Sweden Proposes Stricter Rules for Citizenship, Introducing Language and Financial Requirements

Sweden announced Monday that it plans to tighten rules for acquiring citizenship, introducing requirements for “honest living,” a language and general knowledge test, and raising the residency requirement from five to eight years.

If approved by parliament, the changes would take effect on June 6, Sweden’s national holiday, and would apply to applications currently in process.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell, whose right-wing minority government relies on support from the far-right Sweden Democrats, said it is currently too easy to obtain Swedish citizenship.

“Citizenship needs to mean more than it does today,” Forssell said. “Pride is something you feel when you’ve worked hard at something. But working hard is not something that has characterised citizenship. 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.”

Forssell highlighted a recent case in which a person accused of murder could apply for citizenship while in custody, saying such situations send “completely wrong signals, both to those who do right by themselves and those who are already citizens.”

Following the large influx of migrants during the 2015 migrant crisis, successive governments in Sweden have gradually tightened asylum and migration rules. The country has faced challenges integrating migrants, with many not learning the language and living in disadvantaged areas with higher rates of unemployment and crime.

Under the proposed changes, individuals with criminal records, whether in Sweden or their home country, would have to wait up to 17 years before being eligible for citizenship, up from the current 10 years. Applicants who fail to meet the “honest living” standard would also be denied citizenship. This could include individuals with significant debt, restraining orders, or drug addictions.

Financial requirements are also part of the reforms. Applicants would need to demonstrate a pre-tax monthly income of at least 20,000 kronor ($2,225), though pensioners and students would be exempt.

The government plans to introduce citizenship tests similar to those used in Denmark and the United States. The first round of tests is scheduled for August, allowing applicants to demonstrate their knowledge of the Swedish language and society.

Forssell said the reforms aim to strengthen the meaning of citizenship and encourage applicants to engage more fully with Swedish society. “Citizenship is about belonging and responsibility,” he said. “These measures ensure that those who become Swedish citizens have contributed to our society and are prepared to participate fully.”

The proposed reforms reflect a broader trend in Sweden toward stricter integration measures and tighter oversight of immigration, as the government seeks to balance social cohesion with the country’s longstanding commitment to accepting migrants.