Monday, February 9, 2026

The west has a right to preserve its culture

Sweden to raise hurdles to gaining citizenship

Mark Hallam with AFP, Reuters 

Starting in June, Sweden will require that people have lived in the country for 8 years, earn a modest income and pass a test to gain citizenship. Successive governments have tightened migration rules since 2016.


Sweden's government introduced plans for stricter rules on gaining citizenship on Monday, with the plans set to come into force in June. 

Successive governments have gradually tightened migration and citizenship requirements since 2016, when around 160,000 asylum seekers sought refuge in a country of fewer than 11 million people.

What are the changes to citizenship requirements? 

The main requirements for obtaining status as a naturalized citizen are as follows:

  • Typical applicants will need to have been residents in Sweden for at least 8 years, up from 5 previously
  • A monthly income of at least 20,000 Swedish crowns (roughly €1,900 or $2,200)
  • Passing a basic language and culture test
  • People with a criminal record, in Sweden or abroad, will have to reside in Sweden longer before they can apply
  • The rules are planned to come into force on June 6

"These requirements ‌are much tougher than the situation as it is ‌today ⁠because currently there are basically no requirements [to become a citizen]," Migration Minister Johan Forssell told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

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