Since 12 July 2026, Sweden has introduced important changes affecting the connection between residence permits and Swedish citizenship. The change has led to considerable confusion. Some people believe that a permanent residence permit is no longer required for anyone applying for citizenship. Others believe that a person with a temporary residence permit can never become a Swedish citizen. Neither statement is correct.

The new rules allow certain groups to apply for Swedish citizenship without holding a permanent residence permit. However, the exception applies only to the residence-permit categories specifically listed in the Swedish Citizenship Act.

This article explains the changes in clear language, including:

• why the law was changed;
• which groups are covered;
• what “well-founded prospects” means;
• how the ten-year rule works;
• the position of persons with long-term resident status in Sweden;
• the position of persons with long-term resident status from another EU country; and
• how the rules apply to spouses and children.

Why Was the Law Changed?

Before 12 July 2026, a person applying for Swedish citizenship normally had to hold a permanent residence permit, in addition to meeting the other legal requirements. The permanent residence permit requirement was separate from the residence-period requirement. This meant that a person could have lived in Sweden for the required number of years but still be unable to obtain citizenship if the person did not hold the required residence status.

The migration reforms that entered into force on 12 July 2026 changed this system for several groups. Permanent residence permits are no longer generally granted to certain categories, including persons with protection-related permits, persons with long-term resident status in Sweden and certain family members. Instead, these groups may receive renewable temporary residence permits.

This created a legal problem. If these persons could no longer obtain permanent residence permits, but the Citizenship Act continued to require permanent residence, they could have been permanently prevented from becoming Swedish citizens. Parliament therefore amended the Citizenship Act so that specified categories can satisfy the citizenship residence-status requirement without first obtaining a permanent residence permit. Parliament approved the Government’s proposal in Prop. 2025/26:262, following the Social Insurance Committee’s report Bet. 2025/26:SfU30.

What Exactly Changed?

The central amendment was made to section 20 of the Swedish Citizenship Act, Lag (2001:82) om svenskt medborgarskap. Section 20 now provides that the requirement to hold a permanent residence permit does not apply to certain persons who have well-founded prospects of being granted long-term residence and who hold one of the temporary residence permits specifically listed in the provision.

The qualifying temporary residence permits include:

• Long-term resident status in Sweden, under Chapter 5, section 2 b of the Aliens Act.
• Residence permits granted because of exceptionally distressing circumstances, under Chapter 5, section 6 of the Aliens Act.
• Residence permits granted because of certain lasting obstacles to enforcement, under Chapter 12, section 18 of the Aliens Act.
• Residence permits as a refugee or subsidiary protection beneficiary, under the relevant protection provisions.
• Residence permits based on family ties, under Chapter 5, sections 3 or 3 a of the Aliens Act, where the family member is connected to a person covered by one of the main qualifying categories.

The exact statutory basis stated in the Swedish Migration Agency’s decision is important when assessing whether the exception applies.

The law also states that the requirement to show well-founded prospects does not apply to a person who has been habitually resident in Sweden for ten years.

Does This Mean That Every Temporary Residence Permit Holder Can Apply?

No. The amendment does not create a general exception for everyone with a temporary residence permit. The decisive issue is the legal basis of the permit.

Two persons may both hold temporary residence permits, but only one may be covered by section 20 because the permits were issued under different provisions of the Aliens Act. A person should therefore not rely only on the wording printed on the residence permit card. The Migration Agency’s decision should be examined to identify the statutory basis under which the permit was granted.

The correct general statement is:

Certain holders of temporary residence permits may apply for Swedish citizenship without a permanent residence permit, provided their permits fall within section 20 and they meet all other citizenship requirements.

Which Groups Are Covered?

The Swedish Migration Agency identifies the following principal categories:

• persons with long-term resident status in Sweden;
• refugees;
• persons eligible for alternative or subsidiary protection;
• persons with permits based on exceptionally distressing circumstances;
• persons with permits based on certain lasting obstacles to enforcement; and
• persons with permits based on family ties to someone in one of the above categories.

Each applicant must still hold a valid residence permit and meet the remaining requirements for Swedish citizenship.

Long-Term Resident Status in Sweden

One of the groups expressly covered is a person who has obtained long-term resident status in Sweden, known in Swedish as ställning som varaktigt bosatt i Sverige. This is important because long-term resident status in Sweden and long-term resident status granted by another EU Member State are not the same legal category.

