Citizenship of Sweden

Advantages of the citizenship

Sweden has one of the most powerful passports in the world, granting access to 192 countries without a prior visa. A Swedish citizen automatically becomes a citizen of the European Union, which provides the right to travel, reside, work, study, start a business, or retire in 30 countries (EU and Switzerland) without the need for a visa.

In addition, Swedish citizenship gives the right to vote in elections, receive quality free education, use the health care system and generous parental leave (up to 500 days per child).

The Swedish Citizenship Act allows you to apply for a passport in the case of:

• Documentary proof of identity.
• Age of majority.
• Possession of a residence permit, permanent residence right or residence card in the kingdom.
• Fulfillment of the requirements for the period of residence.
• Absence of offenses and prosecutions.

A minor child is entitled to citizenship if he or she has legally resided in Sweden for at least the last 3 years. Children who have reached the age of 12 must give their personal consent before applying.

Ways to Obtain Citizenship

To obtain Swedish citizenship, you must legally reside in the country for at least 5 years. However, not all time spent in Sweden is counted. The duration considered depends on the type of residence permit and the purpose of your stay. Additionally, the Swedish Migration Agency examines what the applicant has been doing during their time in Sweden, such as whether they have taken steps towards integrating into society and establishing permanent residence in the country.

Important

The kingdom does not grant immediate citizenship to children born in the country whose parents are not citizens. Citizenship cannot be obtained through military service. Automatic citizenship is also not granted to individuals who make a significant financial contribution to the country. All applicants must go through the full naturalization process to become citizens.

Currently, there are several ways to become a citizen of Sweden.

By origin

If the applicant’s parents are Swedish citizens, they can apply for a passport through origin. This applies even if only one parent is Swedish.

A child’s citizenship is determined by the citizenship of their parent (even if the child is born outside of Sweden). Children born to Swedish parents automatically obtain Swedish citizenship.

Attention

The exception to this rule applies to children born before April 1, 2015, to parents with citizenship. In such cases, the parent will need to submit an application for the child to obtain Swedish citizenship to the migration agency.

A foreign child under the age of 12, adopted by Swedish parents, automatically becomes a citizen. If the child is over 12 years old at the time of adoption, the standard naturalization procedure applies.

Naturalization

The procedure is relatively simple. Immigrants are eligible to apply for a Swedish passport through naturalization if they meet a specific set of criteria.

Basic requirements:

• Legal adulthood
• Proof of identity
• Permanent residence permit
• A minimum of 5 years of residence in the kingdom
• No legal issues during the residence period
• Passing a language and society knowledge exam

Restoration of the citizenship

Swedish citizens born abroad, who have never lived in Sweden and have not had any connection with the Kingdom until the age of 22, lose their citizenship status. To retain citizenship, it is necessary to submit a corresponding request to the Migration Agency.

Additionally, the procedure can be used in cases where citizenship was lost in childhood due to parents moving abroad or joining the civil service of another country.

Declaration of the citizenship

A declaration can be submitted in cases of uncertainty regarding citizenship status or loss of citizenship if:

1. The applicant was born abroad, has at least one Swedish parent, but has never lived in Sweden.
2. The loss occurred upon acquiring citizenship of another country.

If the criteria are met, the applicant has the right to submit an application and receive a citizenship declaration at the Swedish embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Once the situation is clarified, the Migration Agency will send a decision regarding the possibility of granting citizenship status.

Citizenship for applicants from Scandinavian Countries

Residents of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Finland are eligible to apply for a Swedish passport if they meet the following criteria:

• Possession of a passport from one of the listed countries.
• Being of legal age.
• Residing in Sweden for at least two years.
• Having no legal issues or criminal record.

Marriage to a citizen of Sweden

One can become a citizen through marriage. Upon marrying a Swedish citizen, the applicant may submit a request for a passport after the tenth year of marriage.

Advantages of Swedish Citizenship

The status of a citizen offers several benefits, including free healthcare, education, voting rights, and up to 5 weeks of paid vacation.

Key advantages of Swedish citizenship:

1. Excellent working conditions. Sweden provides some of the best working conditions in the world, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
2. Social welfare system. Free healthcare, unemployment benefits, housing support, pensions, and much more.
3. Freedom of travel. Currently, citizens enjoy visa-free access to 192 destinations and visa-on-arrival options in 30 countries.
4. Access to EU countries. The ability to live, work, and conduct business in the European Union without requiring a work permit or residence permit.
5. Participation in local and national elections.

Dual Citizenship

The Kingdom permits dual or multiple citizenships. A Swede who obtains a foreign passport will not lose their Swedish citizenship. Similarly, expatriates wishing to obtain a Swedish passport will not lose their existing citizenship, provided they come from a country that allows dual citizenship.

Citizenship by Investment Program

Technically, Sweden does not grant citizenship solely on the basis of investments or business ownership in the country. All investors must go through a naturalization process similar to that of other applicants.

