Swedish citizenship for South Africans

Stunning landscapes, the tradition of fika (a coffee break culture), and some of the world’s fastest internet speeds are just a few of things that make Sweden an exciting destination to move to. With benefits like five weeks of paid leave, 480 days of parental leave, universal healthcare, and an exceptional public transit system, it’s no surprise that many South Africans feel drawn to make Sweden their long-term home.

Whether you’re aiming to start a business, explore new career opportunities, or simply enjoy life in the Nordic region, you may be curious about the process of becoming a Swedish citizen. While the process is very similar to other Nordic countries, there are a few things you must keep in mind. This guide covers the key steps and requirements for Swedish citizenship and introduces Wise, which helps transfer money from Sweden to South Africa smoothly.

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How can South Africans apply for and get Swedish citizenship⁵?

Citizenship to Sweden can be obtained through the following routes that we discuss in detail in the following sections:

• Birth
• Adoption
• Application
• Notification

Of these, citizenship by application is the common route taken by expats from all around the globe to gain Swedish citizenship.

Different routes to obtaining Swedish citizenship

Swedish citizenship through birth
A child born to one or both Swedish parents automatically gains citizenship at birth. This holds true even if the child is born outside the country. However, there are certain factors to consider:
A child born to a Swedish citizen post 1st April 2015 becomes a citizen directly upon birth. This can be in the country or abroad.
A child born before the date and outside of Sweden becomes a citizen if both parents are Swedish or if one parent is Swedish, but they need to be legally married. If the parents are not married and the mother is foreign citizen, the Swedish father must submit a citizenship notification to the Swedish government

Swedish citizenship by adoption

Children below the age of 12 adopted by Swedish citizens are also entitled to citizenship.

Notification of Swedish citizenship

If you are a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway, you must pay a fee and complete a form. This needs to be sent to the Swedish migration agency if you wish to attain Swedish citizenship.

Application for Swedish citizenship

Like other European countries you can also apply for Swedish citizenship if you meet certain criteria. It is important that you satisfy all the requirements for a higher chance of a successful application. There is also an application fee associated which we discuss in the following sections.

To be eligible for Swedish citizenship you should:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Have the ability to verify your identity (passport, drivers license)
• Satisfy the requirements for habitual residence. Nordic citizens are required to have lived in Sweden for two consecutive years. If you are a citizen of a country outside the Nordic region, you must have lived in Sweden for five consecutive years.
• Have lived an orderly life in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) will request information from other agencies to check whether you have debts or have engaged in criminality in Sweden.
• Have a permanent residence permit (a temporary residence permit does not apply), have the right of residence or a residence card (EU citizen or a close relative of an EU citizen) or have residence status (British citizen or a close relative of a British citizen).

What are the requirements to get Swedish citizenship⁶?

The main requirement to obtain citizenship by means of naturalisation is having lived in Sweden on a valid permanent residence permit. Apart from this, we have listed below other requirements for obtaining the coveted Swedish passport:

• to be at least 18 of age when filing for citizenship
• having led a peaceful life in Sweden and respecting the local regulations (no criminal, fraud, or bad debt history).
• possess a valid Swedish permanent residence permit, be an EU citizen or a close relative of an EU citizen and possess the right of residence or a residence card at the moment of the application.

Which documents may be required¹⁰?

The exact list of documents required depends on the route of citizenship. For citizenship through application (naturalisation) the basic documentation needed is as follows:

• A complete application form if you’re applying in person
• A valid passport
• A certificate that shows you have no criminal records
• Financial statements that prove your ability to support yourself
• Health insurance
• Receipt of paid application fees
• Recent passport size photographs
• If you are employed, you need to include a work certificate with information on employment for the past 5 years
• If you are self-employed you need to submit your company’s registration certificate along with corporate tax certificate

Send money to South Africa from Sweden using the mid-market rate

If you’re a South African expat living in Sweden, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Banks and money transfer services use the mid-market rate when they trade between themselves, but they rarely pass it on to you. Instead, they often mark up the rate to make extra money.¹³

It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ on an international money transfer by providing low fees and also do away with the markup on the mid-market exchange rate when making international payments from Sweden to South Africa.