A person who has obtained long-term resident status in Sweden receives a residence permit under Chapter 5, section 2 b of the Aliens Act. That provision is expressly included in section 20 of the Citizenship Act. Therefore, a person with long-term resident status in Sweden may rely on the new exception from the permanent residence permit requirement, provided the remaining legal conditions are satisfied.

The Swedish Migration Agency’s official guidance uses the same wording and expressly lists:

“ställning som varaktigt bosatt i Sverige”

This confirms that the relevant category is long-term resident status granted by Sweden.

Refugees and Persons in Need of Protection

The exception also covers certain persons who hold temporary residence permits as refugees or subsidiary protection beneficiaries. These persons may apply for citizenship without a permanent residence permit if they satisfy section 20, including the requirement concerning well-founded prospects unless the ten-year rule applies. The reform was necessary because these protection categories can no longer generally obtain permanent residence permits under the revised system.

Exceptionally Distressing Circumstances

Certain persons granted temporary residence permits under Chapter 5, section 6 of the Aliens Act are also covered. This category concerns permits granted because of exceptionally distressing circumstances. It is important to verify that the permit was actually granted under the relevant statutory provision. It is not enough that the person informally describes the permit as humanitarian.

Certain Lasting Obstacles to Enforcement

Section 20 also covers certain permits granted under Chapter 12, section 18 of the Aliens Act. These permits may be issued where an expulsion or refusal-of-entry decision cannot be enforced because of certain continuing obstacles. Again, the statutory basis of the individual decision is decisive.

Family Members

The exception may also apply to certain spouses, partners and children. A family member can be covered where the person has received a temporary residence permit under Chapter 5, section 3 or 3 a of the Aliens Act because of family ties to a person already covered by section 20.

This means that the family member’s position depends on both:

1. the legal basis of the family member’s own permit; and
2. the qualifying status of the sponsoring person.

A family relationship alone is not sufficient. The sponsor must belong to one of the categories listed in section 20, and the family member’s permit must be based on that relationship.

What Does “Well-Founded Prospects” Mean?

A person relying on the new exception must normally have well-founded prospects of being granted long-term residence. The Swedish Migration Agency explains this as meaning that the person is assessed as having good prospects of receiving an extended residence permit in the future. The assessment is individual. The Migration Agency must consider whether the legal basis for the person’s residence is likely to continue.

For example, relevant questions may include:

• whether the person continues to satisfy the conditions connected to the permit;
• whether the protection need remains;
• whether the family relationship on which the permit is based continues;
• whether the person still qualifies for the relevant status; and
• whether there are circumstances that could prevent future extensions.

Holding a qualifying permit does not automatically mean that the requirement is satisfied. The Migration Agency must make an individual forward-looking assessment.

How Does the Ten-Year Rule Work?

The ten-year rule is often misunderstood. Section 20 states that a person who has been habitually resident in Sweden for ten years does not need to show well-founded prospects of being granted long-term residence. However, this does not mean that every person who has lived in Sweden for ten years can apply without a permanent residence permit. The applicant must still hold one of the temporary residence permits listed in section 20. The ten-year rule removes only one condition, namely the requirement to demonstrate well-founded prospects. It does not expand the list of qualifying residence-permit categories.

Example

A refugee with a qualifying permit who has lived in Sweden for eight years may rely on section 20, but the Migration Agency must assess whether the person has well-founded prospects of continued residence.

A refugee with the same qualifying permit who has lived in Sweden for ten years does not need to satisfy that particular requirement.

Both applicants must still meet all other citizenship requirements.

What If You Have Long-Term Resident Status From Another EU Country?

This is where a clear legal distinction must be made. The new exception applies to a person who has obtained long-term resident status in Sweden.

It does not apply merely because a person has long-term resident status granted by another EU Member State.

Swedish migration law treats the following as separate categories:

• long-term resident status in Sweden; and
• long-term resident status in another EU Member State.

Section 20 refers to a permit under Chapter 5, section 2 b of the Aliens Act. That provision concerns a person who has obtained long-term resident status in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency’s official guidance also expressly lists long-term resident status in Sweden. It does not list long-term resident status granted by another EU Member State.

Therefore, a person who:

• has long-term resident status from another EU country;
• lives in Sweden with temporary residence permits; but
• has not obtained long-term resident status in Sweden,

is not covered by the new exception on the basis of the foreign long-term resident status alone. Such a person may need to obtain long-term resident status in Sweden or qualify under another category listed in section 20.

Does Ten Years in Sweden Change the Position of a Foreign EU Long-Term Resident?

