Citizenship for children: requirements and application

You can apply for Swedish citizenship for a child under 18 who does not receive it automatically. It is the child's guardian who applies, and the requirements differ from those for adults. Here we go through what the Swedish Migration Agency writes about the requirements, the time of residence, the identity check, the fee and the waiting time, as at 17 October 2026.

Who applies and who has to consent

According to the Swedish Migration Agency, it is the child's guardian who must make the application. If the child has several guardians, all of them must approve the application. A child who has turned 12 must give their own consent to becoming a Swedish citizen. The same page also applies to you if you are a Swedish citizen adopting a child who has turned 12. Children who receive citizenship automatically, for example at birth, do not need to apply. We explain that in the article on automatic citizenship for children.

Requirements that must be met before you apply

The child must have a permanent residence permit, residence status, a right of residence or a residence card. There are exceptions. Children who are citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway do not need a permanent residence permit. The exception also applies to children with certain temporary permits, for example as a refugee, an alternative protection person or a subsidiary protection person, because of exceptionally distressing circumstances, or through a connection to a person with one of those permits. The exception also covers children with long-term resident status and children with a permit because of certain persistent impediments to enforcement of expulsion. The child must then have well-founded prospects of being granted a long-term residence permit. If the child has had their residence in Sweden for at least ten years and meets the other requirements, the requirement of well-founded prospects does not apply. The Swedish Migration Agency always makes an individual assessment.

The time of residence for children

The child must have lived in Sweden continuously for a certain time, that is, have had their residence here. Residence means that you are resident in Sweden and intend to stay. The main rule is at least three years. If the child is stateless and under 15, two years is enough. If the child has turned 15, they must have lived in Sweden for five years. A child who is a Nordic citizen must have lived in Sweden for two years, regardless of age. Short trips, for example holidays, do not affect the time of residence. But if the child has been abroad for more than six weeks in a year, all of that time is deducted. Time with a temporary permit that is not residence-based, for example for a visit, does not count. The time of residence for adults is different, see time of residence: eight years and the exceptions.

Identity and visit to the Swedish Migration Agency

The child must be able to prove their identity with an original identity document, for example a passport or an identity card from their home country. The document must be issued by a competent authority in the child's home country and have a photo. It can prove identity even if its period of validity has expired. You should not send in the document with the application, the Swedish Migration Agency will contact you if they need it. The child must also visit the Swedish Migration Agency in person for an identity check. As the guardian, you will receive a letter when it is time to book, and you should only book once you have received the letter. Visits can be booked in Malmö, Gothenburg, Norrköping, Sundbyberg, Sundsvall and Boden. If the child has no identity document, the Swedish Migration Agency can make an exception in some cases, for example if the child's identity is judged to be credible after the child has lived in Sweden without interruption for at least seven years under the same identity.

Further requirements from age 15 and 16

If the child has turned 15, they must have lived an orderly and honest life. The Swedish Migration Agency obtains information from the Police Authority and the Security Service (Säpo) and also checks the Schengen Information System. If the child has committed a crime, a waiting period (karenstid) applies, which depends on the sentence. If the child has turned 16, they must show knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society, for example with passing grades in Swedish and social studies. If the child cannot show a certificate in social studies, the citizenship test becomes relevant, and the child is then offered the test once the Swedish Migration Agency has started processing the case. How the test is built is explained on our page about the citizenship test. On 30 September 2026 the Swedish Migration Agency wrote that the new Swedish language test may be introduced later than planned and that knowledge can be shown in other ways for the time being.

How the application is made

The application is preferably made in the Swedish Migration Agency's e-service. Both guardians must sign with an e-ID, and children who have turned 12 must also sign with an e-ID. If the child has turned 12 but has no e-ID, you need to apply using a form. You also need a valid email address and a Visa or Mastercard card for the fee. If you cannot use the e-service, you fill in the form Application for Swedish citizenship for children under 18 (317011) and send it to the Swedish Migration Agency, Medborgarskapsenheten (the Citizenship Unit), 601 70 Norrköping. If the child is an EU or EEA citizen, or a family member of one, you must attach the documents the Swedish Migration Agency specifies, for example proof of employment or a certificate that the family can support itself.

Fee and waiting time

The fee for applying for citizenship for a child is SEK 475. You do not get the fee back if the child is refused. The Swedish Migration Agency cannot say exactly how long you will have to wait. According to the statistics shown on 17 October 2026, 75 percent of recently decided cases for children had been decided within 10 months. The statistics are based on cases decided in the last twelve months and are no guarantee for your case. For adults, the fee and the waiting time are different, see what it costs and processing time.

What we do not know

We have not checked every exception and every special rule, for example for stateless children born in Sweden or children born abroad before 1 April 2015 with a Swedish father. The Swedish Migration Agency has its own pages for them. Do not decide your own situation based on this summary, but read the Swedish Migration Agency's pages and ask the authority if you are unsure. This text is not legal advice.

Citizenship for children: how to apply