This policy brief analyses how views on citizenship and integration have evolved over time, with a particular focus on changes over the past decade.
It also addresses the role of citizenship in promoting integration, both as a tool and as an incentive. A review of previous research shows that the relationship is complex and that there are no clear-cut conclusions. Successful integration appears rather to be the result of several interacting factors. Therefore, the following recommendations are put forward for policymakers to consider.
Key conclusions and recommendations
- Evaluate the effects of changes to citizenship and residence permits.
- Evaluate and develop support for individuals to achieve integration goals and, ultimately, citizenship.
- Investigate and evaluate the effects and the need for support for individuals who will find themselves in uncertain situations for a prolonged period.
This policy brief is based on the report Becoming a Swedish Citizen: Law, Bureaucracy, and Integration written by Frida Edström & Constanza Vera Larrucea. It was commissioned by the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) as part of the research project “Naturalisation as an ‘integration booster’ for refugees”, running from 2023 to 2027 and financed by the foundation Stiftung Mercator.
About the author
The policy brief’s author is Daniel Silberstein, PhD in International Relations and Research Coordinator at Delmi.
The policy brief was published on 11 August 2026.
Photo: Hans Ott via Unsplash.
