Obtaining and registration of Swedish citizenship

The migration attractiveness of the Kingdom of Sweden (including among Russians) is primarily due to the high standard of living, as well as the economic and sociocultural stability characteristic of this state. However, the process of obtaining local citizenship is lengthy and fraught with certain difficulties.

Criteria for applicants

According to the provisions of the immigration law, persons have the right to apply for Swedish citizenship:

1. Have reached the age of majority (18 years old);
2. Not suffering from severe mental and / or physiological pathologies (drug addiction, schizophrenia, AIDS, tuberculosis, etc.);
3. Having a valid residence permit (hereinafter - residence permit), stable income and permanent residence in the territory of the state;
4. Settlement qualifications (residing in Sweden legally from 3 to 5 years);
5. Having no outstanding credit or other financial obligations and / or convictions in the territories of other states;
6. Fluent in the state language and ready for cultural integration into the local society.

For objective reasons, a number of criteria from this list do not apply to minor children of applicants.

Prohibition on entering citizenship

In accordance with the requirements of local legislation, the following persons will not be able to become citizens of the state:

• Members of the armed forces or special services of other states;
• Have a criminal record within the previous 10 years;
• Criminally prosecuted in their home country for acts with the same punishment in the Swedish Penal Code;
• Wanted by Interpol;
• Suspected of having links with terrorist and / or criminal organizations;
• Violating local migration legislation.

Foundations

The grounds for nominating a candidate for the entry into local citizenship are:

1. Birthright and origin;
2. Legal marriage with a local citizen;
3. Natural naturalization;
4. Other grounds.

Right of birth and origin

Applicants can apply for Swedish citizenship under this right:

• Born in a legal marriage (at least one of the parents is a Swedish citizen, the place of birth of the child does not matter);
• Born out of legal marriage (condition - the father is a citizen, and he recognized the child);
• Found on the territory of the state (condition - it is not possible to find and identify the parents or guardians of the minor);
• Adopted by local citizens (in the event that the adopted child is over 12 years old, he must independently apply for citizenship).

Getting married

Conditions for the implementation of this basis:

1. One of the spouses has the status of a full citizen of Sweden (since 05.2009, same-sex marriage has been legalized in Sweden);
2. Duration of marriage - at least 2 years;
3. The applicant's spouse applying for local citizenship has a valid residence permit (residency requirement - at least 3 years);
4. The actual nature of the marriage (cohabitation, housekeeping, property ownership, etc.).

In the event of a divorce, it is no longer possible to obtain Swedish citizenship on this basis. Revealing by the local authorities of the fictitious nature of the marriage is fraught with imprisonment for a Swedish citizen, and deportation for his spouse (in some cases, after serving his sentence) with a ban on subsequent entry.

Naturalization

The most common reason for obtaining local citizenship among migrants (including immigrants from the Russian Federation).

Terms of sale:

• Full compliance with the above criteria (except for cases due to objective reasons);
• Availability of grounds for staying in the country (employment or business, study at a local university, etc.);
• The residence permit is at least 5 years.

Other grounds

Other reasons are:

1. Family reunification (condition - residence on the territory of the state of close relatives who are citizens);
2. Commitment of acts equated to special services to the state (adoption of citizenship is carried out by the personal decision of the ruling monarch);
3. Registered refugee status (residency requirement - 4 years, knowledge of the state language is not required).

Owning real estate and / or carrying out entrepreneurial activities on the territory of the state are not sufficient grounds for nominating a candidate for becoming a citizen, but are considered by the authorized bodies as weighty arguments in favor of the candidate - both at the time of registration of a residence permit and when agreeing on the possibility of accepting citizenship.

Possibility of obtaining dual citizenship

Starting from 1.07.2001, Swedish legislation does not prevent the citizens of the Kingdom from entering the citizenship of other states. This rule applies in a similar way to foreigners: the procedure for entering local citizenship is not a reason for renouncing the previous one. Thus, dual citizenship (including with Russia) is possible without any restrictions.

