Sweden's Citizenship Law Needs a Transition Clause
Thousands of pending citizenship applications face retroactive requirements. We're exploring legal options to protect established commitments.
Thousands of pending citizenship applications face retroactive requirements. We're exploring legal options to protect established commitments.
The Swedish government announced that citizenship requirements will change on June 6, 2026. Critically, these changes will apply retroactively to all pending applications — even those submitted years ago under different rules.
People who moved to Sweden, built careers, paid taxes, learned the language, and applied for citizenship in good faith under the existing rules now face dramatically different requirements from those they originally agreed to.
The residency requirement increases from 5 to 8 years. New language and civics tests are mandated — but won't even be available until October 2027. A new self-sufficiency requirement of 20,000 kr/month is introduced. All applied retroactively.
A transition clause — or transition provision — would allow people who applied under the old rules to be evaluated under those same rules. This is standard legal practice when laws change.
We're not asking for special treatment. We're asking for the same principle of fairness that is applied in legal systems around the world: that rules should not be changed retroactively for those who have already committed in good faith.
Our goal is to explore legal avenues — including EU law precedents, Swedish constitutional principles, and administrative law remedies — to protect the commitments that were made under existing rules.
An official government inquiry into Swedish citizenship requirements, documented in the report "Skärpta krav för svenskt medborgarskap (SOU 2025:1)" and summarized by the Swedish Government, outlined comprehensive proposals for the new criteria, including longer residency and other changes. The inquiry was prepared by legal experts and judges with extensive administrative law experience.
The legal experts behind the advisory report explicitly recommended that pending applications be judged under the old rules — citing fairness to applicants, predictability of law, consistency, and equal treatment. Despite this, the government chose to defy the official recommendation, and the new requirements will apply retroactively to all pending cases.
How the goalposts moved for people already in the process.
2020–2024
Applicants submit under 5-year residency rule
2024–2025
Met all requirements, awaiting processing for many months despite Swedish law requiring that Migrationsverket conclude cases in 6 months
June 6, 2026
Rules change retroactively for all pending cases
2020–2024
Applicants submit under 5-year residency rule
2024–2025
Met all requirements, awaiting processing for many months despite Swedish law requiring that Migrationsverket conclude cases in 6 months
June 6, 2026
Rules change retroactively for all pending cases
Real voices from people affected by the retroactive citizenship law changes.
“I came to Sweden in 2011 to get a masters degree, then also got my PhD and now work in a senior role. I applied for citizenship 3 prime ministers ago in 2020. I hope this makes some of you feel better about your situation”
— S
PhD, senior software engineer
“I came here as a British citizen under the Article 50 transition agreement. I have worked in schools, educating Swedish children, and on weekends I pick up rubbish from the forest. I have never committed any crime, integrated into the culture, and now I have found that laws can be applied retroactively. I live in a constant state of uncertainty not knowing if I have a future here. How can I feel like a member of Swedish society when I am continually told I do not belong?”
— Jane
Long-term resident
“My colleagues got citizenship last year without these hurdles... for me, the goalposts moved. It feels like a total double standard.”
— Vishu
Long-term resident
“Since we don't have the right to elect the government, nobody will be speaking for us. Despite following every rule, I may be denied. How is that fair?”
— Reader
7 years in Sweden
“This really destroys the trust in the system. I have several friends who have given up on Sweden because of this animosity towards immigrants.”
— Charles
Reader
“Why is the Swedish government punishing the tax-paying work permit holders? Sweden is going to lose a lot of real talent and loyal taxpayers.”
— FrustratedTaxPayer
Reader
Approximately 97,047 pending applications are now in processing limbo with no clear transition plan. Swedish law requires applications and formal "requests to conclude" to be handled within reasonable timeframes. The Parliamentary Ombudsman (Justitieombudsmannen) has already raised concerns about delays in citizenship cases and instances where court instructions were not followed by Migrationsverket. Addressing these procedural issues is essential to ensure that people who applied in good faith are treated fairly and consistently under the law.
Connect with thousands of others affected by the retroactive citizenship changes. Together, we can explore legal remedies and make our voices heard.
Join the WhatsApp working group to share your experience, stay informed, and coordinate with others in the same situation.
Join WhatsApp Group →If you have expertise in Swedish administrative law, EU law, or constitutional law, your guidance could make a real difference.
Get In Touch →Even if you're not directly affected, you can help by sharing this page, contacting elected officials, or amplifying affected voices.
We believe in Sweden and its values — that's why we chose to build our lives here. Our focus is on ensuring a fair transition for people who already applied under the previous rules. New requirements can make sense going forward, but we believe those who already committed in good faith deserve a reasonable transition period.
To explore legal options for transition clauses or transition periods that respect commitments made in good faith. This could mean allowing pending applications to be processed under the old rules, or providing a reasonable transition period for applicants to meet new requirements.
We're researching EU law precedents regarding retroactive legislation, Swedish constitutional principles (particularly the principle of legal certainty), administrative law remedies, and the European Convention on Human Rights. Several legal scholars have raised concerns about the retroactive nature of the changes.
Media coverage of Sweden's retroactive citizenship law changes.