Swedish Citizenship Test (medborgarskapsprovet)

What is the Swedish citizenship test?

The Swedish citizenship test is a mandatory civics test introduced as part of the 2026 citizenship reform. The Riksdag passed the reform and the new rules took effect on 6 June 2026, with no transitional provisions. This means that every citizenship application decided after this date is assessed under the new requirements — including applications that were submitted earlier.

The test is designed to make sure that new Swedish citizens have a basic understanding of Swedish society: democracy, the law, rights and obligations, history, culture and how the welfare system works. It is not a language test — a separate Swedish language test covering reading and listening comprehension will be introduced no earlier than October 2027.

The entire test is based on the official study book Sverige i fokus, produced by UHR together with the Swedish National Agency for Education on behalf of the government. That means every question on the test comes from the content of this book. If something is not in Sverige i fokus, it will not appear on the test either.

The Swedish citizenship test is a key step in applying for Swedish citizenship through the Swedish Migration Agency. Anyone who does not meet the knowledge requirement — either by passing the test or through an exemption — cannot be granted citizenship under the new law.

When is the Swedish citizenship test?

The first Swedish citizenship test is held on Saturday 15 August 2026. It is a pilot test in Stockholm where the questions are used live for the first time — what is known as a trial run. Only people who have received an invitation from the Swedish Migration Agency can register for this first test date.

After the pilot test in August, the plan is for the Swedish citizenship test to be held several times a year, at different test locations across Sweden. UHR has experience administering large-scale tests such as the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (Högskoleprovet), and the citizenship test is expected to follow a similar model with fixed test dates, registration periods and test venues in several cities.

Exact dates for 2027 onward have not yet been officially announced. Keep an eye on uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet for published test dates and registration periods.

Who has to take the Swedish citizenship test?

The pilot test on 15 August 2026 is open only to people who have received a letter from the Swedish Migration Agency inviting them to take part. In other words, it is the Migration Agency — not UHR — that decides who takes the test in August 2026. Invitations go to applicants whose citizenship case is close to a decision.

From 6 June 2026, the new rules in the Citizenship Act came into force, introducing a requirement to have approved knowledge of Swedish society in order to become a Swedish citizen. According to Government Bill 2025/26:175, there are proposed exemptions from the knowledge requirements for people who, because of disabilities or other personal circumstances, are unable to meet them.

The exact age limits and other exemptions applied in practice — for example for people with an approved Swedish education or SFI at a certain level — are determined by UHR and the Swedish Migration Agency. Current information is available at uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet and migrationsverket.se. You can also read our About the test page for a summary.

How does the test work?

The August 2026 test is a pilot round in which the questions are used live for the first time. UHR has described it as a trial run, the purpose of which is partly to calibrate the difficulty of the questions and how the pass mark should be set ahead of the regular test rounds to come.

Number of questions and time limit

According to UHR, the test has approximately 60 questions in a multiple-choice format with four answer options (one correct), and the actual test time is 90 minutes (with extra time for a survey). The test is written on paper, in Swedish. Further details are published on an ongoing basis at uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet.

Where is the test held?

The pilot test on 15 August 2026 is held in Stockholm, according to UHR. How many test sessions and which test locations will be offered after the pilot round has not been officially decided — UHR has been tasked with making sure the tests become available across the country, but further details have not been published at the time of writing.

What does it take to pass?

The pass mark has not yet been officially set by UHR. For reference: in comparable civics tests in other countries, the pass mark is often around 70–80 percent correct, but the Swedish threshold will be calibrated after the August 2026 pilot test. What we do know for certain is that the requirement is "sufficient knowledge of Swedish society" according to the bill, but the exact score threshold will be published by UHR.

What happens if you don't pass the test?

Anyone who does not pass the Swedish citizenship test can retake it at a later test session. The Swedish Migration Agency cannot grant citizenship until the knowledge requirement is met — either through a passing test result or through one of the exemptions provided by law. The exact rules on the number of attempts and any waiting periods will be published by UHR and the Swedish Migration Agency.

What does the Swedish citizenship test cover? (all the chapters in Sverige i fokus)

The test is based on Sverige i fokus — the official educational material from UHR and the Swedish National Agency for Education. The material is divided into the following chapters, which cover basic knowledge of Swedish society:

1. The country of Sweden — geography, climate and nature, how Sweden is divided, population, natural resources, climate change.
2. Sweden's democratic system — democracy as rule by the people, threats to democracy.
3. How Sweden is governed — how the country is governed at different levels, Sweden's system of government.
4. Political elections and parties — elections and voting, political parties.
5. Law and justice — the constitutional laws, the justice system.
6. The role of the media — free media, different types of media, source criticism.
7. Human rights — human rights apply to everyone, gender equality, children's rights, the rights of minorities, the work against discrimination.
8. The labour market and personal finances — how the labour market works, the labour market parties, laws and rules in the labour market, personal finances in Sweden.
9. The welfare society — taxes that fund Sweden's welfare; the different responsibilities of the state, the regions and the municipalities.
10. Sweden's modern history — from an agricultural society to an industrial society, Sweden's path to democracy, modernisation and the "people's home", the boom years, the information society and globalisation.
11. Sweden and the wider world — Nordic and European cooperation, global cooperation, defence and security policy.
12. A secular state and a multi-religious country — freedom of religion, the role of religion.
13. Traditions and holidays — some traditional celebrations throughout the year.

