The Swedish Parliament has approved stricter rules for obtaining citizenship: starting June 6, 2026, the minimum total period of residence in the country required to apply for a passport will increase from five to eight years.
The new rules apply to adult applicants. The Swedish Migration Agency notes that different timeframes will apply to certain groups, but the basic requirement is being increased to eight years. Stricter criteria for “an orderly life” are also being introduced: individuals who have committed crimes will have to wait longer before obtaining citizenship.
The reform is part of a broader policy by the Swedish government to tighten immigration rules. In addition to extending the residency requirement, authorities also plan to introduce mandatory requirements regarding knowledge of the Swedish language, basic social studies, and the financial independence of applicants. According to Reuters, the government had previously proposed requiring applicants to have an income of over 20,000 Swedish kronor per month, as well as passing language and social studies tests.
The U.S. Library of Congress, analyzing the Riksdag’s decision, notes that the new residency requirements will take effect on June 6, 2026. At the same time, the language test is set to take effect on October 1, 2027, or earlier if the government so decides, while the social studies test will be introduced on a date determined by the Cabinet.
One of the most controversial aspects of the reform is the lack of a full transition period. More than 100,000 people whose applications are already under review may be affected by the new rules. This means that some applicants who were counting on the previous five-year period may be denied or forced to wait longer.
For foreigners who were planning to naturalize in Sweden, the reform significantly extends the waiting period. This could have a particularly noticeable impact on labor migrants, refugees, foreign professionals, and families who have been living in the country for several years and made plans based on the previous rules.
In recent years, Sweden has been consistently tightening its immigration policy following a long period of a more liberal approach to accepting foreigners. Authorities explain the changes by the need to strengthen integration, raise requirements for language proficiency and self-sufficiency among migrants, and bolster trust in the institution of citizenship. Critics of the reform warn that the retroactive application of the new rules could create legal uncertainty and reduce the country’s appeal to skilled professionals.
