Who has to take the citizenship test?

Many people wonder whether they have to take the citizenship test. The answer is that it depends on whether you can show your knowledge in some other way. Here we explain who is to take the test and how the Swedish Migration Agency and UHR share responsibility.

The knowledge requirement applies from age 16 to 66

According to the Swedish Migration Agency, you must have knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society to be able to become a Swedish citizen, and the requirement applies to you if you are between 16 and 66. Stateless people born in Sweden who are under 21, and Nordic citizens who have given notification of Swedish citizenship, are exempt from the knowledge requirements. If you have a disability or other reasons that mean you cannot meet the requirements, you can be exempted.

The test is an alternative to other qualifications

UHR writes that the test is to be taken by people who need to meet the requirement and who cannot show the knowledge in another way. So you can avoid the test if you have approved qualifications. For knowledge of Swedish society, this includes, among other things, a pass grade in civics (samhällskunskap) or basic social studies subjects from year 9, upper secondary school, folk high school at upper secondary level or Komvux.

The Swedish Migration Agency decides

UHR stresses that it is the Swedish Migration Agency that decides who may take the test. You can only register if you have received a referral letter (anvisningsbrev) from the Swedish Migration Agency. If you wonder whether your grades are sufficient, you should contact the Swedish Migration Agency, not UHR. The Swedish Migration Agency writes that it is responsible for examining applications and for referring applicants to the test.

The test in Swedish has not started

The Swedish Migration Agency writes that the citizenship test in Swedish may be postponed. The requirement of knowledge of Swedish remains, but for now you can show your knowledge in other ways, for example with a pass grade in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from Komvux, a grade in the highest course in Swedish for immigrants (sfi) or a result on Tisus. During the transitional period, another knowledge test in Swedish that shows knowledge at a functional level with a high degree of certainty is also accepted, for example Swedex. The Swedish Migration Agency writes that from 31 December 2026 it will no longer be possible to take the Swedex test.

What to do if you are unsure

Read the Swedish Migration Agency's page on citizenship for adults and contact the Swedish Migration Agency with questions about your case. You can put questions about the test itself to UHR. You can prepare right now by reading the educational material. See our page on registration for the test.