Resitting the Swedish Citizenship Test – Rules and Tips

When can you resit the test?

According to UHR's (the Swedish Council for Higher Education) plans, the citizenship test will be offered several times a year, starting on 15 August 2026 in Stockholm, with more locations and dates gradually added. This means you will rarely have to wait longer than a few months between tests.

Once you have failed, you will receive information about the next possible test opportunity. Registration is done via UHR's system or as directed by Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency). Monitor uhr.se for an updated test calendar.

Currently, there is no public limit to how many times you can retake the test. However, practically speaking, it's wise to put in proper training between each attempt so you don't get stuck in a long series of failed tests.

How the citizenship test works in practice

The citizenship test is a national knowledge test about Swedish society, developed by the Universitets- och högskolerådet (UHR – the Swedish Council for Higher Education) on behalf of the government. The test is part of the new regulations for Swedish citizenship that will come into force on 6 June 2026. The first test date is scheduled for 15 August 2026 in Stockholm, and more locations will be opened 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, where exactly one is correct. The test is written in Swedish and on paper in a supervised room. You are not allowed to bring a mobile phone, dictionary, or notes. There are no negative marks, so it always pays to answer all questions even if you are unsure.

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

After the test, you will be informed whether you passed or not. If you fail, you can, according to the proposal, retake the test at the next regular opportunity. A failed test does not mean that your citizenship application will be rejected immediately – Migrationsverket always makes an overall assessment that also includes residency requirements, a respectable way of life, and self-sufficiency requirements.

Registration and fees for resits

Registration for a resit is done via UHR's system. Depending on how your application is linked to Migrationsverket, you may receive an automatic notification or book a new time yourself. Always read the letter you received after the failed test carefully – it will outline the steps that apply to you.

Any test fees are determined by the government and UHR. Always check uhr.se for the latest information. The cost for Medborgarprovet.com's Premium (299 SEK) remains unchanged even if you purchase it after a failed test – you do not need to pay again for the same account.

If you provided an email for notifications during your application, you will normally receive reminders before the next test opportunity.

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). The material is open, free of charge, and divided into 13 clear knowledge areas. These cover society broadly – from the rules of democracy to everyday issues of 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 Outside World, The Welfare Society, The Labour Market and Personal Finance, and Traditions and Holidays. Each area contains both fact-based questions and questions that test your understanding of how society functions.

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

A good benchmark is to set aside 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 comprehensive because they contain many institutions, concepts, and dates.

How to use the time between tests

First, analyse the results from your failed test. Which two knowledge areas dragged your average down the most? That's where you should focus the majority of your training.

Create a clear weekly plan: 3–4 shorter sessions (20–30 minutes) on weekdays and one longer session (60–90 minutes) on the weekend. Use the longer sessions for complete practice tests under time pressure.

The last week before the resit: stop learning new material. Focus on revision and taking at least three complete practice tests. The goal is to be well-rested and confident with the test format – not to cram more facts at the last minute.

How to prepare with Medborgarprovet.com

Medborgarprovet.com is a private, independent practice service in Swedish. We are not a government agency and have no affiliation with UHR, Migrationsverket, or the government. Our mission is to make your preparation as easy, structured, and stress-free as possible so you can approach test day with confidence.

We recommend a simple three-week plan: week 1, focus on skimming all 13 module guides and taking short diagnostic tests. Week 2, intensely practice the modules where you scored lowest, with active repetition every day. Week 3, take at least three complete practice tests under time pressure 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 commitment period. The same price applies regardless of where you live in Sweden.

After each completed practice test, you 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.

Common mistakes before a resit

The most common mistake is not changing strategy. If you failed and then prepare in exactly the same way, there is a high risk you will fail again. Change your method: spend more time on weak areas, change practice tools if needed, and take more complete tests.

Another common mistake is passive reading. Active training – answering questions, guessing, checking answers, and explaining in your own words – yields much better results than just reading through a module text multiple times.

Finally: don't postpone the resit for too long. The shorter the time between tests, the fresher your knowledge will be.

Official sources and next steps

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

Your next steps are generally: 1) Check that you meet the eight-year residency requirement, 2) read through 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 time pressure the last week before the actual test.

Remember that the citizenship test is just one of several parts of the citizenship application. Self-sufficiency requirements, a respectable way of life, and identity requirements are also assessed by Migrationsverket. You can start preparing even before submitting your application – the earlier you start, the calmer the final sprint will be.