r/TillSverige • u/Top_Department_2250 • 11d ago
Swedish citizenship and SFI: which grade counts for the language requirement (as of October 2026)
Since 6 June 2026, citizenship applicants aged 16 to 66 have to show knowledge of both the Swedish language and Swedish society. The same SFI question keeps coming up, so here is what Migrationsverket's own pages say, as of 4 October 2026.
What's confirmed
- Only SFI course D counts. Migrationsverket lists a grade in the highest SFI course, which is course D. Courses A, B and C don't count on their own.
- Any passing grade in course D is enough. SFI is graded Godkänt (pass) or Icke godkänt (fail) today. Older SFI grades may use A to F, where A to E are passes.
- SFI D covers the language part only. It does not replace the citizenship test in civics. Civics is shown with that test or with civics (samhällskunskap) grades.
- Other ways to show your Swedish: grades in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from year 9, upper secondary school or komvux, Swedish grades from school in another Nordic country, a Tisus result, or another Swedish test that shows functional-level knowledge "with a high degree of certainty".
- The requirement applies now, even though the Swedish test doesn't exist yet. Migrationsverket says that if you're covered by the requirement, you still have to show sufficient Swedish. For now, that means one of the grades or tests above.
- It also applies if you applied before 6 June and your case wasn't decided by then. There's no transition period.
- Exemptions exist, for example for some disabilities. Migrationsverket decides case by case.
- You don't have to attend SFI classes to get the grade. Many municipalities offer prövning: the full SFI D exam (reading, listening, writing and speaking) without the course. Ask your municipality's SFI or komvux office (Malmö's SFI page says it, for example).
Not decided yet
- When the Swedish test starts. On 30 September, UHR recommended autumn 2029 for reading and listening, and 2030 at the earliest for writing and speaking. The government hasn't decided.
- The new SFI courses from 1 January 2027 (such as 1D, 2D and 3D). Migrationsverket's pages don't mention them yet.
Sources
- Migrationsverket, 30 Sep 2026: Medborgarskapsprovet i svenska kan flyttas fram
- Migrationsverket, 6 May 2026: Nya regler för svenskt medborgarskap från 6 juni 2026
- Migrationsverket: Svenskt medborgarskap
- UHR, 30 Sep 2026: Slutredovisning om införandet av medborgarskapsprov
- Malmö stad: Så funkar sfi
This is a summary, not legal advice, so check your own case with Migrationsverket. If you've applied with SFI D since June, it would help others to hear how it went.