Swedish Citizenship

Swedish citizenship laws are based on the principle of descent which means that citizenship is acquired at birth if one parent is a Swedish citizen. Another basic principle is preventing the occurrence of statelessness. The earlier principle of preventing the occurrence of dual citizenship has been abandoned and the law fully accepts dual citizenship.

The Swedish Migration Board is the central government agency primarily dealing with matters concerning Swedish citizenship.

What does Swedish citizenship mean?

Citizenship is a legally binding relationship that arises between a state and an individual (citizen) either automatically at birth or after notification or application.

The most manifest proof of citizenship is a Swedish passport and that, as a citizen of Sweden, an individual has an unconditional right to stay in Sweden. However, the difference between Swedish citizens and foreign citizens residing in Sweden is small.

Foreign citizens who hold a residence permit and are registered as resident in Sweden in principle have the same rights and responsibilities as Swedish citizens. However, there are certain differences. Only Swedish citizens have an absolute right to live and work in Sweden and only Swedish citizens are entitled to vote in parliamentary elections. Nor can foreign citizens be elected to the Riksdag. Furthermore, there are certain jobs, for example in the police force, as a professional soldier and in some protective services, that may only be filled by Swedish citizens.

Different ways of becoming a Swedish citizen

You can become a Swedish citizen by

• birth,
• adoption,
• legitimisation (parent's marriage),
• application (naturalisation), or
• notification (children, young people 18-20 and residents of the Nordic countries).

Swedish Citizenship Act

On 1 July 2001 Sweden acquired a new Citizenship Act. Among other things, the Act means that dual citizenship is possible. Thus, anyone acquiring Swedish citizenship can keep his/her previous citizenship if the law of that country so permits. Swedish citizens who acquire another citizenship can also keep their Swedish citizenship if the other countrys laws so permit. The new law makes it easier for children and young people to become Swedish citizens.