Learning Swedish for daily life in Sweden

Many Swedes speak English, but Swedish runs daily life in Sweden: letters from agencies, school meetings, the workplace and, eventually, the citizenship application. Adults who move to Sweden have a clear public path to the language, starting with free SFI classes and continuing through municipal adult education. This guide sets out that path, the free practice tools the state publishes, and the levels the Swedish Migration Agency expects for citizenship.

The public pathway at a glance

Skolverket's Utbildningsguiden describes adult education in Sweden as including:

• Komvux, municipal adult education at basic and upper secondary level;
• SFI, Swedish for immigrants;
• folk high schools.

For a new arrival the order is usually SFI first, then Swedish as a second language at Komvux, with occupational Swedish as a branch for people registered with the Public Employment Service.

Step 1: Swedish for Immigrants (SFI)

### What you learn

SFI teaches basic Swedish to people whose native language is not Swedish. You learn to speak, read and write, and you learn about Swedish society. It is free of charge.

### Who qualifies

You can start SFI from 1 July of the year you turn 16 if you lack basic Swedish and are or will be registered in the Swedish Population Register. Skatteverket says you should in most cases be listed in the register if you move to Sweden and plan to live here for one year or more. A coordination number is for people who have never been listed in the register, so it does not count as registration.

### How it is organised

The municipality where you are registered arranges SFI. You can study full-time or part-time and combine it with work, other studies or part-time parental leave. In certain cases you can study in another municipality or at a folk high school.

### The time limit

Students registered in SFI on or after 1 January 2026 have three years from their registration date, shown in their individual study plan. Students registered earlier must finish by 31 December 2028. Extensions need special circumstances such as illness, parental leave, disability or a break for work or study, and must be requested before the period ends. The municipality decides.

Step 2: Swedish as a second language

After SFI you can continue with Swedish as a second language at Komvux. A study and vocational guidance counsellor at municipal adult education can help you apply. A pass grade in Swedish as a second language from municipal adult education is also one of the qualifications the Migration Agency recognises for citizenship.

Step 3: Occupational Swedish

Occupational Swedish is adapted to different industries and professions, so you learn the vocabulary of a specific job. You must be registered with Arbetsförmedlingen, which decides whether you can attend. Details are on Arbetsförmedlingen's website.

The levels for citizenship

### What is required

The Migration Agency requires knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society for citizenship applicants aged 16 to 66. Nordic citizens and stateless people born in Sweden under 21 are exempt, and exemptions are possible for disability or other reasons that prevent you from meeting the requirements.

Levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR):

| Skill | Level | |---|---| | Reading and listening comprehension | B1 | | Speaking and writing | A2 |

### Recognised qualifications

You can meet the language requirement with, among others:

• a pass in Swedish or Swedish as a second language from Year 9 of compulsory school;
• a pass from upper secondary school or a folk high school;
• a pass from municipal adult education;
• a pass in the highest SFI course;
• a pass in the Tisus test, which assesses the Swedish needed for higher education.

### The test that is not yet running

The Migration Agency says the new Swedish language test may be introduced later than planned. Until then, the qualifications above work, and during the transition another test such as Swedex can be used. Swedex will no longer be available from 31 December 2026. The agency will publish information about when the language test can be taken.

### Knowledge of society

You show knowledge of Swedish society with a pass in social studies from Year 9 or from upper secondary or adult education. Otherwise you may need the citizenship test on Swedish society; the first was held in August 2026, and further dates are planned.

Free tools from Informationsverige.se

Informationsverige.se, run by Sweden's County Administrative Boards, publishes "Learn Swedish" pages with exercises and videos.

### Hej svenska

A free app with four levels and 10 themes per level, including reading, writing and listening exercises. You can repeat exercises, check answers (green for correct, red for wrong) and use a help button to see the answer. It runs on a phone or in a browser and needs internet access.

### Pronunciation videos

Videos produced by Karlskoga municipality's adult learning service show how Swedish vowels and consonants sound, plus word stress, sentence stress and intonation.

### Easy Swedish news

Links to news in simple Swedish:

• Klartext from Swedish Radio;
• Radio Sweden in easy Swedish, for people newly arrived in Sweden;
• 8sidor.se, to read and listen.

### Word videos and dictionaries

The pages also include videos explaining Swedish words and terms, and a list of dictionary links.

Healthcare and agencies before you are fluent

Language is not a barrier to care while you learn. 1177 says you can have an interpreter at healthcare and dental visits; tell the clinic when you book. The interpreter is free.

Building a routine

The public system gives structure, and the free tools fill gaps between classes. A workable weekly pattern built from these resources:

• attend SFI or Komvux at the pace your study plan sets;
• use Hej svenska on a phone for short daily exercises;
• read or listen to 8sidor or Klartext to practise with current events;
• use the pronunciation videos for sounds that are hard for English speakers.

Track your SFI registration date so you know when your three years end, and keep your grade certificates: they become evidence for the citizenship application later.

Who to contact

• Your municipality for SFI and Komvux enrolment.
• Your Arbetsförmedlingen employment officer for SFI or occupational Swedish if you are registered there.
• Your SFI teacher or municipality for an extension of the three-year limit.

Private tutoring

Group classes move at a set pace. Some learners add one-to-one lessons for speaking practice or to prepare for work. Platforms such as online Swedish tutors on italki let you book short, frequent sessions and bring real letters, forms and texts to class.

Common questions

Where do adults learn Swedish for free in Sweden? Through SFI, run by your municipality, and then Swedish as a second language at Komvux. Both are part of municipal adult education.

What level of Swedish do I need for citizenship? B1 for reading and listening, and A2 for speaking and writing, according to the Migration Agency.

Is there a Swedish language test for citizenship yet? The Migration Agency says the test may be introduced later than planned. For now you can use qualifications such as the highest SFI course or Tisus.

Are there free apps from the Swedish authorities? Yes. Informationsverige.se offers Hej svenska, a free app with four levels, along with pronunciation videos and links to easy Swedish news.