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Sweden

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — Citizenship

Embassy Finder: Swedish Embassies and Consulates

Quick Facts

CategoryDetails
Residency for naturalization5 years of continuous habitual residence (domicil) in Sweden; 4 years for Nordic citizens; 3 years for persons married to or cohabiting with a Swedish citizen
Language requirementNone (Sweden has no formal language test for citizenship — one of the few European countries without one, though proposals to introduce one have been debated since 2021)
Civics testNone (no civics or integration test for citizenship, though this is under active political debate)
Processing time12—30 months (significant backlogs at Migrationsverket; Nordic citizens typically faster)
Naturalization feeSEK 1,500 (approximately EUR 130) for adults; SEK 175 (approximately EUR 15) for minors included with a parent
Dual citizenshipFully permitted since 1 July 2001
Citizenship by birth in SwedenNo jus soli — birth on Swedish territory does not confer citizenship
Citizenship by descentAutomatic for children of Swedish citizens (since 2001 reform, both parents transmit equally regardless of marital status)
Governing lawLag om svenskt medborgarskap (Swedish Citizenship Act, SFS 2001:82)

Dual Citizenship

Sweden has fully permitted dual and multiple citizenship since 1 July 2001, when the current Swedish Citizenship Act entered into force. This was a major departure from the previous law, which required renunciation of foreign citizenship.

Key provisions:

  • No renunciation of prior citizenship is required when naturalizing as a Swedish citizen.
  • Swedish citizens who acquire a foreign nationality do not lose Swedish citizenship.
  • There is no limit on the number of citizenships held.

Historical context: Before 2001, Sweden required renunciation of prior citizenship upon naturalization, and Swedish citizens who voluntarily acquired a foreign nationality lost their Swedish citizenship. The reform was driven by recognition that forced renunciation was out of step with the reality of an increasingly mobile and multicultural society.

Retroactive effect: The 2001 reform did not automatically restore citizenship to those who had lost it under the old law, but it created a simplified notification procedure (anmalan) for former Swedish citizens and their children to reacquire citizenship (applicable until 2003 for most categories).

Current political debate: Since 2021, the Swedish government has discussed introducing a language requirement and/or civics test for citizenship. As of 2026, no such requirement has been enacted, but legislative proposals are under consideration. Applicants should monitor developments.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Sweden does not apply jus soli. Birth on Swedish territory alone confers no right to citizenship. A child born in Sweden to two foreign parents is not a Swedish citizen.

The only territorial element: a child born in Sweden who would otherwise be stateless may acquire Swedish citizenship through notification (anmalan), described below.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Swedish citizenship is acquired automatically at birth if (Section 2):

  1. The mother is a Swedish citizen (regardless of place of birth, marital status, or whether the other parent is foreign), OR
  2. The father is a Swedish citizen AND is married to the child’s mother, OR
  3. The father is a Swedish citizen, the child is born in Sweden, and the father is unmarried (Swedish citizenship is acquired automatically), OR
  4. The father is a Swedish citizen, the child is born abroad, the parents are unmarried — the child does not automatically acquire citizenship but may do so through notification (anmalan) once paternity is established.

Key notes:

  • The 2001 Act significantly expanded paternal transmission. Under the previous law (1950 Act), unmarried fathers could not transmit citizenship.
  • There is no generational limit, but children born abroad who also hold a foreign nationality and have never been domiciled in Sweden may lose Swedish citizenship at age 22 unless they apply to retain it (Section 14 — see Loss section below).

By Adoption

A child under 12 adopted by a Swedish citizen acquires Swedish citizenship automatically upon the adoption becoming final, provided the adoption was conducted in accordance with Swedish law or the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (Section 4).

  • If the adopted child is 12 or older, they do not acquire citizenship automatically but may apply through notification (anmalan).

By Marriage

Sweden does not grant automatic citizenship through marriage. However, a person married to or cohabiting with a Swedish citizen benefits from a reduced residency requirement:

  • 3 years of habitual residence in Sweden (instead of 5 years), provided the person has been married to or cohabiting with the Swedish citizen for at least 2 years.
  • All other conditions apply (conduct, age 18+).
  • No language or civics test.

