The Swedish version of this site is authoritative if this translation differs from it.
What does orderly and honest conduct (levnadssätt) mean?
You must have behaved well. Migrationsverket checks, among other things, information from the Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden), the Police and the Security Service (Säkerhetspolisen), and crimes trigger a waiting period before citizenship can be granted.
The requirement was tightened under the new rules and now also covers circumstances outside Sweden. Migrationsverket obtains information from several authorities.
What can affect the assessment
- Unpaid taxes, fines, charges and maintenance payments can lead to refusal.
- Private debts referred to the Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden) can also affect the decision.
- After debts have been paid, a period — often around two years — showing continued freedom from debt is usually required.
- Crimes committed abroad can affect the decision if the act corresponds to a crime under Swedish law.
- Security threats or affiliation with certain groups or organisations that have committed extensive abuses can prevent citizenship.
Migrationsverket's guidelines on waiting periods
- 30 day-fines (dagsböter) or more: at least 2 years after the offence. 50 day-fines gives around 2.5 years.
- 60 day-fines or more: at least 3 years.
- 100 day-fines or more: at least 4 years.
- Conditional sentence (villkorlig dom): at least 4 years after the judgment becomes final.
- Probation (skyddstillsyn): at least 5 years from the start.
- Prison, 1 month: at least 7 years after the offence.
- Prison, 4 months: at least 8 years after the offence.
- Prison, 8 months: at least 9 years after the offence.
- Prison, 1 year: at least 10 years after the offence.
- Prison, 2 years: at least 11 years after the sentence was served.
- Prison, 4 years: at least 15 years after the sentence was served.
- Prison, 6–18 years: at least 17 years after the sentence was served.
- Restraining order (kontaktförbud): at least 2 years after the most recent order expired.
The waiting periods are guidelines. Each case is assessed individually, and repeated offending can lead to a longer period.