The Swedish Citizenship Test (Medborgarskapsprovet) 2026: A Short Guide
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Last updated: June 2026. We will keep this guide updated as UHR and Migrationsverket publish new information.
On 6 June 2026, Sweden's new citizenship law came into force — and with it, one of the biggest changes to Swedish citizenship in decades: a mandatory knowledge requirement, tested through a brand-new national exam called medborgarskapsprovet (the citizenship test).
The first test takes place on 15 August 2026, and it will be based entirely on one official study booklet: Sverige i fokus, published by UHR (the Swedish Council for Higher Education) together with Skolverket.
If you live in Sweden and plan to apply for citizenship — now or in the coming years — this guide covers everything you need to know: who has to take the test, how to register, exactly what's in the study material, and how to prepare.
Quick facts: the Swedish citizenship test at a glance
Why is Sweden introducing a citizenship test now?
The test is part of a wider tightening of Swedish citizenship rules that took effect on 6 June 2026 — with no transition period. There are some significant changes:
Longer residence requirement. The main rule for how long you must have lived in Sweden rose from 5 to 8 years.
A self-sufficiency requirement. Applicants must show a stable income of at least three income base amounts per year — roughly 250,000 SEK annually, or about 20,850 SEK per month before tax in 2026 — and must not have received financial assistance (försörjningsstöd) for more than six months in total during the past three years. Certain groups, such as full-time university students in degree programs and people receiving old-age pension, can be exempted.
A language and knowledge requirement. This is where the citizenship test comes in. Applicants aged 16–66 must demonstrate knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society.
Because the new rules apply without transition provisions, they affect pending applications too — which is why so many people in Sweden are suddenly searching for information about this test. Applicants must prove their Swedish to be SFI D level.
Who actually has to take the test?
Not everyone. The knowledge requirement applies to applicants between 16 and 66 and the test is the fallback option, not the default. Meaning: you can satisfy the requirement with existing Swedish credentials instead, for example:
A passing grade in Swedish and social studies from year 9 of grundskolan (in Sweden or another Nordic country)
Passing grades from gymnasiet (upper secondary school)
SFI kurs D (for the language requirement)
Relevant courses from komvux (municipal adult education) or folkhögskola
Certain university-level qualifications in Swedish
If you can't document your knowledge through any approved route, Migrationsverket will offer you the chance to take the citizenship test instead.
There are also exemptions — for example, for people with lasting disabilities that make it unreasonable to demand the test. Exemptions are not automatic: you need to support your case with documentation, such as medical certificates.
Important for families: under the new rules, children can no longer simply be included in a parent's application. Each child files their own application (signed by a guardian), and from age 16 the knowledge requirement applies to them too.