Review of Swedish exceptionalism in nationality law

Development summary

Christian Fernández’s Globalcit post discusses the new, stricter rules for Swedish citizenship that entered into force on 6 June 2026. It reports that the residence period was raised from five to eight years for most applicants, from four to five years for stateless persons and to seven years for refugees, and that Swedish citizenship now carries, for the first time, language and civic-knowledge tests together with stricter requirements of economic self-sufficiency and good character. The post also says that facilitated acquisition by declaration is being phased out and that, because the rules apply immediately, pending applications must meet the new criteria.