By Naturalization (Residency)

Standard pathway (Section 11, Swedish Citizenship Act):

RequirementDetails
Habitual residence (hemvist)5 years of continuous habitual residence in Sweden (4 years for Nordic citizens; 3 years for spouses/cohabitants of Swedish citizens with 2+ years of relationship)
ConductMust have led — and can be expected to continue leading — a “respectable life” (hedervandel). Essentially: no significant criminal convictions. The Migration Agency reviews police records. Minor offenses do not disqualify, but a waiting period applies after convictions.
IdentityMust have established their identity. This is one of the most strictly applied requirements; applicants who cannot prove their identity (e.g., arrived without documents) may face denial.
Age18 or older (minors included through parental application)
LanguageNo formal language requirement
CivicsNo civics test
FeeSEK 1,500 (adults); SEK 175 (minors with a parent)

Notification (anmalan) — simplified acquisition for certain categories:

Sweden has a unique notification procedure that is simpler, faster, and cheaper than full naturalization. Eligible categories include:

  • Stateless persons born in Sweden who have been domiciled in Sweden since birth and are at least 18 but under 21 (Section 6).
  • Young persons (18—20) who have been domiciled in Sweden since age 13 (or age 15 for stateless persons) (Section 7).
  • Nordic citizens who have been domiciled in Sweden for 5 years and are at least 18 (Section 18).
  • Former Swedish citizens (Section 19).
  • Children of persons who acquire Swedish citizenship (Section 10).

Notification fee: SEK 175.

Sweden is an EU and Schengen Area member state. Swedish citizens enjoy full EU freedom of movement, including the right to live, work, and study in any EU/EEA country. Sweden also participates in the Nordic cooperation framework, which provides additional mobility and social security coordination with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Swedish citizen may apply to be released from Swedish citizenship (Section 15), provided:

  1. The person holds the citizenship of another state (or will acquire one upon release).
  2. The person is not domiciled in Sweden (if domiciled in Sweden, release is granted only if there are special reasons).

Release is granted by the Migration Agency.

Involuntary Loss

GroundDetails
Loss at age 22 (Section 14)A Swedish citizen who was born abroad, has never been domiciled in Sweden, and has not been in Sweden under circumstances indicating a connection to the country, loses Swedish citizenship at age 22 — unless they apply to retain it before turning 22. This is the primary involuntary loss provision. If the person holds no other citizenship, the loss does not occur (no statelessness).
No loss by foreign acquisitionSince 2001, acquiring a foreign nationality does not cause loss of Swedish citizenship.
FraudCitizenship may be revoked if obtained through deliberately false information, but this is extremely rare and subject to strict procedural safeguards. The 2001 Act does not contain an explicit revocation provision; cases are handled through administrative correction.

The age-22 rule is the most consequential provision affecting the Swedish diaspora. Second-generation Swedes born abroad who hold another nationality must proactively apply to retain Swedish citizenship before their 22nd birthday, or it is lost automatically.

Restoration of Nationality

Former citizens (Section 19, notification): Former Swedish citizens may reacquire citizenship through the simplified notification procedure if they have become domiciled in Sweden. No minimum residency period is specified, but the person must have established habitual residence.

Former citizens living abroad: Those who lost citizenship under the pre-2001 rules (by acquiring a foreign nationality) and wish to reacquire Swedish citizenship must apply through a Swedish embassy or consulate. The Migration Agency has discretion to facilitate such cases, though formal naturalization conditions technically apply.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Foundlings: Swedish law does not contain an explicit foundling provision in the Citizenship Act, but administrative practice treats a child found in Sweden whose parents are unknown as a Swedish citizen until the contrary is established.

Stateless persons: Sweden is party to both the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Stateless persons born in Sweden may acquire citizenship through notification (anmalan) at age 18—21 with minimal requirements (Section 6). Stateless adults may naturalize with a reduced residency period of 4 years (Section 11(4)).

Document Checklist

Completed application form (available on Migrationsverket.se)

Valid passport or national identity document (identity documentation is critical — unverified identity is the most common ground for refusal)

Birth certificate (with certified Swedish translation if not in Swedish, English, French, German, or Spanish)

Marriage or cohabitation certificate (if applying under the reduced residency pathway)

Proof of habitual residence in Sweden (folkbokforing registration from Skatteverket)

Criminal record extract (obtained by Migrationsverket directly from the police register)

Application fee (SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 175 minors)

For notification (anmalan): evidence of eligibility category (e.g., birth certificate showing birth in Sweden, evidence of domicile since age 13, Nordic citizenship, etc.)

Sources

  1. Lag om svenskt medborgarskap (Swedish Citizenship Act, SFS 2001:82). Full text: https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-200182-om-svenskt-medborgarskap_sfs-2001-82/

  2. Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) — citizenship applications and procedures. https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Becoming-a-Swedish-citizen.html

  3. Government Offices of Sweden — citizenship policy overview. https://www.government.se/

  4. Swedish Embassies and Consulates. https://www.swedenabroad.se/

  5. Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) — population registration (folkbokforing). https://www.skatteverket.se/servicelankar/otherlanguages/inenglish.4.12815e4f14a62bc048f4edc.html

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