Procedure

The following steps precede the application for acquiring Swedish citizenship:

1. Obtaining a Schengen visa and a temporary residence permit (all documents are drawn up through the consulate, or the Internet strictly before entering the territory of Sweden);
2. Residence in the Kingdom on the basis of a temporary residence permit for 5 years (the permissible total duration of trips outside the state is 1.5 months per year);
3. Obtaining an unlimited residence permit (in some cases, it is not required to become a citizen).

Preparation of documents

Upon reaching the residency requirement, a foreign resident has the right to apply for Swedish citizenship, but only if he meets other criteria applicable to him.

Before submitting the aforementioned application, it is necessary to prepare (including legalized translations of Russian documents):

• Application for Swedish citizenship;
• A copy of a valid RF passport;
• Copies of passports - valid and canceled (for the last 10 years);
• A copy of a valid residence permit;
• Evidence - compliance with the residency requirement, housing availability and stable income;
• Certificates - from the local tax service (on the absence of arrears), from the police (on the absence of recorded violations), on the absence of convictions on the territory of the Russian Federation;
• Medical certificate of health status (must be issued on the territory of Sweden);
• 4 photographs (35 × 45 mm);
• Other documents depending on the specific situation (marriage certificate, documents for children, diploma of graduation from a local university, etc.).

During the period of his residence on the basis of a temporary residence permit, a foreigner who later applies for the entry into local citizenship should sufficiently master the state language. Six months course of study for immigrants is free.

Submission of documents

After the package of necessary documents is fully completed, the applicant must register on the website of the State Migration Agency of Sweden and send a request.

Upon consideration of the request, the applicant will be scheduled for an interview held at the local branch of the designated agency. A pre-written application, complete with the collected documents, is submitted to the authorized official at the time of the interview.

During the interview, the degree of cultural integration of the candidate is determined, as well as his knowledge of the state language (in oral and written forms).

At the same time, candidates are exempted from passing these checks:

1. Under the age of 18;
2. Refugee status;
3. Restoring citizenship;
4. Graduated from a local university.

Applicants over 65 years of age are exempted from taking a language test, but must pass a cultural integration test. In case of failure, tests can be retaken no earlier than 3 months later. Moreover, the number of attempts is not limited.

Cost and terms

Before the interview, you must pay the appropriate state fee. Its size varies depending on the basis for the nomination and is from 175 to 1500 SEK (~ 17 and 144 € respectively)... A document confirming the fact of payment of the state duty must be attached to the set of documents submitted during the interview.

The final answer about the possibility of acquiring Swedish citizenship is given to the applicant no earlier than 3 months after the interview. Moreover, the maximum waiting period is limited to 1 year.

After confirming the possibility of acquiring citizenship, the applicant is summoned to the local magistrate, where he is obliged to swear allegiance to the ruling monarch and the people of Sweden, after which he receives a certificate for the right of citizenship. A Swedish passport is issued at the local police station on the basis of this certificate.

Possible actions in case of failure

Among the most common reasons for refusal are:

1. Low income of the candidate;
2. Lack of necessary documents, or their non-compliance with the established criteria;
3. Identification of forgery of documents and / or information;
4. Failure of the integration and / or language test.

Refusal to grant citizenship is not subject to appeal. However, the application can be resubmitted, but not earlier than 6 months after the receipt of the refusal. In this case, it is necessary to eliminate all identified violations and / or inconsistencies.

The facts of violation of local legislation (with the exception of especially serious crimes) are not an obstacle to obtaining citizenship, however, they have a very negative effect on the overall duration of the procedure.

The process of becoming a Swedish citizen is lengthy and relatively complex. Moreover, according to statistics, annually about ¼ of such applications are not satisfied. However, becoming a Swedish citizen is much easier than acquiring citizenship of any other Scandinavian state.