Integration & Establishment in Sweden

The establishment program (etableringsprogrammet)

The etableringsprogrammet is Sweden's main integration program for newly arrived refugees and certain family members. It is run by Arbetsförmedlingen (the Public Employment Service) and normally lasts up to 24 months. The goal is to help participants find a job or start studying as quickly as possible.

During the program, participants follow an individual plan that combines SFI, samhällsorientering, internships (praktik), validation of foreign skills, and active job-seeking. While following the plan they receive etableringsersättning (establishment compensation) from Försäkringskassan.

SFI — Swedish for Immigrants

SFI (Svenska för invandrare) is free Swedish language tuition organised by every kommun. New residents from age 16 with a personnummer have a right to SFI. Tuition is divided into study paths and levels A–D, ending with a national test that maps to roughly an A2/B1 level on the European framework.

SFI is a building block for almost everything else: most validation routes, vocational education (yrkesutbildning), and even citizenship in practice assume a working knowledge of Swedish.

Samhällsorientering — civic orientation

Samhällsorientering is a 100-hour civic orientation course delivered in the participant's own language. It is mandatory for newly arrived refugees and family-reunification migrants covered by the establishment law. Topics cover democracy, the labour market, healthcare, schools, housing, family law, equality, and the rights and obligations of residents — overlapping heavily with the medborgarskapsprovet syllabus.

Validation of foreign credentials

If you studied or worked abroad, several Swedish authorities can validate your qualifications so they can be used here:

• UHR (Swedish Council for Higher Education) — assesses foreign upper-secondary and university degrees.
• Socialstyrelsen — licenses regulated medical professions (doctor, nurse, dentist, midwife, psychologist).
• Skolverket — licenses teachers and preschool teachers.
• Trade-specific bodies validate vocational qualifications such as electricians and welders.

Arbetsförmedlingen can also organise kompletterande utbildning (bridging courses) and skills mapping for participants in the establishment program.

Job-seeking support and workplace introduction

Beyond the establishment program, Arbetsförmedlingen offers job-matching, CV help, internships, and wage subsidies (e.g. nystartsjobb) for employers who hire newly arrived workers. Praktik placements give Swedish workplace experience and references — usually one of the strongest routes into permanent employment.

From asylum to citizenship

The legal pathway typically runs:

• Asylum application with Migrationsverket → decision on protection.
• Temporary residence permit (tillfälligt uppehållstillstånd) — usually 1–3 years.
• Permanent residence (permanent uppehållstillstånd) — granted on continued grounds and integration requirements.
• Citizenship — typically after a certain number of years of habitual residence, with conduct, identity, and (from 6 June 2026) a civics test (medborgarskapsprovet) requirement; a separate language test is planned from October 2027 at the earliest.

Length-of-stay requirements differ for refugees, family migrants, EU citizens, and Nordic citizens — always check Migrationsverket for the current rules.

Civic participation and anti-discrimination

Integration is two-way. New residents are encouraged to join civil society — sports clubs, study circles (studiecirklar), volunteer work, and parent associations. At the same time, the Discrimination Act protects everyone from discrimination during integration, including in housing, work, and education. The Equality Ombudsman (DO) handles complaints.

What else is on the test?

Integration & Establishment is just one of 20 topic areas covered on the medborgarskapsprovet. The other 19 cover democracy, laws, history, healthcare, education, work, taxes, housing, geography, and Swedish values. See the full topic list →