Time of residence for citizenship: eight years

The time of residence is the time you must have lived in Sweden to be able to become a Swedish citizen. Since 6 June 2026 the main rule is eight years. Here we go through the rules for adults, the exceptions and how the Swedish Migration Agency counts the time.

What residence means

The Swedish Migration Agency explains that you must have lived in Sweden continuously for a certain time and had your residence here. Residence means that you are resident in Sweden and intend to stay here.

The main rule: eight years

The main rule is that you must have been resident in Sweden continuously for at least eight years. Before 6 June 2026 the requirement was five years. The rules were introduced without transitional provisions, so they also apply to applications that had already been submitted.

A shorter period for some groups

Nordic citizens must have been resident in Sweden for at least two years. Someone who has previously held Swedish citizenship also needs two years. Someone who is married to, a registered partner of or a cohabiting partner (sambo) of a Swedish citizen must have been resident in Sweden for at least seven years and have lived together with the partner for the past five years. Someone who is under 21 when the application is made needs seven years. A stateless person needs five years, and a person with a refugee status declaration needs seven years.

How the time is counted

In most cases your time is counted from the residence permit that formed the basis for your permanent residence permit. If you had a permanent residence permit or another residence-based permit when you entered the country, you may count the time from the day you came to Sweden. Otherwise the time is counted from the day you submitted your application for a residence permit for settlement. Temporary permits that are not residence-based, for example for visits, studies or au pair work, do not count.

Travel and stays abroad

Shorter trips abroad, such as holidays, make no difference. But if you have been abroad for more than six weeks during a year, the whole time you have been outside Sweden is deducted from the time of residence. If you move to another country and settle there, your time of residence in Sweden ends, and you can start counting a new one from the day you move back.

False identity

If you have lived in Sweden under a false identity, you may not count the time with an incorrect identity as time of residence. See also our overview of the requirements for citizenship.