A Swedish government inquiry has proposed increasing the wait time for foreigners to apply for Swedish citizenship, recommending that the residency requirement be extended from five to eight years.
The proposal, presented by Judge Kirsi Laakso Utvik, is, according to migration minister, Johan Forssell, part of an effort to tighten citizenship rules and raise the status of Swedish citizenship.
The new inquiry, which was presented on Tuesday, suggests that the length of stay required for standard applicants be increased to eight years, with a maximum wait of ten years for the most extreme cases, such as those who cannot prove their identity.
Minister for migration Johan Forssell, who is backing the proposal, emphasised that the stricter rules are necessary to ensure that citizenship holds more value and is something to be earned.
– You should feel proud to be a Swedish citizen, Forssell said, adding:
– Being a citizen should mean something, it should be something to strive for, it should be proof that you work and contribute to society. Something you simply deserve.
The proposed changes also include a self-sufficiency requirement, which would mean applicants for citizenship cannot have received income support for more than six months during the three years leading up to their application. Forssell said:
– The time when Swedish citizenship was awarded almost unconditionally is definitely over.
Another significant proposal from the inquiry is a stricter requirement for an "honest lifestyle," already part of the existing rules. Applicants must have demonstrated responsible behaviour, with an increased emphasis on proving their commitment to Swedish society.
Certain groups will be exempted from these stricter requirements. For example, refugees will have a shorter waiting period of seven years, while stateless individuals will only need to wait five years. The inquiry did not explicitly mention the case of partners of Swedish citizens, who currently must wait three years (or four years for non-EU citizens). Clarification on this will be sought in the coming days.
Laakso Utvik’s report underlines the importance of giving authorities more time to collect information about applicants and assess their eligibility. If the proposal is implemented, those who are unable to prove their identity will face the longest possible wait of ten years. A requirement for Swedish language and cultural knowledge will be added, but the exact level to be required has not been confirmed yet.