The chapter list above is taken directly from UHR's official table of contents in the Sverige i fokus PDF. For a deeper walkthrough of the material, see our guide to Sverige i fokus.

How do you register for the Swedish citizenship test?

Registration for the Swedish citizenship test is handled by UHR. According to UHR, the following applies for the pilot test on 15 August 2026:

1. The letter from the Swedish Migration Agency is the prerequisite. "You can only register if you have received a letter from the Swedish Migration Agency," UHR writes. So it is the Migration Agency that first decides who is called to the pilot test.
2. Registration opens in early June 2026. "Registration for the citizenship test opens in early June" — the exact date will be published by UHR shortly.
3. The test is free. The pilot test in August 2026 is free of charge.
4. The test location is Stockholm. The pilot test is held in Stockholm. More information about the time and place will be published by UHR.

Current information about registration is always available at uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet/anmalan. For questions about citizenship itself, contact the Swedish Migration Agency; for questions about the test, contact UHR. Always be alert to scam attempts — UHR never requests payment via SMS or unknown links.

What is the best way to study for the Swedish citizenship test?

The smartest way to study for the Swedish citizenship test is to combine two things: read the official book and drill actively with flashcards and practice questions. The research on learning is clear — active recall beats rereading, every time.

Step 1: Read Sverige i fokus from cover to cover

Start by reading all of Sverige i fokus. It isn't very long, and since the entire test is built on this book, it is your single source of truth. Set aside 4–8 weeks depending on how much civics knowledge you already have.

Step 2: Drill each chapter with flashcards

After you've read each chapter — drill it. The Sverige i fokus app has 1,000+ flashcards covering all 13 chapters. Short study sessions of 10–20 minutes a day work better than long study sessions once a week. Active recall locks facts into long-term memory.

Step 3: Identify your weak areas

Work through sample questions per chapter. See which topics you score lowest on and put extra time there. It's tempting to review what you already know because it feels good — but that isn't what raises your test score.

Step 4: Simulate test day

In the final week, take longer practice tests in one sitting. Set a timer and sit without your phone. This builds the stamina you'll need in the test venue. Sleep, light and environment matter more than people think.

Step 5: Review the basics the evening before

Don't study new material the day before the test. Briefly go through your weakest chapters, get to bed on time, and eat a proper breakfast. Test day is about showing what you already know — not about learning something new.

Frequently asked questions about the Swedish citizenship test (FAQ)

When is the first Swedish citizenship test?

The first Swedish citizenship test takes place on Saturday 15 August 2026. It is a pilot test in Stockholm administered by UHR. After that, the test is planned to run several times a year at multiple test locations.

Who has to take the Swedish citizenship test?

The requirement applies to adult applicants for Swedish citizenship aged 16–66. Exemptions exist for people with an approved Swedish upper-secondary education, an approved SFI level, permanent disabilities, and pensioners (67+). Read more on our About the test page.

What does the Swedish citizenship test cover?

The test is based on the official study book Sverige i fokus, divided into 13 chapters — from the country of Sweden and democracy to human rights, modern history, the secular state and Swedish traditions.

How many questions are on the test?

According to UHR, the test has approximately 60 questions in a multiple-choice format with four answer options (one correct), and the actual test time is 90 minutes (plus extra time for a survey). It is written on paper, in Swedish. The August 2026 test is a trial run.

How much does the Swedish citizenship test cost?

The pilot test on 15 August 2026 is free. Future test fees have not yet been announced by UHR. The general application fee for citizenship at the Swedish Migration Agency is SEK 1,500 — it stays the same regardless of the test.

Can you retake the test if you don't pass?

Yes. There is no limit to how many times you can try, but each attempt is (after the pilot period) likely to carry a fee. You can register for the next test round with UHR and try again.

Test fee

The pilot test on 15 August 2026 is free for all invited participants. This is part of UHR wanting as many people as possible to take part in the trial — that is how the difficulty of the questions and the pass mark are calibrated ahead of future test rounds.

What future test rounds will cost has not yet been officially decided by UHR. UHR has been tasked with analysing, among other things, test sessions, venues, security, fees and exemptions, but at the time of writing (May 2026) it has not published any official price list for subsequent test sessions. Current information is published on an ongoing basis at uhr.se/medborgarskapsprovet.

Be on guard against scam attempts: UHR never requests payment via SMS, unknown email links or third-party services. All registration and any payment is handled through UHR's official registration portal.

Note also that the test fee is separate from the regular application fee for citizenship charged by the Swedish Migration Agency. The current fee for a citizenship application is published at migrationsverket.se.

What happens if you don't pass the Swedish citizenship test?

Not passing the test on the first attempt is not unusual — and it isn't the end. Anyone who does not reach the pass mark can retake the Swedish citizenship test at a later test session. There is no upper limit on how many times you can try, which sets the Swedish citizenship test apart from some other countries' equivalents where the number of attempts is capped.

