Sweden has announced plans to tighten its citizenship requirements, including raising the income threshold for applicants as part of a broader overhaul of its naturalisation rules. As reported by Economic Times and sighted by PUNCH Online on Thursday, under the proposed changes, people seeking Swedish citizenship would be required to have lived in the country for at least eight years, up from the current five-year requirement. In addition, applicants would need to demonstrate a stable monthly income of more than 20,000 Swedish crowns (about $2,225). “Anyone with a criminal record, either in Sweden or abroad, ‍will have to wait longer before they can apply. Critics, however, warn that the tougher requirements could make it harder for immigrants to fully integrate and may disproportionately affect lower-income workers and families.

Source: Punch February 12, 2026 13:26 UTC