Language and culture tests for citizenship
A proposal on introducing a language and culture test for citizenship applications has been working its way through the legislative system since 2021.
The government has tasked Stockholm and Gothenburg universities with putting together the language and civics tests by August 2026. However, it’s by no means certain that the tests will be ready by then, as the universities have said that they don’t have nearly enough time to do so.
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In an official response to the government's proposal, the vice-chancellors of both universities questioned whether this is a task that the universities should be responsible for, as well as warning that the proposed deadline is too soon.
On September 30th, 2025, the Swedish Council for Higher Education, which is coordinating the tests, sent a progress update to the government. It said that Stockholm University judged that the language test could not be ready until 2028, and that Gothenburg University said it would only be able to hold one civics test at the end of 2026.
The government has not yet said how it will adapt to the likely delay.
Other overhauls to citizenship rules
An inquiry in January 2025 proposed a range of changes to citizenship rules, including extending the residency requirement from five to eight years, increasing the “upstanding way of life” requirement and adding a self-sufficiency requirement on top of the language and culture tests mentioned above.
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It also proposed almost doubling the application fee, from 1,500 to 2,900 kronor for adults.
These rules are expected to come into force on June 1st, 2026, and could be applied retroactively – so applicants who have submitted their application for citizenship before this date but who have not received a decision before June 1st could have their applications assessed under the new rules instead of the rules which were in place when they applied.
Work permit salary threshold
The government has agreed to hike the minimum salary for a work permit to 90 percent of the median salary, which will increase the minimum salary from the current level of 29,680 kronor to 33,390 kronor from June 2026.
Note that the median salary is updated once a year, usually around the third week in June. This will effectively raise the salary threshold for work permits again to whatever 90 percent of the median salary is on that date, so it won't remain at 33,390 kronor for long.
Tighten asylum rules to minimum EU level
The Swedish government’s plan to tighten asylum rules to the strictest level allowable under EU law is also scheduled to come into force in 2026 – on June 12th, to be specific.
The inquiry looking into the law called for making it possible to reject asylum applications in more cases than what is currently permitted, as well as allowing the Migration Agency to declare an unfounded asylum application as “clearly unfounded”. This would mean that the applicant has to leave the country, and would also mean, if they choose to appeal, that they are unable to stay in the country while their appeal is being handled.
In addition to this, the inquiry proposes “abolishing the possibility of being granted permanent residency for certain groups”.
You can read more on the inquiry and the groups affected here.
Better migration rules for researchers
In a long-awaited reform for many foreign academics in Sweden, the government is also working on a system of travel visas for foreign researchers, which would allow them to travel in and out of Sweden while they’re waiting for their residence permits to be renewed.
The inquiry proposes that foreign researchers in between permits should be able to apply for a visa to be able to return to Sweden if they have to travel internationally in connection with their research, for example to attend a relevant seminar abroad.
Additionally, it should also be possible for foreign researchers to apply for a visa to visit family abroad. It shouldn’t be possible, argues the inquiry, to grant a visa just for private holidays, but the applicant wouldn’t have to prove that the trip is essential to attend a major family event such as weddings – just visiting family would be reason enough.
Family members of researchers would also be able to receive a similar visa.
That law is currently at the consultation stage, with a scheduled implementation date of March 1st, 2026.
Election
Perhaps the most important factor affecting foreigners in Sweden in 2026 ‒ and everyone else, for that matter ‒ is the election, scheduled for September 13th, 2026.
It's obviously too early to say what the outcome of that election could be, but if the right-wing block are re-elected then it's likely that the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats would demand minister posts and would be able to tighten up Swedish migration policy even further.
If, on the other hand, the left-wing block is elected, it's unlikely that it will repeal any of the migration changes proposed by the current right-wing government.
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