Nor is there any statutory waiting period between attempts. In practice you can register for the next test round as soon as registration opens, which means the usual wait between attempts is as long as the gap between UHR's test rounds — likely two to four months once the test is in full operation from 2027.

Each new attempt means a new registration and a new test fee. That's why it's worthwhile to assess what didn't work last time before you rebook. Within the 13 chapters of Sverige i fokus, where did you lose the most points? Did you run out of time, or did you misread how the questions were worded? Many people who pass on the second attempt have deliberately changed their study method — from passive reading to active recall with flashcards and full-length tests.

Keep in mind, too, that your citizenship application at the Swedish Migration Agency is not rejected automatically if you don't pass the test — it is put on hold until the knowledge requirement is met or until you show that you qualify for an exemption. So you don't have to start the entire application process over again, but you can't be granted citizenship until you have passed the test.

Swedish citizenship test vs. driving theory test vs. SFI test

Many people confuse the Swedish citizenship test with other Swedish tests — especially the driving theory test and the SFI test. All three are mandatory for different life situations in Sweden, but they test completely different things, are administered by different authorities, and have different requirements. Here is a clear comparison.

The Swedish citizenship test

Administered by UHR. Required for Swedish citizenship under the new rules that came into force on 6 June 2026. It tests basic knowledge of Swedish society — democracy, laws, history, traditions and the welfare system — based on the educational material Sverige i fokus. According to UHR, the test has approximately 60 multiple-choice questions with four answer options (one correct) and a test time of 90 minutes; the pass mark has not yet been officially published by UHR. It is held for the first time on 15 August 2026 in Stockholm.

The driving theory test (the knowledge test)

Administered by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket). Required for a driving licence. It tests traffic rules, vehicle technology, the environment and behaviour in traffic. 70 multiple-choice questions of which 65 count; the pass mark is 52 correct answers. It is a separate test that has nothing to do with citizenship — you don't need to be a citizen to get a driving licence, and you don't need a driving licence to become a citizen.

The SFI test (Swedish for Immigrants)

Administered by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) through municipal adult education. It tests Swedish as a second language — reading, listening, speaking and writing. It is a language test, not a civics test. This is where the biggest confusion lies: a passing SFI result at the right level can grant an exemption from the Swedish citizenship test, but passing the citizenship test does not grant an exemption from SFI.

Quick comparison

In short: the driving theory test assesses you as a driver, SFI assesses you as a language user, and the citizenship test assesses you as a future citizen. The only one of the three that is mandatory for Swedish citizenship is the Swedish citizenship test (or one of the exemptions). Preparing for the right test saves both money and study time.

Study tips for the Swedish citizenship test

Since the Swedish citizenship test has not yet been held at any regular test round, there are no public results or interviews with former test-takers to draw on. The following tips are based on widely accepted principles for effective learning and on UHR's own advice to base your preparation on the educational material Sverige i fokus.

Build a study routine before intensity

20–30 minutes of daily work with the material often gives better long-term results than long study sessions once a week. Active recall (trying to remember without looking) is well established in learning research as more effective than passive rereading.

Take an early practice test to find your weak chapters

Once you've done a first pass through Sverige i fokus, test your knowledge with sample questions per chapter. The chapters where you lose points are the ones that should get the most time going forward. It's tempting to review what you already know; that rarely raises your score.

Explain the material to someone else

Explaining a topic out loud — to a friend, a family member, or aloud to yourself — quickly reveals where your understanding breaks down. The so-called Feynman technique is proven in many educational settings.

Practise under realistic conditions before test day

In the final week, take a couple of longer practice tests without a break, without your phone and against the clock. This builds the stamina needed in a test venue and reduces exam anxiety.

Where do you turn if you have questions?

Three different Swedish authorities have different roles around the Swedish citizenship test, and it's easy to turn to the wrong place. Here is a quick guide on where to go to get answers.

• UHR — the Swedish Council for Higher Education: Everything to do with the test itself — test dates, registration, test fees, test locations, summons, results and rules in the test venue. UHR is the authority that administers the citizenship test and publishes Sverige i fokus.
• The Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket): Questions about SFI and Swedish upper-secondary education — particularly if you think you may be exempt from the test requirement via an approved SFI level or upper-secondary diploma. Skolverket also helped develop the educational material.
• The Swedish Migration Agency: Everything to do with the citizenship application itself — the invitation to the test, the application fee, the assessment of exemptions and the final decision on citizenship. It is the Migration Agency, not UHR, that grants Swedish citizenship.

Rule of thumb: test details → UHR. Exemptions and language levels → Skolverket. Citizenship itself and your case → the Swedish Migration Agency.

Official sources

• UHR — the citizenship test (official test administrator)
• Sverige i fokus — official educational material
• The Swedish Migration Agency (citizenship application and invitation to the test)
• The Riksdag (the Swedish Citizenship Act, 2001:82, as amended in 2026)

This page is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with UHR, the Swedish Migration Agency or the Swedish state. For official information, registration and payment, always go to uhr.se and migrationsverket.se.