Sweden has announced stricter citizenship requirements for migrants, emphasizing adherence to the country’s values and laws, British news agency “GB News” reported. The government aims to strengthen rules for acquiring Swedish nationality, citing the need for integration and shared identity.
Proposed changes include extending the residency requirement for citizenship from five to eight years, passing a language test, and demonstrating knowledge of Swedish society and values. Migrants will also need to show they earn an “honest living.”
Migration Minister Johan Forssell stated on social media, “Citizenship must be earned, not handed out unconditionally.” Forssell emphasized the importance of shared principles such as gender equality, the rule of law, and individual freedoms, stating, “If you don’t accept that, Sweden is not the country for you.”
Sweden faced significant challenges integrating migrants after accepting 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015, the highest per capita in the EU. The influx strained housing, schools, and job markets. In 2024, asylum-related residence permits fell to a four-decade low of 6,250, excluding Ukrainian refugees, who are granted asylum under a separate EU policy.
The proposed laws, set to take effect on June 1, 2026, will be reviewed by various authorities before a draft bill is prepared. The government aims to finalize the legislation after consultations.
