents showing right of residence for the past five years.
- Apply online at Migrationsverket with an e-ID (such as BankID) and pay the fee (2,900 SEK for adults, 475 SEK per child, by Visa or Mastercard).
- Personal appearance: you will be called to a Migrationsverket office to verify your identity in person.
- Citizenship test if you can't prove your knowledge with documents.
- Decision. After approval, apply for a Swedish passport and national ID card with the police.
Processing times vary a lot. Check the current estimate on Migrationsverket's site before you apply, and see our current waits page.
What to do now, by situation
You applied before June 2026 and are still waiting
Your case will be judged under the new rules. Don't withdraw and re-apply. Prepare income records and proof of Swedish in case Migrationsverket asks for them.
You've lived here 5–7 years and planned to apply soon
Use the extra time: complete SFI D or equivalent, keep income stable above the threshold, avoid long periods abroad, clear any Kronofogden records.
You've just arrived
Plan for 8 years. Register at Skatteverket as soon as possible (the clock does not start at registration: it runs from the day you arrived on a permit that allows you to settle, or from the date you applied for such a permit), join SFI early, and keep your employment history documented. The move-in roadmap shows the first-year steps.
You're married to a Swede
The fast 3-year route is gone. You now need 7 years of residence and 5 years living together. If your partner was previously a citizen of another country or stateless, they must also have been a Swedish citizen for at least 5 years.
Frequently asked questions
- How many years do I need to live in Sweden to become a citizen?
- Since 6 June 2026, generally 8 years. Exceptions: Nordic citizens 2 years, stateless 5, refugees 7, partners of Swedish citizens 7 (with 5 years living together), under-21s 7, and 10 years if you can't prove your identity.
- Do EU citizens get a shorter route?
- No. EU/EEA citizens follow the general 8-year rule and must show a right of residence for the whole period. Their citizenship alone gives no shorter route; only Nordic citizens get one. Other shorter routes (partners of Swedish citizens, refugees, stateless persons, under-21s) depend on your situation.
- Is there a language test for Swedish citizenship?
- Yes, for applicants aged 16–66 you must show knowledge of both Swedish and Swedish society. For Swedish: SFI course D, a pass grade in Swedish from school or Komvux, or Tisus. For society: a pass grade in social studies, or the citizenship test on society (first held in August 2026, more dates planned). The Swedish language test may be introduced later than planned, so other proof of Swedish is accepted for now.
- How much income do I need?
- At least three income base amounts a year from your own long-term work: about 250,200 SEK a year, roughly 20,850 SEK a month before tax in 2026.
- I applied before 6 June 2026. Do the old rules apply?
- No. There's no transition period. Any application decided after 6 June 2026 is assessed under the new rules.
- How do I get Swedish citizenship by marriage?
- Marriage no longer gives a short route. You need 7 years of residence and 5 years living together, plus the income and knowledge requirements. If your partner was previously a citizen of another country or stateless, they must also have been a Swedish citizen for at least 5 years.
- Can I keep my current citizenship?
- Sweden allows dual citizenship. Check your home country's rules.
- How much does it cost?
- 2,900 SEK for an adult and 475 SEK for each child. Each child needs a separate application.
Last verified: 8 October 2026 against Migrationsverket's guide to the 2026 rules. This page is general information, not legal advice. For complex cases, talk to an immigration lawyer.