No, not by itself. A person with long-term resident status from another EU country does not become covered by section 20 solely because the person has lived in Sweden for ten years. The ten-year provision removes only the requirement concerning well-founded prospects. It does not replace the requirement to hold one of the permits listed in section 20. Therefore, ten years of habitual residence cannot convert a non-qualifying permit into a qualifying permit.

What About the Children of a Person With Long-Term Resident Status From Another EU Country?

The children do not automatically qualify under the new exception merely because their parent has long-term resident status from another EU Member State. A child may rely on the family-member part of section 20 only if the child’s permit is based on family ties to a person covered by the principal categories in section 20.

A parent who only holds long-term resident status from another EU country is not covered on that basis alone. Therefore, the child cannot rely on the derivative family-member exception merely through the parent’s foreign long-term resident status.

However, if the parent later obtains long-term resident status in Sweden and the child holds a qualifying family permit based on that parent, the child may be able to rely on section 20 without personally obtaining long-term resident status. The child must still meet the separate citizenship requirements applicable to children.

Can the Children Apply After Ten Years Without Swedish Long-Term Resident Status?

Not solely because ten years have passed. The child must still hold a permit that falls within section 20. The ten-year rule only removes the requirement to demonstrate well-founded prospects. It does not remove the qualifying-permit requirement.

Therefore, a child who has lived in Sweden for ten years on a temporary permit connected only to a parent’s long-term resident status from another EU country does not become eligible under section 20 for that reason alone.

Other statutory routes, including rules specifically applicable to stateless children or exceptional individual circumstances, must be assessed separately where relevant.

A Valid Residence Permit Is Still Required

The Swedish Migration Agency states that the applicant must hold a valid residence permit when applying for Swedish citizenship. A person cannot rely on the new exception while merely waiting for a decision on an application to extend an expired permit. This timing requirement is important. An applicant may have completed the required residence period but still need to wait until the extension is granted before submitting the citizenship application.

Other Citizenship Requirements Still Apply

The amendment removes only the permanent residence permit requirement for qualifying applicants. It does not remove the other requirements for citizenship.

Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, these may include:

• proven identity;
• the required period of habitual residence;
• maintenance;
• good conduct;
• Swedish-language knowledge;
• civic knowledge; and
• other requirements under the Citizenship Act.

Eligibility under section 20 does not mean that citizenship must automatically be granted. It only allows the person to be assessed without holding a permanent residence permit.

If You Already Have a Permanent Residence Permit

A person who already holds a permanent residence permit is not negatively affected by these changes. Such a person continues to rely on the ordinary citizenship rules and does not need to use the new exception.

Practical Steps Before Applying

Before submitting a citizenship application, the applicant should verify:

1. the exact provision under which the current residence permit was granted;
2. whether the permit falls within section 20;
3. whether the permit is still valid;
4. whether the person has well-founded prospects of continued residence, unless the ten-year exemption applies;
5. whether the required habitual residence period has been completed; and
6. whether all remaining citizenship requirements are satisfied.

The Migration Agency’s written decision should be checked carefully. The residence permit card alone may not provide enough information to determine the legal basis of the permit.

Conclusion

The changes introduced on 12 July 2026 allow certain people to become Swedish citizens without first obtaining a permanent residence permit. However, the exception is limited. It applies only to specified categories, including persons with long-term resident status in Sweden, certain protection-related permit holders, persons with permits based on exceptionally distressing circumstances or lasting enforcement obstacles, and qualifying family members.

The exception does not generally apply to every temporary residence permit holder. In particular, a person who only has long-term resident status from another EU Member State is not covered on that basis alone. The same applies to spouses and children whose permits are connected only to that foreign long-term resident status.

The ten-year rule does not create a separate citizenship route. It only removes the requirement to show well-founded prospects for applicants who already hold a qualifying permit.

Every application must therefore be assessed by examining the exact statutory basis of the residence permit and the applicant’s individual circumstances.

References

• Lag (2001:82) om svenskt medborgarskap, particularly section 20.
• Utlänningslag (2005:716), including Chapter 5, sections 2 b, 3, 3 a and 6, and Chapter 12, section 18.
• Lag (2026:1151) om ändring i lagen (2001:82) om svenskt medborgarskap.
• Prop. 2025/26:262, Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt.
• Bet. 2025/26:SfU30, Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt.
• Council Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents.
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1347.
• Swedish Migration Agency, Undantag från krav på permanent uppehållstillstånd för svenskt medborgarskap, published 12 July 2026.