Last Friday the Swedish government announced in an article published in Dagens Nyheter newspaper, that "It will become more difficult to become a Swedish citizen".
The government has already launched an inquiry into stricter citizenship laws.
Proposed changes include a longer residency period to qualify for citizenship (up to eight years), stricter language and civic tests, and proof of financial self-sufficiency, as well as leading an "honorable" way of life.
However, Friday's low-key announcement outlined plans to delay decisions on existing applications at Migrationsverket (Migration Agency). The goal is to make sure as many people as possible are assessed under the new, stricter rules.
But Joakim Nergelius, a professor of constitutional law at Örebro University, told Radio Sweden:
– The government’s ability to influence an independent authority’s decisions before the law is changed is very, very limited.
Much is being said about the proposed changes to Swedish citizenship laws, so let’s clarify what has been confirmed and what remains uncertain.
What we know:
- Changes to citizenship rules are part of the Tidö agreement, supported by the right-wing bloc majority in the Swedish parliament. These include increasing residency requirements to eight years, self-sufficiency rules, and language/citizenship tests.
- An inquiry is underway to outline the details, such as implementing the new measures and updating primary laws. The final report is due by January 15, 2025.
- As the government wrote on Friday, measures are planned to slow citizenship approvals before new laws are in place. The Sweden Democrats pushed for a moratorium, but this was scaled back. Migration minister Johan Forssell confirmed work is ongoing to tighten citizenship rules.
Can the government slow applications?
It’s uncertain. As Joakim Nergelius said, it's very difficult for a government to make changes before the law is changed - public authorities in Sweden have a high degree of independence from central government, so laws governing state authorities limit direct government control. A “go slow” could, however, involve secondary legislation, such as stricter security checks on applications.
Should you worry?
If you've applied and are waiting to hear back, or are planning to apply soon, be aware that delays are likely, especially for non-EU applicants. Most issues with citizenship approvals arise for those from non-EU countries. Conversely, if you're from an EU country you could find your application handled more quickly. But this is all, obviously, speculation.
Norran English will do our best to update the situation.