Swedish citizenship and the citizenship test

Since when does the test exist?

The first sitting was held in August 2026. The test is administered by Universitets- och högskolerådet (UHR).

What the test covers

The test covers civics. A Swedish-language test has not been introduced yet; applicants currently show their language skills another way.

Read who must take the test and the exemptions

How long must you have lived in Sweden?

Migrationsverket's general rule is at least eight years of continuous residence in Sweden. Shorter periods apply to several groups:

• General rule (none of the groups below)8 years
• Nordic citizen2 years
• Married to, in a registered partnership with, or cohabiting with a Swedish citizen7 years
• Previously held Swedish citizenship2 years
• Under 21 years old when applying7 years
• Stateless5 years
• Has a refugee status declaration7 years

Temporary residence permits, for example for tourism, studies or au pair work, normally don't count toward residence time, and absences from Sweden of more than six weeks a year are deducted.

Having lived a well-conducted life

Migrationsverket also requires that you have lived a well-conducted, honest life. Among other things, that means no unpaid debt to Kronofogden (the enforcement authority), no entry in the Schengen Information System, and a waiting period after a criminal sentence, from around two years for a fine of at least 30 day-fines up to 17 years or more for a prison sentence of 6 to 18 years.

Fee and processing time

The citizenship application itself costs SEK 2,900, a different fee from the SEK 2,000 that applies to the citizenship test at sittings from 2027. Sittings in 2026 were free. The application fee is not refunded if the application is rejected. Stateless refugees and people holding a Swedish travel document are exempt from the application fee.

Per Migrationsverket's own statistics, 75% of recently decided adult cases were decided within 53 months, an unusually long average.

How to apply

You can apply through Migrationsverket's online e-service, which requires Swedish e-identification (e-legitimation), a valid email address, and payment by Visa or Mastercard, or send paper form 316011 by post to the Medborgarskapsenheten (citizenship unit) in Norrköping.

Study material

UHR's official study material is called Sverige i fokus, 14 chapters.

See all 14 chapters