Timeline: from law proposal to first test day

This is a fact-checked overview of how the Swedish citizenship test (medborgarskapsprov) moved from inquiries and government assignments to registration and the first test day. Always check UHR and Migrationsverket for what applies in your own case.

From the first inquiry to a new requirement

Work on knowledge requirements for citizenship goes back to the government inquiry chain. SOU 2021:2 was published in January 2021 and described a proposal for requirements on knowledge of Swedish and civics for Swedish citizenship. The proposal also built on the idea that knowledge could be shown in ways other than through a test.

In January 2025, SOU 2025:1 proposed stricter requirements for Swedish citizenship. The inquiry covered several requirements at the same time, including longer residence, stricter conduct requirements, self-support and more knowledge of Swedish society and culture.

UHR becomes responsible for the test

In February 2025, Universitets- och högskolerådet (UHR), the Swedish Council for Higher Education, was assigned to conduct a pre-study on a citizenship test in Swedish and civics. The assignment gave UHR overall responsibility for developing, administering, maintaining and marking the test.

In February 2026, the assignment was changed. The test is to be introduced in three steps: first a test of basic knowledge of Swedish society, then tests of Swedish reading and listening comprehension, and after that written and oral Swedish. This means the first test day does not cover all language parts.

The Riksdag decides and the rules begin

The government’s proposition on stricter requirements was submitted to the Riksdag in March 2026. The Riksdag made its decision on 29 April 2026. The new rules begin on 6 June 2026, and Migrationsverket states that the rules also apply to applications submitted earlier if they have not been decided before that date.

According to Migrationsverket, the knowledge requirement applies to people aged 16 to 66. A person who can show knowledge through accepted grades or studies may not need to take the test. A person without such documentation may be able to take the Swedish citizenship test (medborgarskapsprov).

From registration to test day

The first test will be held on 15 August 2026. UHR states that registration opens on 8 June and closes no later than 2 July. You can register only if you have received an instruction letter from Migrationsverket, and that letter contains information on how to register.

UHR describes the test as a Swedish-language paper test with about 60 multiple-choice questions. The actual test time is 90 minutes. Each question has four answer alternatives, with one correct answer. The first test is held in Stockholm, and UHR’s test-day page gives Stockholmsmässan as the location.

The test on 15 August 2026 is free of charge according to UHR. The regulation on the citizenship test contains a fee of SEK 2,000, but the transitional provision says that the fee provision first applies to tests conducted in 2027.

How to use the timeline while preparing

• Follow UHR’s pages for registration, test-day information, valid ID and any adaptations.
• Read UHR’s study material Sverige i fokus if you are preparing for the test on Swedish society.
• Check your instruction letter from Migrationsverket before trying to register.
• Be careful with private online practice tests: UHR states that it does not stand behind them or quality-control them.