The Swedish Citizenship Test for EU Citizens

How the Citizenship Test Works in Practice

The citizenship test is a national knowledge test about Swedish society developed by Universitets- och högskolerådet (UHR, the Swedish Council for Higher Education) on behalf of the government. The test is part of the new rules for Swedish citizenship that will come into force on June 6, 2026. The first test occasion is planned for August 15, 2026, in Stockholm, with more locations opening gradually.

According to UHR, the test consists of approximately 60 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Each question has four answer options, with exactly one correct answer. The test is taken in Swedish, on paper, in a supervised venue. You are not allowed to bring a mobile phone, dictionary, or notes. There are no negative marks, so it is always worthwhile to answer all questions, even if you are unsure.

Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency) is the authority that processes your citizenship application. Once your application is complete, you will receive an assignment letter indicating when and where you should take the test. You cannot freely choose the time or location yourself – the assignment comes from Migrationsverket in collaboration with UHR's testing system.

After the test, you will be informed whether you passed or not. If you fail, the proposal states you can retake the test at the next ordinary opportunity. A failed test does not mean your citizenship application is immediately rejected – Migrationsverket always makes an overall assessment, which also includes residency requirements, orderly conduct, and financial self-sufficiency requirements.

Residency Requirements and EU Rules

Under the new rules, you generally need to have been resident in Sweden for eight years to apply for Swedish citizenship. For EU citizens, there may be certain relaxations if cohabiting with a Swedish citizen, but the basic rule is eight years.

Your residency period is counted from the day you are registered as resident in Sweden. Short periods abroad usually do not affect this if you have maintained your civil registration (folkbokföring) and a strong connection to Sweden.

EU citizenship does not automatically grant exemption from the citizenship test – the knowledge requirement applies equally to all adult applicants.

13 Knowledge Areas from "Sverige i fokus"

The content of the test is based on UHR's official educational material, "Sverige i fokus" (Sweden in Focus). This material is openly available, free of charge, and divided into 13 clear knowledge areas. These cover society broadly – from the rules of democracy to everyday issues about welfare, work, and traditions. These are the same areas on which the questions in the actual test are based, making them your most important checklist.

The 13 areas are: The Country of Sweden, Sweden's Modern History, How Sweden is Governed, Sweden's Democratic System, Political Elections and Parties, Law and Justice, Human Rights, The Role of Media, Secular State and Multi-religious Country, Sweden and the World, The Welfare Society, The Labour Market and Personal Finances, and Traditions and Holidays. Each area contains both fact-based questions and questions that test your understanding of how society is interconnected.

At Medborgarprovet.com, we have built a dedicated module for each of these 13 areas. You can choose to first scan which area you are weakest in and then practice specifically, or take a complete practice test with mixed questions from all areas – just like in the real test.

A good benchmark is to allocate at least a few hours per knowledge area, with extra focus on Law and Justice, How Sweden is Governed, and The Welfare Society. These areas are often perceived as the most extensive as they contain many institutions, concepts, and historical dates.

How to Prepare as an EU Citizen

If you already speak and read Swedish well, you have a clear advantage. Focus your training on specific Swedish institutions: the Riksdagen (Parliament), the Government, municipalities (kommun), regions, Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency), Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency), Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency), and Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish Public Employment Service).

Many EU citizens underestimate how much cultural and historical knowledge is tested. Traditions (Midsummer, Christmas, Walpurgis Night), Sweden's modern history, and the democratic system are areas where you may need to spend extra time.

Use Medborgarprovet.com's module exercises to systematically go through all 13 knowledge areas. You can start for free and upgrade to Premium (299 SEK) for full access.

How to Prepare with Medborgarprovet.com

Medborgarprovet.com is a private, independent practice service in Swedish. We are not an authority and have no connection to UHR, Migrationsverket, or the government. Our task is to make your preparation as simple, structured, and stress-free as possible so that you can enter test day with confidence.

We recommend a simple three-week plan: in week 1, focus on skimming all 13 module guides and taking short diagnostic tests. In week 2, train intensively on the modules where you scored lowest, with active repetition every day. In week 3, take at least three complete practice tests under timed conditions to get used to the pace of 60 questions in 90 minutes.

You can start for free: create an account and try our open practice questions immediately. If you want full access to the entire question bank, all module exercises, and complete test simulations, Premium costs 299 SEK as a one-time fee – no subscription, no binding period. The same price applies regardless of where you live in Sweden.

After each completed practice test, you will receive a detailed results view showing which knowledge areas you master and which need more practice. Your history is saved so you can track your progress over time and see when you are ready for the actual test.

Dual Citizenship and the EU

Sweden allows dual citizenship. This means you can retain your EU citizenship when you become a Swedish citizen. However, check the rules in your country of origin – some EU countries do not permit dual citizenship.

As a Swedish citizen, you gain the right to vote in Swedish parliamentary elections (as an EU citizen, you already have the right to vote in EU elections and municipal elections after a certain period). You also receive a Swedish passport and full consular support.

For details on application, fees, and specific relaxations – always check migrationsverket.se.

Official Sources and Next Steps

For official information on applications, waiting times, fees, and requirements, you should always consult Migrationsverket (migrationsverket.se). For details on the test itself – content, times, test locations, and rules for retests – UHR (uhr.se) is the correct source. The government publishes propositions and assignments on regeringen.se, which is good to monitor if you want to follow how the rules develop.

Your next steps typically are: 1) Check that you meet the eight-year residency requirement, 2) read UHR's "Sverige i fokus" overview, 3) create a free account here and take a diagnostic test to see where you stand, 4) set up a weekly plan and stick to it, 5) take practice tests under timed conditions in the final week before the actual test.

Remember that the citizenship test is just one of several components in the citizenship application. Financial self-sufficiency, orderly conduct, and identity requirements are also assessed by Migrationsverket. You can start practicing even before you submit your application – the earlier you start, the calmer the final push will be.