The Swedish government has on 20 March 2025 presented a new proposal for stricter income requirements to acquire Swedish citizenship. A memorandum from the Ministry of Justice suggests that those applying for Swedish citizenship must have an annual income equivalent to three income base amounts, which translates to a gross salary of approximately 20,000 SEK per month. As KPMG has reported on in a previous TaxNews, it is also proposed in SOU 2025:1 for the residency requirement in Sweden to apply for Swedish citizenship to be extended to 8 years (currently, the requirement is 5 years). The purpose of this proposal is to enhance work incentives and promote stronger societal integration.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell emphasizes that Swedish citizenship should be something to take pride in and that the stricter requirements aim to ensure that those who become Swedish citizens are established in the labor market. This is part of the government's broader goal to improve integration and reduce societal exclusion.
The government and its coalition partner also agree to submit a proposal for feedback. This proposal suggests that certain types of income, such as income from subsidized employment and activity compensation, should not be considered when calculating a person's annual income to meet the income requirement for Swedish citizenship. After receiving feedback, the government will decide on the proposal.
The legislative change is proposed to take effect on June 1, 2026.
