Medborgarskapskursen

Swedish citizenship language requirements: how to show your Swedish

Shayan Parsai, kursansvarig och kursutvecklare
Written byLinkedIn

Published: · Reading time: about 6 min

Quick answers

What language requirement applies for Swedish citizenship?
Reading and listening comprehension at level B1, and speaking and writing at level A2. The requirement applies to people aged 16 to 66.
How do I show my Swedish today?
With a pass grade in Swedish or Swedish as a second language, a pass in SFI course D, Tisus or another test at a functional level, for example Swedex.
Is there a language test for citizenship?
Not yet. The test in reading and listening comprehension must exist by 1 October 2027 at the latest. The Migration Agency says autumn 2027 at the earliest.
Is the language test the same as the citizenship test?
No. The citizenship test in civics already exists. The language test is a different test that is coming later.

Since 6 June 2026 you must show knowledge of Swedish to be granted Swedish citizenship. Many people confuse the language requirement (språkkravet) with the citizenship test (medborgarskapsprovet). They are two different things. Here we explain what the language requirement is, how you show the knowledge today and when UHR’s language test is expected.

Medborgarskapskursen is an independent course that prepares you for the test in civics. We have no connection to UHR or the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).

Two requirements, two different tests

The law (section 13 of SFS 2026:447) sets two knowledge requirements:

  • Knowledge of Swedish. Shown today with grades or tests that already exist. UHR’s own language test is coming later.
  • Knowledge of Swedish society. Shown with UHR’s citizenship test in civics (samhällskunskap), which already exists, or with a grade in civics.

The citizenship test in civics is written in Swedish, but it is not a language test. It tests what you know about Sweden. The language test will test how good your Swedish is. Both requirements apply to people aged 16 to 66.

What level is required?

The Migration Agency states the levels as follows:

  • reading and listening comprehension (läs- och hörförståelse): level B1
  • speaking and writing (muntlig och skriftlig färdighet): level A2

The levels come from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. B1 means you manage common everyday situations and understand the main content of simple texts. A2 is a basic level. The law calls B1 a functional level (funktionell nivå) and A2 a basic level (grundläggande nivå).

How do you show the knowledge today?

The language requirement already applies, even though UHR’s language test does not exist yet. Under section 13 a, you can show knowledge of Swedish with:

  1. A pass grade in Swedish (svenska) or Swedish as a second language (svenska som andraspråk) from year 9 (including adapted compulsory school and special school), upper secondary school, adapted upper secondary school, a folk high school at upper secondary level or komvux. An equivalent grade from another Nordic country also counts.
  2. A pass grade in the highest SFI course, which is course D.
  3. A pass result in Tisus, the test universities use to assess Swedish before higher education.
  4. A pass result in another test that with high certainty shows Swedish at a functional level. The Migration Agency mentions Swedex as an example.

Under section 13 b, you do not need to show knowledge of Swedish at all if you have a pass grade in Danish or Norwegian from the final year of compulsory or upper secondary school in another Nordic country.

Note: SFI course D only counts for the language. For knowledge of society you need the citizenship test or a grade in civics. The civic orientation course for newly arrived immigrants (samhällsorientering) is not mentioned in the legal text.

When is UHR’s language test coming?

The Riksdag has decided on the language test in two acts that have not yet entered into force:

  • SFS 2026:448 concerns the test in reading and listening comprehension. The act enters into force on 1 October 2027, or an earlier date decided by the government.
  • SFS 2026:449 concerns the full language test including speaking and writing. It enters into force on a date decided by the government.

The government gave UHR the assignment in three stages in a decision on 5 February 2026 (U2026/00202). Stage one was the test in civics, to be held by 17 August 2026 at the latest. Stage two is the test in reading and listening comprehension, by 1 October 2027 at the latest. Stage three is tests in writing and speaking, to be developed as quickly as possible.

The same decision states that Stockholm University, which is helping UHR with the language test, estimates that the test in reading and listening comprehension can be ready in autumn 2028 at the earliest. The government nevertheless kept the date of 1 October 2027.

UHR must submit an updated timeline and cost estimate for stages two and three to the government by 30 September 2026. The Migration Agency currently writes that the test in Swedish will be offered in autumn 2027 at the earliest.

What does this mean for you? Until the test exists, you show your Swedish with grades, SFI D, Tisus or Swedex. If you already meet the requirement that way, you do not need to wait for the language test.

What happens to older tests when the language test arrives?

SFS 2026:449 has a transitional rule. Anyone who relies on a test such as Swedex in a case received before the third stage enters into force is assessed under the older rules. That is the only transitional rule in the legislative package. For the other requirements there are no transitional rules.

Four common misunderstandings

“I passed the citizenship test, so the language requirement is done.” No. The test in civics shows knowledge of society. You show your Swedish separately, with grades or a test.

“I have SFI D, so I do not need the citizenship test.” No. SFI D only counts for the language. For the civics part you need the test or a grade in civics.

“I can take the test in English or my own language.” No. UHR says the civics test can only be taken in Swedish. The study material is only in Swedish. So practising Swedish also helps you with the civics test. Our English chapter pages help you understand the content, but you will still read the questions in Swedish.

“The language test already exists, I just have to find it.” No. UHR’s language test does not exist yet. Sites selling a “language test for citizenship” are selling practice, not the test the Migration Agency requires. What counts today is grades, SFI D, Tisus and tests such as Swedex.

What should you do now?

Do you have a grade or a test result that counts? Send it to the Migration Agency when they ask for it. Do you not have one? Then there are two routes: complete SFI course D, or take Tisus or Swedex. Which one suits you depends on your level and where you live.

At the same time you need to pass the test in civics. That is a separate test with its own study material. How it works is explained in our guide to the Swedish citizenship test. All the requirements together are in our guide to the requirements for Swedish citizenship.

We will update this page when UHR has submitted its timeline at the end of September 2026. Until then, what is written here applies: levels B1 and A2, the four ways to show Swedish in section 13 a, and the fact that UHR’s own language test does not exist yet. Read our news item on the language test timeline for what the government decision says.

Difficult words in this chapter

funktionell nivå
functional level: that you manage Swedish in everyday life, corresponds to B1
läsförståelse
reading comprehension, understanding what you read
hörförståelse
listening comprehension, understanding what you hear
Tisus
a test in Swedish used for admission to university studies

Frequently asked questions

Is SFI course D enough?

Yes, for the Swedish language. The law says a pass grade in the highest SFI course counts. SFI does not count for the knowledge of society, however.

Is SFI course C enough?

No. The law requires the highest course, which is course D.

What are Tisus and Swedex?

Tisus is a test in Swedish for university studies. Swedex is Folkuniversitetet's test in Swedish. The Migration Agency mentions both as ways to show knowledge at a functional level.

I have grades in Norwegian or Danish, do they count?

Yes. Under section 13 b, the language requirement does not apply to anyone with a pass grade in Danish or Norwegian from the final year of compulsory or upper secondary school in another Nordic country.

When is UHR's language test coming?

The law says 1 October 2027 at the latest for reading and listening comprehension. UHR must submit a new timeline to the government by 30 September 2026.

What happens to my Swedex result when the language test arrives?

There is a transitional rule in SFS 2026:449. Anyone who relies on such a test in a case received before the third stage is assessed under the older rules.

Can I take the citizenship test in English?

No. UHR says the civics test can only be taken in Swedish.

The course

The full course, all 13 chapters

99SEK per month

or 499 SEK for a full year

  • 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
Coming soon

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Sources