The Swedish government has presented a proposal that makes it more difficult to become a citizen by increasing the period of residency from five to eight years for foreigners. This is part of a wider effort to tighten immigration policies, ensuring stronger integration into Swedish society before granting citizenship.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Advocates believe that it promotes long-term commitment and deeper assimilation, but detractors contend that it could unfairly delay citizenship for thousands of qualified residents.
The government is also considering stricter language and civic knowledge standards, emphasizing cultural and social understanding as part of the naturalization process.
These proposed changes, which would align Swedish rules more with other European countries known for very strict policies for citizenship, still face opposition within the country’s government as a final decision on the changes approaches in the months ahead.
