Glossary

Words and terms

Official language can be difficult. Here we explain the words you encounter in letters, forms and on the test.

Anvisningsbrev (instruction letter)
A letter from an authority telling you what to do next.
Demokrati (democracy)
Rule by the people — power comes from the people.
Folkbokföring (population registration)
The registration of where you live, with Skatteverket.
Försörjningskrav (self-support requirement)
The requirement to be able to support yourself.
Grundlag (constitutional law)
A law that is harder to change and that protects democracy.
Hemvist (habitual residence)
Where you actually live and for how long you have lived there.
Kommun (municipality)
The local level, responsible for schools, preschools and care.
Kunskapskrav (knowledge requirement)
The requirement to have knowledge of Swedish and Swedish society.
Medborgarskap (citizenship)
The legal bond between a person and a state.
Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency)
The authority that examines applications for residence permits and citizenship.
Offentlig sektor (the public sector)
Activities run by the state, regions or municipalities.
Permanent uppehållstillstånd (permanent residence permit)
Permission to live in Sweden with no time limit.
Personnummer (personal identity number)
Your unique number in the population register.
Regering (the government)
The Prime Minister and the ministers, who govern the country.
Region (region)
The regional level, mainly responsible for healthcare.
Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament)
Sweden's elected assembly, which makes the laws.
UHR (the Swedish Council for Higher Education)
Universitets- och högskolerådet, the authority responsible for the test.
Uppehållsrätt (right of residence)
EU citizens' right to live in Sweden without a residence permit.
Yttrandefrihet (freedom of expression)
The right to express your opinions.