Sweden Allows Certain Temporary Residence Permit Holders to Apply for Citizenship

• Sweden now permits certain holders of temporary residence permits to apply for citizenship without first obtaining permanent residence status.  

Citizenship Rule Changes  

The Swedish Migration Agency announced that, effective July 12, 2026, certain foreign nationals with temporary residence permits may apply for Swedish citizenship without holding a permanent residence permit.  

The change follows broader reforms under which permanent residence permits will generally no longer be granted.  

Who May Qualify? 

The exemption applies to individuals holding temporary residence permits based on: 

• Long-term resident status in Sweden 
• Refugee status 
• Subsidiary protection status 
• Exceptionally distressing circumstances 
• Certain persistent barriers to deportation 
• Family ties to individuals holding one of the above residence statuses 

Additional Requirements 

Applicants must still: 

• Hold a valid residence permit at the time of application 
• Meet all other citizenship requirements, including identity verification, residence and maintenance requirements 
• Demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of qualifying for a long-term residence permit in the future, unless they have resided in Sweden for at least 10 years and meet all other citizenship requirements 

Background 

The update follows Sweden’s broader citizenship reforms that took effect on June 6, 2026, which introduced stricter citizenship requirements, including longer residence periods, self-sufficiency requirements and requirements related to Swedish language skills, civic knowledge and orderly conduct. 

These rules apply to all citizenship applications that remain pending or were submitted on or after June 6, 2026.  

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