Sweden citizenship test: format, requirements and practice quiz
Sweden has an official citizenship knowledge test. This page explains the test format and the naturalisation rules, links to the official source, and offers a free 30-question practice quiz on the content areas it covers. The quiz is not the official exam.
Start practising
Is there an official Sweden citizenship test? Yes. The format, who must take it, exemptions and the official source are summarised below. The quiz on this page is an independent practice quiz on the same content areas and is not linked to any official process.
The Sweden citizenship test and how naturalisation works
Last reviewed: October 22, 2026 · Checked against the official source linked on this page.
Sweden introduced a citizenship test on 6 June 2026, when the new citizenship rules in Prop. 2025/26:175 took effect. Every application not decided before that date is judged under the new rules, with no transitional period. Applicants aged 16 to 66 must now show knowledge of Swedish society and of the Swedish language, on top of a longer residence requirement, a self-support requirement and a stricter “honest living” test.
The Swedish society test: what is known so far
The knowledge test is called the medborgarskapsprov om det svenska samhället (Swedish society test). It is developed and marked by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) under Förordning 2026:451, with the questions written by the University of Gothenburg. The format is paper-based, in Swedish, multiple choice with four options and one correct answer, pitched at roughly year-9 reading level. UHR has not published the number of questions, the time limit or a fixed pass mark: the pass mark is set after each sitting from the results. The first sitting, on 15 August 2026 at Stockholmsmässan in Älvsjö, had 60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes and was treated by UHR as a trial test. Results were released on 22 October 2026: the pass mark was set at 28 out of 40 points (70%), on a proposal from the University of Gothenburg, and about 80% of the 875 candidates passed (The Local, 22 October 2026). Not every question counts towards the score, which is why 60 questions produce a 40-point scale. The next sitting is planned for spring 2027.
The ordinance lists the content areas: historical events, traditions, the welfare state, the labour market and personal finance, climate and environment, democracy and the legal system, rights and freedoms including gender equality and children’s rights, world religions, the role of the media, Sweden’s geography and geopolitics, and the EU and other international cooperation. UHR’s free study booklet Sverige i fokus follows the same chapters, and our practice questions are organised around them.
Fee, referral and alternatives
The test costs SEK 2,000 per sitting for tests held from 2027 (the 2026 sitting was free); stateless applicants with refugee status or a Swedish travel document pay nothing. You cannot book the test yourself: Migrationsverket sends a referral letter and only then can you register at medborgarskapsprovet.uhr.se. If you fail, you can be referred again. A passing grade in samhällskunskap from year 9, upper secondary school, folkhögskola or komvux replaces the test, and adapted conditions are available for people with disabilities.
The Swedish language test
The language requirement is reading and listening at CEFR B1 and speaking and writing at A2. The official medborgarskapsprov i svenska, developed by Stockholm University, is legally due by 1 October 2027, but on 30 September 2026 UHR recommended postponing it and no new date has been set. Until it exists, Migrationsverket accepts other proof: SFI course D, Tisus, Swedex, or a passing grade in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from a Swedish school or komvux.
Residence, income and conduct
The general residence requirement rose from five to eight years. Shorter periods apply to Nordic citizens and former Swedish citizens (two years), stateless people (five), refugees, spouses or partners of Swedish citizens and applicants under 21 (seven). Adults aged 18 to 67 must show income from work or business of at least three income base amounts a year (SEK 250,200 in 2026) and must not have received social assistance for more than six months in the last three years, with exemptions for pensioners and full-time students. Criminal convictions and debts at Kronofogden trigger waiting periods of two to seventeen years. The application fee is SEK 2,900 and, in October 2026, 75% of decided cases had taken up to 52 months.
How to use this page
Use the quiz to check the facts the booklet expects you to know, then read Sverige i fokus in Swedish so the wording is familiar on the day. Treat every number on this page as a snapshot: the pass mark is set after each sitting, so confirm the latest details on uhr.se and migrationsverket.se before you apply. For how Sweden compares with its neighbours, see which countries have a citizenship test and the difference between a citizenship test and a language test.
