Medborgarskapskursen
Schools in Stockholm report a sharp rise in SFI exams, Swedish Radio says. A pass in SFI course D shows your Swedish for citizenship, but you prepare on your own and are assessed on all parts of the course.
Takeaways from this article4 points
More people apply for SFI D
Schools in Stockholm report a sharp rise, SR says. A pass in SFI course D is one way to show Swedish for citizenship.
You prepare on your own
You study the course yourself. Anna Sundin in Stockholm says an exam is not necessarily a quick solution.
Swedex is ending
From 31 December 2026 you can no longer take a Swedex test. School grades and Tisus still count.
The language test is delayed
UHR proposes autumn 2029, and 2030 at the earliest for speaking and writing. We have found no government decision.
More people in Stockholm want to take an exam in SFI course D. Sveriges Radio (Swedish Radio, SR) reported this on its English service Radio Sweden on 30 October 2026. A pass in SFI course D is one way to show knowledge of Swedish when you apply for citizenship. Even so, schools ask you to think it over before you sign up.
What has happened?
Municipal adult education schools in Stockholm have seen a sharp rise in demand for SFI exams, called prövningar in Swedish. Before the new rules there was little interest, SR writes.
Anna Sundin, area manager for municipal adult education in Stockholm, tells SR that SFI exams are not necessarily a quick solution for citizenship applicants. SR’s text does not say how many people are applying or how long the wait is.
What is a prövning?
A prövning lets you get a grade without taking the whole course at school. It suits, for example, people who have learnt Swedish on their own.
The teacher must assess you against all parts of the grading criteria, meaning the course requirements. You cannot pick only the parts you feel sure about.
Does the grade count for the language requirement?
Yes. The law says that a pass grade in the highest SFI course counts, and SR writes that passing an exam in SFI D is one way of meeting the requirement.
The grade only shows your Swedish. For knowledge of society you need the citizenship test or a grade in civics.
What should I think about before I sign up?
- You study the course on your own, following the Swedish National Agency for Education’s syllabus. The City of Stockholm writes that it is your responsibility to have enough knowledge.
- Read the exam instructions (prövningsinstruktion) first. They explain what is expected of you.
- In Stockholm an exam costs SEK 500. You do not pay if you got an F in the course at komvux.
- You must live in Sweden, but you do not have to go to the municipality where you live. The school must offer the course. In Stockholm, dates and registration are on each school’s website.
- New SFI syllabuses apply to education that starts after 31 December 2026. Ask the school which syllabus your exam follows.
What other routes are there?
You can also show your Swedish with a grade from school or with Tisus. Swedex counts during a transition period, but from 31 December 2026 it is no longer possible to take a Swedex test. The Migration Agency writes that it will give information on whether another test can be used instead of Swedex during 2027. The full list is in the guide to the language requirement.
If you have the right to SFI, you can also take the course for free. Read more in the tool Swedish and SFI.
When will the language test come?
SR writes that the language test arrives in 2030. On 30 September 2026, UHR proposed two dates: reading and listening in autumn 2029, and speaking and writing in 2030 at the earliest. That is a proposal, and the Migration Agency writes that the government will consider it. As of 30 October 2026 we have found no government decision. Read more in the news item on the language test that may be delayed to 2029.
What should I do now?
- Do you already have a grade in Swedish or a pass in Tisus? Then you do not need an exam.
- Do you know Swedish but have no grade? Read the syllabus and the exam instructions and compare them with what you know before you sign up.
- Not sure? Ask the school before you sign up.
Medborgarskapskursen is an independent course that prepares you for the civics test. We are not connected to the City of Stockholm, UHR or the Migration Agency.
