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Sweden has announced sweeping changes to its citizenship rules, proposing stricter eligibility criteria that would significantly raise the threshold for applicants.
The reforms, unveiled on Monday by Migration Minister Johan Forssell, introduce new financial, language, and behavioural requirements, as well as a longer residency period before individuals can qualify for naturalisation.
If approved by parliament, the new regulations will take effect on June 6, Sweden’s national holiday, and will apply even to citizenship applications already under review. The proposal is backed by the right-wing minority government, which governs with parliamentary support from the Sweden Democrats.
Forssell argued that Swedish citizenship has become too easy to obtain.
“Citizenship needs to mean more than it does today,” he told reporters. Emphasising the symbolic value of national belonging, he added: “Pride is something you feel when you’ve worked hard at something. But working hard is not something that has characterised citizenship.”
He criticised existing rules that allow applicants to become citizens after five years without learning the language or demonstrating an understanding of Swedish society.
“It has been possible to become a citizen after five years without knowing a single word of Swedish, without knowing anything about our Swedish society, without having any own income,” he said. Referring to a recent high-profile case, he noted: “You can even become one while you’re sitting in custody accused of murder. This obviously sends completely wrong signals.”
The proposed changes will extend the minimum residency requirement from five to eight years. Applicants will be required to pass a Swedish language test and a general knowledge examination similar to those used in Denmark and the United States, with the first tests expected in August.
New behavioural criteria described as “honest living” will also be introduced. Individuals with large debts, restraining orders, or drug addiction issues may be disqualified. Those with criminal records, whether in Sweden or abroad, may have to wait up to 17 years after serving their sentence before applying, up from the current 10-year threshold.
Financial stability will become another key criterion. Applicants must demonstrate a monthly pre-tax income of at least 20,000 kronor, though students and pensioners are exempt.
The reforms follow years of debate over integration challenges stemming from Sweden’s large intake of migrants during the 2015 crisis. Successive governments have tightened asylum and migration policies as authorities grapple with language barriers, unemployment, and crime rates in disadvantaged communities.
