Tightening of rules for Swedish citizenship

Sweeping changes and stricter requirements in the rules for Swedish citizenship were proposed by the government in a draft bill this month. These changes have major implications for internationals planning a long-term future in Sweden, especially those who have relocated with families. Both the partners of Swedish citizens and the partners of people on work permits will be affected.

If the changes are voted through as expected, any applications decided after June 6th 2026 will be judged under the new stricter rules i.e., the new rules will be applied retroactively to pending applications. Essentially, becoming Swedish will become a lot harder.

What are the key changes?

1. Longer path to citizenship
The new citizenship law will extend the amount of time applicants must have lived in Sweden from five to eight years, in most cases. For spouses or partners of Swedish citizens, 7 years will be required. In addition, marriage or cohabitation with the Swedish citizen must also have lasted for at least five years at the time of application and the Swedish partner must have held Swedish citizenship for at least five years.

2. Introduction of language & civic knowledge tests
Swedish language and knowledge of Swedish society will be introduced. Proof will be via a citizenship test although exact details have not yet been revealed. There may be exemptions for certain disabilities.

3. Stricter “good conduct” criteria
Applicants for Swedish citizenship will have to demonstrate a well-behaved and honest lifestyle-
Longer waiting periods after crimes or misconduct will also be applied. These rules will apply to adults and children aged 15 years or older.

4. Self-sufficiency requirement
Partners of work permit holders and Swedish citizens will need to provide proof of stable, non-temporary income with a minimum income of SEK 20,000/month. They should not have received social assistance for more than 6 months in the past 3 years.

Wondering what this means for your international recruits?

The proposed changes are intended to apply across the board and the current government’s view is that citizenship in Sweden is moving toward a more merit- and integration-based model. Very few exceptions are currently included but revisions may be made before planned implementation. These new requirements also give rise to many questions for Swedish employers:

-Will this make it harder to attract international talent?
-How long will the process take?
-How will partners and children of international recruits be affected?
-Will it affect my international employees’ ability to travel?
-What can we as the employer do to mitigate the changes?

Answers to all your questions in one consultation

Help or guidance regarding work permits for your international employees is available. We also help ensure a smooth transition to permanent residence in Sweden and Swedish citizenship for your global talent, a key factor for many internationals when evaluating and accepting a job offer.

We keep our clients updated on what they need to know. For more information, please contact us on via info@relocatetosweden.com or call us on +46 8 361011.

Relocate to Sweden provides expert advice and hands-on help for companies recruiting internationally or transferring staff to Sweden. We help your international recruits with the entire relocation process including immigration, home finding, tax consultancy, registration with Swedish authorities, schools, health care and intercultural training. We also provide private relocation services. Email us at info@relocatetosweden.com or call us on +46 8 361011 if you would like help. You can also read more about our relocation services at www.relocatetosweden.com or follow us on social media for tips and advice.