Skip to content
SVI Fokus
Citizenship

When does a child born in Sweden become a Swedish citizen?

Sweden does not grant citizenship simply because a child is born in the country — citizenship follows the parents. A child born on or after 1 April 2015 automatically becomes a Swedish citizen if at least one parent is a Swedish citizen, regardless of the country of birth. Different rules apply to children born earlier.

Updated

  • Children born on or after 1 April 2015 become Swedish citizens at birth if one parent is a Swedish citizen (or a deceased parent was at the time of death).
  • For children born before 1 April 2015 it depends on the parent's status and the parents' marital status.
  • Adopted children under 12 adopted by a Swedish citizen can become citizens automatically under certain conditions.
  • A child who does not become a citizen automatically can sometimes acquire it by notification or application through a parent.

The rules depend on the child's exact date of birth and family situation. Confirm what applies to your child with Migrationsverket.

Sources

Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.

Back to citizenship

Related questions

Practise anywhere

The SVI Fokus app gives you the full question bank, spaced repetition and a timed mock exam — offline and in your language.

The app is launching soon.