The Swedish language requirement for citizenship, and the test that is coming
Vishwen Labs
Since 6 June 2026, applicants for Swedish citizenship aged 16 to 66 must show knowledge of Swedish as well as of Swedish society. For now the language half is shown with documents: a passing grade in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from grundskola or gymnasium, komvux or folkhögskola, SFI course D, or a Tisus result, and during the transition Migrationsverket also accepts tests that show Swedish at a functional level with high certainty, such as Folkuniversitetet's Swedex. UHR's own citizenship test in Swedish, reading and listening at a functional level, must be in place by 1 October 2027. The civics test, by contrast, exists already, and it is in Swedish.
Two halves of one requirement
The law requires sufficient knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society, and UHR's citizenship test is being introduced in steps to match: the civics part first, in August 2026, and the Swedish part later. The Riksdag set the deadline: the provisions on a test of reading and listening comprehension at a functional level enter into force on 1 October 2027 at the latest, or earlier if the government decides. Until UHR's language test exists, Migrationsverket relies on documents and on tests it already trusts.
How to show Swedish today
Migrationsverket's list: a passing grade in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from compulsory or upper secondary school; completed studies at komvux or a folk high school; a pass in SFI course D; a passed Tisus test; and, during the transition, other knowledge tests that show Swedish at a functional level with high certainty, such as Swedex. SFI course D is the end of the SFI ladder and corresponds to roughly B1 on the European scale, which is a fair guide to the level meant by functional. If you already hold one of these, the language half is done.
UHR's language test, by 1 October 2027
What is known is the scope and the deadline: reading and listening comprehension at a functional level, in place by 1 October 2027 at the latest. The government sets the date for any further parts. UHR has said only that the Swedish test will be introduced at a later stage. Format, fee, places and dates are unpublished, and the civics test's pattern, a letter from Migrationsverket, registration with UHR, a fee from 2027, is the best available guide to how it will run.
The civics test is in Swedish, so the language matters twice
UHR's civics test is written in Swedish only, at a level UHR compares to the end of compulsory school, and there is no version in other languages. A candidate whose Swedish is at SFI D level can read it; a candidate below that will struggle with the questions before reaching the content. That is why the app is bilingual: understand the material in English first if that is faster, then read and practise it in Swedish, so that the vocabulary of the questions, riksdagen, grundlagarna, yttrandefrihet, is familiar on the day.
Exemptions
The knowledge requirement stops at 66, so applicants who have turned 67 show neither Swedish nor civics. Migrationsverket can also exempt a person who has a disability or other reasons that make the requirement impossible to meet, and its examples include people receiving an old-age pension and people with permanent disabilities. UHR offers adaptations of the test and of the test room for candidates who need support, with certificates submitted at registration.
Medborgarskapsprov is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR), the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) or any other Swedish authority. UHR's citizenship test is based on the study material Sverige i fokus, which UHR publishes with the National Agency for Education; the app's lessons and questions are its own, written from that material, and each question names it as the source.
Questions people also ask
What level of Swedish do you need for citizenship?
The law says sufficient knowledge, and the test to come is described as reading and listening at a functional level. SFI course D, which Migrationsverket accepts, corresponds to roughly B1 on the European scale. The civics test is written at a level UHR compares to the end of compulsory school.
Is Tisus accepted for Swedish citizenship?
Yes. Migrationsverket accepts a passed Tisus result as proof of Swedish until UHR's language test is available, and during the transition also other tests that show Swedish at a functional level with high certainty, such as Folkuniversitetet's Swedex.
