# Sweden Citizenship Requirements Sweden's ordinary adult citizenship requirements changed in June 2026: eight years is the general residence baseline, alongside knowledge, support and conduct requirements. Scope: Selected ordinary adult citizenship-by-application conditions after the June and July 2026 changes; not Nordic notification, child or special shortened routes. Jurisdiction: Sweden: Swedish citizenship. Sources reviewed 2026-09-17; review due 2026-12-16. General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying. ## Eight years is the current general rule The general baseline is eight continuous years of habitual residence. The June 2026 changes also apply to undecided earlier applications. Nordic, family, refugee, stateless and other specified cases have different requirements; the shortest exception is not the ordinary baseline. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: How do you become a Swedish citizen? 17 July 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/about-the-swedish-migration-agency/the-swedish-migration-agency-answers/2026/2026-07-17-how-do-you-become-a-swedish-citizen.html). Source location: Requirements following 6 June 2026; how long must you have lived in Sweden. Effective from 2026-06-06. ## Qualifying residence and absences Visitor, ordinary study and au-pair time generally do not count; qualifying doctoral study can. If absence exceeds six weeks in a year, all time abroad that year is deducted. Settling abroad ends the continuous period. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: Citizenship for adults: important to know](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/swedish-citizenship/citizenship-for-adults/citizenship-for-adults/flikar/important-to-know.html). Source location: Habitual residence: permits not included; doctoral study; travel abroad. ## Residence status and July exceptions Permanent residence or an accepted residence right/status is normally required. From 12 July, specified temporary-permit holders can qualify, including protection and associated family categories, generally with well-founded long-term prospects. A valid permit is still needed; an extension application alone is insufficient for this exception. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: Exemptions from the permanent-residence-permit requirement, 12 July 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/nyheter/news-archive/2026-07-12-exemptions-from-the-requirement-for-a-permanent-residence-permit-to-obtain-swedish-citizenship.html); [Swedish Migration Agency: How do you become a Swedish citizen? 17 July 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/about-the-swedish-migration-agency/the-swedish-migration-agency-answers/2026/2026-07-17-how-do-you-become-a-swedish-citizen.html). Source location: Listed temporary permits; long-term prospects; application requirements. Effective from 2026-07-12. ## B1 reading and listening For the knowledge requirement, ordinarily applying from ages 16–66, reading and listening are CEFR B1. Approved qualifications can establish competence; Nordic and specified stateless applicants and individual disability-related cases have exemptions. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: Citizenship for adults: important to know](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/swedish-citizenship/citizenship-for-adults/citizenship-for-adults/flikar/important-to-know.html). Source location: Knowledge requirement: ages, exemptions and recognised Swedish qualifications. ## A2 speaking and writing Speaking and writing are CEFR A2, not B1. Swedish-society knowledge is also required. The separate Swedish-language citizenship test is not expected before autumn 2027; current applicants use recognised education or accepted proficiency tests instead. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: Citizenship for adults: important to know](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/swedish-citizenship/citizenship-for-adults/citizenship-for-adults/flikar/important-to-know.html). Source location: Recognised language qualifications; society knowledge; citizenship-test transition. ## Own income, with exemptions The maintenance rule generally requires sustainable employment or self-employment income of at least three income base amounts annually, not combined partner income. Specified pensioners, successful full-time students and disability cases can be exempt; disallowed benefits and past social assistance also matter. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: How do you become a Swedish citizen? 17 July 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/about-the-swedish-migration-agency/the-swedish-migration-agency-answers/2026/2026-07-17-how-do-you-become-a-swedish-citizen.html). Source location: Support yourself; income that does not count; exemptions. ## Identity and conduct assessment Identity documents and personal appearance support identity verification. Conduct inside and outside Sweden, debts and offences are assessed; waiting periods can apply after debts or sentences are resolved. Approval remains individual. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: How do you become a Swedish citizen? 17 July 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/about-the-swedish-migration-agency/the-swedish-migration-agency-answers/2026/2026-07-17-how-do-you-become-a-swedish-citizen.html). Source location: Identity verification; orderly and respectable life; debts and criminal offences. ## Sweden allows multiple citizenship Swedish law permits retaining earlier citizenship when becoming Swedish, but the other nationality's law may cause loss or impose restrictions. Swedish permission does not settle the other country's rules. Evidence: conditional. [Swedish Migration Agency: What Swedish citizenship means](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/swedish-citizenship/what-swedish-citizenship-means.html). Source location: Dual and multiple citizenship. ## Scope and limitations - Habitual residence is not simply time holding any permit, and an eligibility period is not a processing estimate. - This captures the reviewed 2026 rules, not the older five-year/no-language baseline. Exam availability, exemptions and each applicant's permit history require current authority confirmation. ## Explore this passport - [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/sweden) - [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/sweden/taxes) - [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/SE) - [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries) [Canonical page](https://multipassrank.com/passport/sweden/citizenship)