Citizenship – for children born abroad with a Swedish father before 1 April 2015
Here you will find information for Swedish fathers on how to submit a notification of Swedish citizenship for your child who was born abroad before 1 April 2015.
If the parents are married, the child automatically becomes a Swedish citizen. Then, you do not need to file a notification of Swedish citizenship.
Read more about automatic citizenship
Requirements for citizenship
To become a Swedish citizen through notification, these requirements must be met when the notification is submitted:
- the father must be a Swedish citizen since the child’s birth
- the child must not have turned 18 years old when the notification is received by the Swedish Migration Agency or a Swedish mission abroad
- there must be a valid established paternity.
If the child has reached the age of 15,
- it must have been proven probable that the child’s identity is correct
- the child must not be reasonably suspected or convicted of certain crimes*
- the child must not pose a threat to Sweden’s national security or public safety
- the child must not be associated with groups or organisations that have committed abuse against other people.
*The child must not be reasonably suspected or convicted of a crime for which the punishment under Swedish law is four years or more years in prison. The child must also not have been convicted of repeated crimes which, under Swedish law, can neither be considered minor nor committed long ago. This applies regardless of whether the suspected or committed crimes took place in Sweden or another country.
All requirements must be met when the notification is filed.
The notification must be made by the child’s father. If the child has more than one parent/legal guardian, all their parents/legal guardians must sign the notification. Children who have reached the age of 12 must consent to becoming a Swedish citizen by signing the notification.
In most cases, you pay a fee.
Complete the form Notification of Swedish citizenship for a child with a Swedish father, born out of wedlock outside Sweden before 1 April 2015, 321011 (in Swedish only).
If the child is not nationally registered in Sweden, submit the form to a Swedish embassy or consulate.
If the child is nationally registered in Sweden, send the form to
Swedish Migration Agency
Citizenship Unit
601 70 Norrköping
Remember to include
- a certificate of paternity and/or another equivalent document
- documents (such as passports) that show your citizenship at the time of the child’s birth and at the time of notification (if you are not nationally registered in Sweden)
- a custody decision if you have sole custody of the child or if anyone other than you and the child’s mother are legal guardians.
If the child lives abroad, you must include
- a birth certificate.
If the child has already tuned 15, you must include
- a copy of the child’s identity document
All copies must be certified as a true copy.
In most cases, you pay a fee. Note that if you submit the notification to a Swedish embassy or consulate, you pay the fee there.
The Swedish Migration Agency sends the decision to your officially registered address. If you live abroad, the decision is sent to the Swedish embassy (or consulate).
If the child has become a Swedish citizen, we also notify the Swedish Tax Agency of the decision. We will then also freeze the child’s residence permit card, which means that the card is invalid and can no longer be used for travel.
Swedish passport
If the child has become a Swedish citizen, you can apply for a Swedish passport. You file the application for a Swedish passport with the police.
If the child is abroad and you want to apply for a Swedish passport, you can do so at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general.
Swedish embassies and consulates-general
External link, opens in new window.