However, Sweden offers foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to obtain a residence permit by starting a business. The standard Swedish investment visa is valid for one year. But how can one stay in the country for five years to qualify for citizenship?

You need to get permission

An investor can submit an application for a residence permit for a period of 5 years. This allows them to meet the minimum required five-year residency period to initiate the naturalization process.

An investment visa has income requirements to ensure that the investor can successfully support themselves and their family during the residency period.

The investor must have 200,000 SEK (€18,000) for themselves, plus an additional 100,000 SEK (€9,000) for a spouse and 50,000 SEK (€4,500) for each child.

Additionally

In addition to the income requirement, the investor must demonstrate that he or she has business experience. And he or she must own at least 50 per cent of the business. The language requirement is fluency in Swedish or English.

Recent Reforms in the Citizenship Program

In 2023, the Swedish government proposed amendments to the legislation that would introduce stricter requirements for acquiring Swedish citizenship.

The push to implement stricter rules for obtaining and retaining Swedish citizenship aligns with the government’s increasingly stringent immigration policy.

Important

In November 2023, Sweden introduced measures to tighten family immigration rules and reduced the number of residence permits granted for humanitarian reasons.

Moreover, now applicants for citizenship and permanent residency will undergo more thorough security checks and criminal background checks before being naturalized and granted Swedish citizenship.

Stricter naturalization criteria will also make it more difficult for relatives abroad to obtain Swedish citizenship through family reunification channels.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Obtaining a residence permit (RP)

The first step is obtaining a temporary residence permit (RP). You can submit your application either by mail or in person at the Kingdom's embassy.

The process involves preparing an application (with supporting documents) and attending an official interview.

Along with the application, the following documents must be provided:

• A completed residence permit application form.
• A completed application for a child, if applicable.
• Notarized copies of the passport.
• Bank statements.
• Proof of international health insurance covering emergency medical expenses and treatment. The minimum coverage amount must be €30,000, and it should match the period of stay.
• Registration fee (€88).

2. Compliance with residency duration requirements

After obtaining an official residence permit in Sweden, you must reside in the kingdom for at least 5 years before becoming eligible to initiate the citizenship application process.

Important

During this period, applicants may leave the country for short periods (up to 6 weeks per year) for travel or business purposes. However, any time exceeding 6 weeks per year will be deducted from the total residency duration required.

The required residency period may be reduced to 3 years if the applicant was married to a Swedish citizen while living outside the country before moving to Sweden.

3. Verification by the Migration Agency

The authorities of the country thoroughly examine candidates for citizenship. During the verification process, they check for criminal records, unpaid debts, overdue taxes and fines, and any potential threats to national security.

If information about unpaid debts is found, the applicant will need to wait an additional two years from the date the debt is settled before reapplying. For more serious offenses, the waiting period for eligibility to apply for citizenship is extended depending on the severity of the violation.

4. Filing an application for naturalization

If you meet the requirements, you can submit an application to the Swedish Migration Agency. The application may include all family members.

You will need to verify your identity with valid documents. Identity verification can also be done by a close relative who is a Swedish citizen.

Additionally

Identity verification will not be required if the applicant has lived in Sweden for more than 8 years without any changes to their personal information.

5. Collection of documents and submission of the application

The procedure is as follows:

1. Preparation of documents.
2. Preparation of the application on paper (submit to the embassy) or electronically at www.migrationsverket.se.
3. Payment of the registration fee of 201 euros.
4. Passing the questionnaire by family members within 2 weeks after the application is submitted.
5. Visiting the embassy after receiving the Swedish Migration Service's review of the applicant's application and family members' answers.
6. Waiting for the Swedish Migration Agency's decision.
7. Receiving the residence permit card.

List of Documents

Documents Required for All Categories of Applicants:

• A valid passport and its copy.
• Birth certificate.
• 30x40 mm photo.
• Application form for obtaining a residence permit to settle in Sweden.

In cases where additional family members and minor children are included in the application, additional documents are required, including marriage certificates and birth certificates.

Consideration and decision

The processing time for an application ranges from three months to one year. However, in practice, the Swedish Migration Agency requires about 38 months to make a decision on an application. The authorities verify whether the applicant has lived a lawful life in Sweden for the past five years and whether they have the right to remain in the country.

After reviewing the application, the applicant will receive a relevant notification at the specified email address.

Disadvantages of Swedish Citizenship by Investment

Sweden, being an attractive country for living and doing business, still has a number of restrictions in its citizenship investment programs. Unlike some other European countries, Sweden does not grant citizenship solely based on investments or business ownership in the country.

Main disadvantage

All investors are required to go through the naturalization process, similar to other candidates. This means that a potential applicant for citizenship through the "Golden Visa" program must be prepared to follow the standard procedures, meet the required residency periods, and fulfill the language requirements.

Another significant disadvantage of this route is the long waiting time for approval. The processing time can take several years, especially if there are concerns about the candidate or additional document review is needed.

This procedure is more suited for those who are not in a hurry to obtain a passport and are willing to invest time and resources to live specifically in Sweden.