About the citizenship test

The citizenship test, clearly explained.

What is confirmed, what is still unannounced, and where to start studying. A source-linked guide to Sweden’s citizenship test in civics.

Who needs to take it?

The knowledge requirement applies to citizenship applicants aged 16–66. The test is for people who need to show civics knowledge and cannot demonstrate it another accepted way. Migrationsverket decides who may take it; age alone does not determine whether you need the test.

Accepted evidence can include school or adult-education grades. A pass in SFI course D is among the recorded ways of showing Swedish-language knowledge; it does not by itself settle a citizenship application or establish that every civics requirement is met. Ask Migrationsverket which evidence applies in your case.

The new rules took effect on 6 June 2026. There are no transitional rules for decisions after that date, including applications submitted earlier.

What was the August 2026 pilot like?

The first sitting, on 15 August 2026, was a pilot. The civics test uses Swedish, paper and multiple-choice questions: four options, one correct answer. The pilot allowed generous time. Its results are expected in late October 2026.

The next sitting’s question count and time limit have not been announced. There is no published pass mark; UHR sets the pilot’s pass mark after the test. A practice score cannot establish an official pass.

Can I take it in English?

The civics test is in Swedish. Our English, Chinese and Arabic explanations support your preparation; they are not official test-language options. The separate Swedish-language test is being introduced later, in stages. A rollout timetable is not a bookable sitting.

Official source · UHR ↗

Fees and the exemption

Section 6 of SFS 2026:451 sets a fee of 2 000 kr, paid to UHR. The transitional provision makes this apply for the first time to tests held in 2027. Tests held in 2026 are free.

Stateless people who have refugee status or hold a Swedish travel document are exempt under section 6. The amount comes from the regulation; UHR’s information page still says fee details will follow. The test fee is separate from the citizenship application fee and any study service.

SFS 2026:451 · 6 § ↗

How to prepare

Begin with UHR’s free Sverige i fokus PDF and chapter audio. Use our original chapter guides to understand the ideas and Swedish words. Then answer Swedish practice questions and read the explanation, including why other options do not fit.

Practical questions

Can I register without a letter?

Migrationsverket decides who may take the test. Follow its instruction letter and UHR’s registration guidance. BankID or Freja eID is a sign-in method, not a substitute for eligibility.

Official source · UHR ↗

Can I take it again?

UHR allows retakes. Contact Migrationsverket about what a retake means for your case.

Official source · UHR ↗

Is help available for accessibility needs?

UHR provides test accommodations for documented needs. Read its guidance on documentation and how to request an accommodation.

Official source · UHR ↗

Choose a topic

Our eight topic collections connect related chapters. They are study routes, not claims about official question weights.

Democracy & elections →

Connect democratic rights with the institutions and elections that put them into practice. Start with free participation, distinguish parliament from government, then compare voting rules for national and local elections.

Law & rights →

Study legal protections from two directions: how the justice system works and which rights people have. Compare the jobs of police, prosecutors and courts, then apply equality and discrimination concepts to everyday situations.

Swedish history →

Use a timeline to connect industrialisation, popular movements, voting rights and welfare. Look for causes and consequences, including both the expansion of rights and the exclusions that remained.

Welfare & public services →

Follow a need from daily life to the organisation responsible: healthcare, school, care or financial support. Distinguish a region’s tasks from a municipality’s, and public services from benefits with eligibility conditions.

Work & personal finances →

Learn the roles behind a job and a payslip. Move from employers, unions and collective agreements to household budgeting, tax and borrowing. Compare similar terms before trying a workplace scenario.

Everyday life in Sweden →

Apply civics to ordinary choices: finding healthcare, understanding a celebration or spending time in nature. These questions bring together public services, customs and legal responsibilities without assuming everyone lives the same way.

Sweden & the wider world →

Start with Sweden’s landscape and resources, then widen the view to international cooperation. Distinguish Nordic cooperation, the EU, the UN and NATO by what each organisation does.

Culture, religion & media →

Explore how people share information, beliefs and traditions in a diverse society. Keep the state’s responsibilities separate from individual choices, and practise checking a media claim as carefully as you learn a new custom.

Put the ideas into practice

Use a wrong answer to find what to revisit. A practice result is not an official pass assessment.

Original study support by QuickSwedish. We are independent of UHR and Migrationsverket. The official book and test are in Swedish.