Way of life and waiting periods for citizenship

To become a Swedish citizen you must have had, and be expected to have, an orderly and honest way of life. The requirements were tightened on 6 June 2026. Here we explain what the Swedish Migration Agency checks and how the waiting periods after crime and debts work.

What is checked

The Swedish Migration Agency requests information from other authorities to check whether you have debts or have committed crimes in Sweden. The information is obtained from the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the Police Authority and the Security Service (Säpo). The Swedish Migration Agency also checks whether you are registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS).

Debts at the Swedish Enforcement Authority

Your application can be refused if you have not paid taxes, fines or other charges, or if you have not paid maintenance. Debts to private companies that have been passed on to the Swedish Enforcement Authority can also mean that you are not allowed to become a Swedish citizen. Even if you have paid your debts, it usually has to be two years before you can become a citizen, so that you show that you can remain free of debt. In some cases it can matter how the debts arose, for example if you have been subjected to economic violence in a close relationship.

Waiting period after a crime

If you have committed a crime, a certain time, called a waiting period, has to pass before you can apply. The waiting period is usually counted from the crime, but if you have received a long prison sentence, the time only starts to count once the sentence has been served. Before you can become a citizen, a prison sentence must have been served, the probation period after conditional release must have ended and fines must have been paid.

The Swedish Migration Agency's guidelines

Each application is assessed individually. As a guideline, the Swedish Migration Agency states, among other things, at least two years after the crime for day fines of 30 or more, at least three years for 60 day fines, at least four years for 100 day fines and at least four years after a suspended sentence. For a prison sentence of one month, the waiting period is at least seven years after the crime, for one year at least ten years, and for two years at least eleven years after the sentence has been served. If you have committed crimes more than once, the waiting period can be longer than in the table.

Crime and debts abroad

Crimes that you have been convicted of in another country can also mean that you have to wait, if the act is also a crime under Swedish law. Circumstances abroad that you do not take care of, for example unpaid debts, can also affect the assessment.

What you can do

Check your debts at the Swedish Enforcement Authority and pay what you owe before you apply. If you are unsure how your details affect an application, you should contact the Swedish Migration Agency. See also our overview of the requirements.