| Official citizenship test | Yes: Medborgarskapsprov om det svenska samhället (Swedish society test), run by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR). See the format and official source below. |
|---|---|
| How naturalisation works | Paper-based, in Swedish, multiple choice with four options and one correct answer. The first sitting (15 August 2026) had 60 questions in 90 minutes; the pass mark, set afterwards from the results, was 28 of 40 points (70%) and about 80% of 875 candidates passed. Next sitting: spring 2027. You can only sit the test after a referral letter from Migrationsverket. |
| Language requirement | Swedish. Knowledge of Swedish is required (reading and listening at CEFR B1, speaking and writing at A2). A separate Swedish language test (medborgarskapsprov i svenska) is legally due by 1 October 2027 but UHR has recommended postponing it; until it exists, proof such as SFI course D, Tisus, Swedex or a passing school grade in Swedish is accepted. |
| Who it applies to | Applicants for Swedish citizenship aged 16 to 66 whose application was not decided before 6 June 2026 (the rules have no transitional provisions). |
| Exemptions | People under 16 or aged 67 and over; stateless people born in Sweden applying before 21; Nordic citizens using the declaration (anmälan) route; people whose disability or similar circumstances make the requirement unreasonable. A passing grade in samhällskunskap from year 9, upper secondary school, folkhögskola or komvux can replace the test. |
Content areas in the official test (and in this quiz)
- Democracy and electionsThe Riksdag, the four-year election cycle, the 4% threshold, who may vote and referendums.6 questions
- Constitution, state and lawSweden's four fundamental laws, the monarchy, the courts, the age of criminal responsibility and the ombudsmen.7 questions
- Regions, municipalities and welfareThe 21 regions and 290 municipalities, who runs healthcare and schools, and how welfare is financed.4 questions
- Labour market and personal financeCollective agreements, the Swedish model and the social partners.2 questions
- Rights, media and minoritiesNational minorities, children's rights, gender equality, public service media and freedom of expression.3 questions
- History, geography and traditionsKey dates from 1809 to NATO membership, Sweden's geography, and holidays such as National Day and Lucia.8 questions
Sample questions
Answer: 349. The Riksdag has 349 members, elected every four years.
Answer: The Parliamentary Ombudsmen (Justitieombudsmannen, JO). JO, appointed by the Riksdag, supervises courts and public authorities.
Answer: SR, SVT and UR. Sveriges Radio, Sveriges Television and Utbildningsradion are tax-funded and carry no advertising.
How to prepare
Read UHR's official study booklet "Sverige i fokus" (48 pages, free PDF) – the test is written from its chapters, not from the older "Om Sverige" book.
Practise reading questions in Swedish: the test is in Swedish only, and first-time takers said the wording, not the facts, was the hard part.
Learn how the Riksdag, the government, the 21 regions and the 290 municipalities divide responsibilities – this is the core of the democracy and welfare chapters.
Watch uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet for the next test date and Migrationsverket for your referral letter; you cannot book the test without one.
Guides about citizenship in Sweden
- Which Countries Have a Citizenship Test? A Country-by-Country Overview – About 20 countries run a formal citizenship test: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Greece…
- Citizenship Test Changes in 2025 and 2026: What’s New – Recent citizenship test changes: the 2025 US civics test, France's mandatory civic exam, Germany's 2024 reform, and new…
Sweden citizenship FAQ
Does Sweden have a citizenship test?
Yes. Since 6 June 2026, applicants aged 16 to 66 must show knowledge of Swedish society and of the Swedish language (Lag 2001:82 §13 and Förordning 2026:451). The society test is run by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR); the first sitting was on 15 August 2026, about 80% passed, and the next is planned for spring 2027.
How many questions are on the Swedish citizenship test and what is the pass mark?
The first test, on 15 August 2026, had 60 multiple-choice questions with four options each and lasted 90 minutes. The pass mark, set after the sitting, was 28 out of 40 points (70%), and about 80% of the 875 candidates passed. UHR sets the pass mark after each sitting, so it can change.
When is the next Swedish citizenship test?
The next society test is planned for spring 2027. Exact dates are announced by UHR at uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet, and you can only register once Migrationsverket has sent you a referral letter.
How much does the Swedish citizenship test cost?
SEK 2,000 per sitting, payable to UHR, for tests held from 2027 (the August 2026 sitting was free). Stateless applicants with refugee status or a Swedish-issued travel document are exempt from the test fee. The citizenship application itself costs SEK 2,900.
Who is exempt from the Swedish citizenship test?
People under 16 or aged 67 or over, stateless people born in Sweden who apply before 21, Nordic citizens using the declaration route, and people whose disability or similar circumstances make the requirement unreasonable. You can also meet the requirement with a passing grade in samhällskunskap from year 9, upper secondary school, folkhögskola or komvux instead of sitting the test.
Is there a Swedish language test for citizenship?
Not yet. The language requirement (reading and listening at B1, speaking and writing at A2) applies now, but the official language test is legally due by 1 October 2027 and UHR has asked the government to postpone it further. Until then Migrationsverket accepts other proof, such as SFI course D, Tisus, Swedex or a passing grade in Swedish from a Swedish school.
Can I book the Swedish citizenship test myself?
No. Migrationsverket decides who is referred to the test and sends a referral letter (anvisningsbrev). Only then can you register at medborgarskapsprovet.uhr.se. There is no late registration, and the summons arrives about a week before the test.
Is this practice quiz the official Swedish citizenship test?
No. UHR does not publish its question bank and does not endorse any third-party practice test. Our questions follow the official format (four options, one correct) and the content areas listed in Förordning 2026:451 and UHR's booklet Sverige i fokus, but they are written independently and do not count towards citizenship.