Can I hold dual South African-Swedish citizenship⁷?

You can hold a Swedish passport alongside your South African nationality. Sweden does not ask applicants to renounce their previous nationality when applying for naturalisation.

Can I get Swedish citizenship through investment⁹?

While there are no citizenship or residency programs tied directly to investments, Sweden offers entrepreneur and investor visa options for individuals interested in starting businesses or making significant investments in the country. These routes provide opportunities for individuals to live and work in Sweden. These include:

• Entrepreneur Visa (Self-Employed):
  This visa is designed for individuals who intend to start and run their own business in Sweden. Applicants must show that they can financially support themselves and their families for the initial two years of business operations.

• Investor Visa
  The Investor Visa is available for those who plan to make substantial investments in Swedish businesses or funds. Eligibility requires a minimum investment of SEK 3 million in a Swedish company or SEK 1.5 million in a Swedish investment fund.

• Startup Visa
  This visa is for entrepreneurs who have already launched a business in their home country and seek to expand into Sweden. Applicants need to present a viable business idea with proven potential for growth.

Can I get Swedish citizenship through descent or ancestry⁸?

Children of one or both Swedish parents are eligible to apply for citizenship through descent. As discussed earlier, the place of birth does not matter if your parent(s) are Swedish. Exceptions to this are also covered in the section above. However, you cannot apply for Swedish citizenship if your grandparent or great-grandparent were Swede if your parents don’t hold that nationality. Your nationality in Sweden can be only traced back one generation.

Swedish citizenship fees and costs¹¹

Citizenship application fees are as follows:

• Application for citizenship – SEK 1,500
• Adopted child under 15 years of age – SEK 175

Fees for Notification:

• Notification for child under 18 years of age – SEK 175
• Notification for person between 18 and 21 years of age – SEK 175
• Notification for adult citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland & Norway – SEK 475
• Regaining Swedish citizenship – SEK 175
• Regaining Swedish citizenship lost before July 1, 2001 – SEK 475
• Retaining Swedish citizenship – no fee
• Release from citizenship – no fee

How long does application processing take¹²?

The first step of the application process is going to the Swedish Migration Boards website and filling out the application form. You will need documentation to verify your identity like a passport or birth certificate on hand while applying. After filling the form and collating necessary documentation you will need to pay the application fee. The previous section covers fees for different routes of citizenship. It is important to note that all application forms are in Swedish and proficiency in the language forms an essential part of your application.

If you are unable to complete or submit an online application, you also have the option to download the form from the Swedish Migration Board’s website and post your completed application to the address provided.

You are also given the opportunity to track your application online through a service called My page. The average processing time for decided applications was 519 days in 2022, and 84 percent of applications were granted.

To summarise, Swedish citizenship can be obtained by naturalisation, marriage, birth, or adoption. To become a Swedish citizen, one must first obtain a temporary residence permit and then permanent residency. After that, they are eligible to apply for a passport.

The Swedish passport boasts of several advantages like the right to vote, the ability to move and work within the EU without the need of a visa as well as allowing you to hold onto your South African nationality. The path to Swedish citizenship by naturalisation takes 10 years. While all this may seem a bit daunting there are a lot of resources available online and we hope this guide could answer some or most of your queries.

For international transfers you always have Wise – assuring you of transfers at the mid-market exchange rate and low fees.

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*Disclaimer: This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax or other professional advice, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

Sources:

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Different routes to citizenship
6. Citizenship Requirements
7. Dual citizenship
8. Citizenship by descent
9. Citizenship by investment
10. Documents needed
11. Fees
12. Processing times
13. Wise - Mid-market rate and markups