Swedish citizenship 2026: all the new requirements

On 6 June 2026, the rules for Swedish citizenship change fundamentally. It is not a single new rule but a whole package: more time in Sweden, a requirement to support yourself, and — the part that has drawn the most attention — a knowledge test in Swedish and civics. This guide walks through what actually applies, who is affected, and what you can do right now.

Note: Bli Svensk is independent study material, not a government authority. The exact rules and amounts are decided and applied by the Swedish parliament, the government and Migrationsverket. Always check the current details at migrationsverket.se and uhr.se before making decisions.

The new requirements in brief

From 6 June 2026, the following mainly apply:

• Longer residence: the main rule rises from five to eight years in Sweden.
• Income requirement: you must be able to support yourself on an income corresponding to roughly three income base amounts per year.
• Knowledge requirement: you must demonstrate knowledge of Swedish and civics if you are aged 16 to 66.
• Restricted notification route: the option to acquire citizenship through notification (anmälan) alone is sharply limited.

Each part is covered below.

Residence requirement: eight years instead of five

Previously, five years of residence (continuous time living in Sweden) was generally enough to apply. From 6 June 2026 the main rule rises to eight years. Other periods may apply to certain groups, and how the time is counted depends on your situation — it is Migrationsverket that assesses the residence period in each individual case.

Income requirement: what you need to earn

A new income (self-support) requirement is introduced. You must be able to support yourself through your own income, and that income must be at least equal to three income base amounts per year.

At 2026 levels, with an income base amount of SEK 83,400, that corresponds to roughly SEK 250,200 per year — around SEK 20,850 per month. Important to know:

• Certain subsidised employment and benefits cannot be counted.
• The ability to support yourself must not be merely temporary.

The amounts follow the income base amount and therefore change over time. Check the current figure before calculating for your own situation.

Knowledge requirement: Swedish and civics

This is the biggest change for many people. Applicants aged 16 to 66 must demonstrate knowledge of both Swedish and Swedish society. The civics test comes first; a separate test in Swedish will be introduced later.

But — and this is crucial — the test is not the only route. You can often demonstrate your knowledge with grades, for example from:

• SFI course D
• Komvux (municipal adult education)
• Folk high school (folkhögskola)
• Other schooling

If you cannot demonstrate the knowledge that way, you are instead offered the chance to sit the citizenship test. There are also exemptions — connected, among other things, to certain pension benefits, to students, and to special circumstances. Migrationsverket decides what applies in your case.

The citizenship test on 15 August 2026

The first civics test takes place on 15 August 2026 in Stockholm, and it is a so-called trial test (utprövningsprov) — a first test run while the system is being calibrated. The confirmed format:

• About 60 multiple-choice questions with four answer options
• 90 minutes of test time
• Entirely in Swedish — no translations

The pass mark has not yet been published. You can test yourself with our sample questions. You can only register after receiving a notification letter (anvisningsbrev) from Migrationsverket.

Restricted route to citizenship by notification

Previously, some groups could obtain Swedish citizenship through a simplified notification (anmälan) rather than an application. That option is sharply limited from 6 June 2026. If you had planned to use that route, it is especially important to check what applies to you with Migrationsverket.

Do you have to take the test?

Short answer: it depends on your age and whether you can demonstrate your knowledge another way. The knowledge requirement applies to applicants aged 16 to 66. If you can show the knowledge with grades from, for example, SFI course D, komvux or folk high school, you generally do not need to sit the test. It is Migrationsverket that decides whether the test is required in your case.

What you can do now

The test is in Swedish and covers 13 knowledge areas. Even though the pass mark is not set, the content is known, so you can start studying today:

1. Test yourself. Try our sample questions to see where you stand.
2. Compare your options. See our honest comparison of citizenship-test apps.
3. Practise regularly in the app. The Bli Svensk app has practice questions for all 13 chapters plus a simulated UHR test with 60 questions and a 90-minute countdown — just like on test day. Three chapters are free.

The earlier you start, the less stress before 15 August.

Frequently asked questions

What are the new requirements for Swedish citizenship in 2026? From 6 June 2026, the main changes include a longer period of residence (8 years instead of 5 as the main rule), an income (self-support) requirement, and a knowledge requirement in Swedish and civics for applicants aged 16 to 66.

When do the new rules take effect? The main legislative changes take effect on 6 June 2026.

How long must I have lived in Sweden? The main rule rises from five to eight years of residence. Some groups may have different residence periods — Migrationsverket decides in each individual case.

How high is the income requirement? It corresponds to roughly three income base amounts per year. At 2026 levels that is about SEK 250,200 per year, or around SEK 20,850 per month. Certain subsidised or temporary income cannot be counted.

Does everyone have to take the citizenship test? No. The knowledge requirement applies to applicants aged 16 to 66, and the knowledge can also be shown with grades from, for example, SFI course D, komvux or folk high school. The test is one way to meet the requirement if you cannot demonstrate the knowledge another way.

When is the first citizenship test? The first civics test takes place on 15 August 2026 in Stockholm as a trial test (utprövningsprov). A separate test in Swedish will be introduced later.

What is the pass mark — how many correct answers are needed? UHR has not yet published the pass mark. The confirmed format is about 60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, in Swedish.