The support requirement for citizenship

One of the new requirements for Swedish citizenship is that you must be able to support yourself. The requirement was introduced on 6 June 2026. Here we go through who it applies to, how large an income is required and which incomes count, according to the Swedish Migration Agency.

Who the requirement applies to

The support requirement applies to you if you are between 18 and 67 and are applying for Swedish citizenship. The Swedish Migration Agency writes that the requirement does not apply to children.

How large an income is required

Your annual salary or income from business activity must be at least three income base amounts before tax. For 2026 that is SEK 250,200. This means your monthly income before tax must be at least SEK 20,850. The amount is linked to the income base amount and can therefore change from year to year.

Which incomes count

You must have lasting income from employment or business activity, and it must be your own income. Capital or income from capital cannot be used. Income from subsidised employment, such as special employment support (särskilt anställningsstöd), new-start jobs (nystartsjobb) or establishment jobs (etableringsjobb), does not count. Nor do unemployment insurance fund benefit (A-kassa), activity support (aktivitetsstöd), development allowance (utvecklingsersättning) or establishment allowance (etableringsersättning).

Income support during the past three years

You must not, during the last three years before the decision on Swedish citizenship, have received income support (försörjningsstöd) for a period longer than six months. This applies even if you otherwise have a sufficient income.

Who is exempt

The requirement does not apply if you are entitled to income-based old-age pension, guarantee pension or maintenance support for older people (äldreförsörjningsstöd). It also does not apply if you study full time with approved results at a Swedish university or university college in a programme leading to a degree, if you study full time in a programme leading to a higher vocational education diploma (yrkeshögskoleexamen) or advanced higher vocational education diploma (kvalificerad yrkeshögskoleexamen), or if you study at upper secondary school. There is also an exception where it cannot reasonably be required that you meet the requirement, for example because of a disability.

What you can do

Work out whether your income reaches the amount and check whether any exception applies to you. Questions about your own case go to the Swedish Migration Agency. See also our overview of the requirements for Swedish citizenship.