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Your income now matters when you apply to become a Swedish citizen. Under the new rules in force since 6 June 2026, most adults must show that they support themselves through their own work or business.
This guide explains the amount, what counts towards it, what doesn't, and how to keep the paperwork ready.
The amount: three income base amounts
You must have your own income from lasting, unsubsidised employment or business of at least three income base amounts (inkomstbasbelopp) a year.
| Year | Per year | Roughly per month, before tax |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | SEK 250 200 | SEK 20 850 |
The income base amount is set by the government for each year (SEK 83 400 for 2026), so the figure can change each January. If you apply in 2027 or later, check the new amount before you apply.
The requirement applies if you are between 18 and 67. The new rules came with no transitional arrangements, so it applies to applications decided after 6 June 2026.
Where this fits with the other requirements
Self-support is one requirement among several. You also need enough years living in Sweden (the general eight-year requirement), not too much time abroad (the six-week rule), proven identity, an orderly life, and knowledge of Swedish and Swedish society.
The income only helps if your residence time is also there. Check that part first.
What counts
- Your own salary from a job that is lasting. A permanent contract (tillsvidareanställning) is the clearest case.
- Income from your own business, as long as it is lasting too.
- Employment that is not subsidised. Subsidised jobs, such as nystartsjobb, etableringsjobb or special employment support, don't meet the requirement.
The key words are "own", "lasting" and "unsubsidised". A high income for a few months is not the same as a stable income you can show over time.
What doesn't count
| Source | Counts? |
|---|---|
| Your own salary from lasting employment | Yes |
| Your own lasting business income | Yes |
| Your partner's income | No |
| Savings, property or other assets | No |
| Temporary work | No |
| Subsidised employment | No |
| Unemployment benefit (a-kassa), activity support or establishment benefit | No |
This catches people out. Priya earns well as a consultant on short contracts, and her husband has a good salary too. Neither the contracts' short length nor her husband's pay helps her case. What she needs is her own lasting income.
The income-support limit
You must not have received income support (försörjningsstöd, the municipality's last-resort benefit) for more than six months in the last three years.
This is a separate test from the income amount. Even with a good salary today, a long period on income support in the recent past can stop an application.
Who is exempt
- People entitled to an old-age pension (earnings-related or guarantee pension) or maintenance support for the elderly.
- Full-time students with passing results at a Swedish university or college, studying for a degree. Full-time studies at a higher vocational school and upper secondary studies are also exempt.
- People for whom the requirement can't reasonably apply, for example because of a disability.
- Anyone outside the 18 to 67 age range.
If you think you fall into one of these groups, read Migrationsverket's page for what to show. An exemption still has to be proven.
Three examples
| Person | Situation | Likely reading |
|---|---|---|
| Jonas, 34 | Permanent job as an engineer, SEK 42 000 a month for four years | Meets the amount with lasting income of his own |
| Priya, 39 | Three-month consulting contracts, partner earns well | Her contracts are temporary and her partner's pay doesn't count |
| Sara, 23 | Full-time master's student at a Swedish university, passing her courses, part-time café job | Exempt as a full-time student with passing results |
These are illustrations, not decisions. Migrationsverket looks at each case on its own facts, and only a decision on your application tells you the outcome.
Other requirements that still apply
Income is new, but the rest of the list hasn't gone away. You must be at least 18, have proven identity, live an orderly life (no significant debts, crimes or security concerns), and attend a personal visit. The application fee is SEK 2 900 and is not refunded if the answer is no. That is one more reason to check every requirement, including income, before you apply.
Practical tips
Keep every payslip
Save your monthly payslips as PDFs in one folder, named by month. It takes a minute a month and saves hours later.
Use your income statement
Your annual income tax return (inkomstdeklaration) from Skatteverket shows what you earned each year. Download it for each year you have lived in Sweden.
Ask for an employment certificate
A letter from your employer (anställningsintyg) showing the type of contract, start date and salary makes "lasting" easy to see.
Think before changing jobs
If you are close to applying, a move from a permanent job to a fixed-term one, or a gap between jobs, can weaken your case. Jonas waited until his probation period at a new employer had ended before applying.
Check the year's figure
The amount follows the income base amount. If your salary sits close to the line, compare it with the figure for the year you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to earn for Swedish citizenship in 2026?
At least three income base amounts a year from your own lasting, unsubsidised work or business. In 2026 that is SEK 250 200 a year, roughly SEK 20 850 a month before tax.
Does my partner's income count towards the self-support requirement?
No. Migrationsverket says a partner's income doesn't count. Each adult applicant must meet the requirement with their own income from work or business.
Can I use savings instead of a salary?
No. Assets such as savings or property don't count. The requirement is about lasting income from your own employment or business.
Does the income requirement apply to pensioners and students?
No. People entitled to an old-age pension, full-time students with passing results at a Swedish university or college, and people for whom the requirement can't reasonably apply (for example because of a disability) are exempt. It also only applies to applicants aged 18 to 67.
Will the amount change next year?
Yes, most likely. It is three income base amounts, and the income base amount is set every year. The 2026 figure is SEK 250 200, so check the current figure before you apply.
How Settio helps
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