Medborgarskapskursen

How to apply for Swedish citizenship: step by step

Published: · Reading time: about 5 min

Shayan Parsai, kursansvarig och kursutvecklare
Written byCourse developerLinkedIn

Quick answers

How do I apply for Swedish citizenship?
In the Swedish Migration Agency's e-service with an e-ID, or on form 316011, which you send to the Migration Agency in Norrköping.
How much does it cost to apply?
SEK 2,900. The fee is not refunded if your application is rejected. Stateless people with refugee status do not pay the fee.
Do I have to pass the citizenship test before I apply?
No. If you need to take the test, the Migration Agency sends you an instruction letter while your application is being processed.
How long does it take?
The Migration Agency cannot say exactly. On 24 September 2026 its page showed that 75 percent of recently decided cases had been decided within 53 months.
Can I get a decision faster?
After six months you can ask for your case to be decided, on form 301011. The Migration Agency then has four weeks. You can only do this once.

This guide walks you through how to apply for Swedish citizenship, step by step: what to prepare, how the application works, what happens while you wait and what applies when the decision comes. Which requirements you must meet is explained in the guide to Swedish citizenship requirements.

Medborgarskapskursen is an independent course that helps you with the knowledge requirement. We are not connected to the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) or UHR. The Migration Agency decides on your application, and the information below comes from its pages.

Do you meet the requirements before you apply?

Since 6 June 2026 the main rule is that you must have lived in Sweden for eight years, be able to prove your identity, have a permanent residence permit, have lived an orderly life, be able to support yourself and show knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society. Go through the requirements one at a time before you pay the fee. The fee is not refunded if your application is rejected.

You do not need to have taken the citizenship test before you apply. The Migration Agency decides during processing whether you need to take it.

Step 1: order the personbevis

The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) says you must attach the personbevis “Ansökan om svenskt medborgarskap” to your application. It is an extract from the population register that you order from the Tax Agency.

Step 2: apply in the e-service or on paper

The easiest way is the Migration Agency’s e-service. You log in with an e-ID and need a working email address. You pay the fee with a Visa or Mastercard card in the e-service.

You can also use the form “Ansökan om svenskt medborgarskap för vuxna” (316011) and send it to Migrationsverket, Medborgarskapsenheten, 601 70 Norrköping.

Step 3: pay the fee

The fee is SEK 2,900. You do not get it back if your application is rejected. Stateless people with refugee status do not pay. The test fee at UHR is a separate fee, see the guide to the Swedish citizenship test.

Step 4: prove who you are

The Migration Agency says you must visit them for an identity check to be granted Swedish citizenship. You receive a letter with instructions on how to book a time. The visit takes place in Malmö, Gothenburg, Norrköping, Sundbyberg, Sundsvall or Boden. People with a severe disability or who cannot travel may be exempted.

Step 5: take the test if you get an instruction letter

If you need to show your knowledge of society by taking a test, the Migration Agency sends you an instruction letter (anvisningsbrev). With the code in the letter you register for the citizenship test at UHR. How that works step by step is explained in the guide to registering for the test. A test in Swedish at UHR will come later, see the guide to the language requirement.

How long does it take?

The Migration Agency says it cannot say exactly how long it takes. It depends on things like whether the application is complete and which checks are needed with other agencies. On 24 September 2026 its page showed that 75 percent of recently decided cases had been decided within 53 months.

While you wait, you can follow your case on My page (Min sida) at the Migration Agency. If something is missing, they contact you and ask you to add it.

If it takes long: ask for your case to be decided

If more than six months have passed since you applied, you can send a written request asking the Migration Agency to decide your case. Use the form “Begäran om att avgöra medborgarskapsärende” (301011).

The Migration Agency then has four weeks to either decide the case or reject the request. If it rejects the request, processing continues as usual. You can only submit such a request once during processing.

When the answer is yes

When you have become a Swedish citizen you receive a citizenship certificate (medborgarskapsbevis). The Migration Agency tells the Tax Agency that you have become a Swedish citizen, and your residence permit card is blocked automatically.

There is no requirement to have a Swedish passport, but you can apply for one at the Police. If you keep your previous citizenship, you have rights and obligations towards that country too. The Tax Agency only registers your Swedish citizenship in the population register. More on this in the guide to dual citizenship in Sweden.

When the answer is no

You can appeal the decision. The decision tells you how and how long you have. You send the appeal to the Migration Agency, which forwards it to the court. The Migration Court in Malmö handles citizenship cases (section 26 of the Swedish Citizenship Act). If you are not satisfied with the judgment, you can in most cases appeal to the Migration Court of Appeal, but it only hears certain cases.

The citizenship ceremony

Every municipality must hold a ceremony for new Swedish citizens at least once a year (section 29 of the Swedish Citizenship Act). The municipality invites people who are registered there and have become citizens in the past 18 months. Sverige i fokus says that many municipalities hold the ceremonies on National Day, 6 June.

Applying for children

Since 6 June 2026 children submit their own application. The child’s guardian makes it, and if the child has several guardians, all of them must approve the application. Children have their own requirements, for example a shorter time in Sweden, see the guide to Swedish citizenship requirements.

What should you do now?

Go through the requirements, order the personbevis and apply once you meet them all. You can prepare for the knowledge requirement right away: the test is based on UHR’s material Sverige i fokus, and all 13 chapters are explained on the chapter pages.

Difficult words

personbevis
an extract from the population register that you order from the Swedish Tax Agency
medborgarskapsbevis
the certificate showing that you have become a Swedish citizen
överklaga
to appeal: ask a court to review a decision again
handläggning
the processing time while the agency looks into your case before deciding

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for my children in the same application?

No. Since 6 June 2026 children submit their own application. The child's guardian makes it, and if the child has several guardians, all of them must approve it.

Is it the same for Nordic citizens?

No, there are separate rules for Danish, Finnish, Icelandic and Norwegian citizens, and for people aged 18 to 21. The Migration Agency describes them on its page about citizenship for adults.

What happens if my application is rejected?

You can appeal. The decision tells you how and how long you have. The appeal is sent to the Migration Agency, and the Migration Court in Malmö reviews it.

Do I have to get a Swedish passport?

No, a Swedish citizen is not required to have a Swedish passport. You can apply for one at the Police once you have become a citizen.

Can I keep my previous citizenship?

Sweden allows dual citizenship. Whether you can keep your previous citizenship depends on the rules of the other country. The Swedish Tax Agency only registers your Swedish citizenship in the population register.

Where can I follow my case?

On My page (Min sida) at the Migration Agency, where you can see information about your application.

The course

The full course, all 13 chapters

  • Lessons for every chapter of Sverige i fokus
  • Practice questions with explanations and page references
  • A mock test in the same form as the August test
  • Difficult words explained in plain Swedish

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