An online citizenship application service has been launched by the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket).
The web-based service, launched last week, aims to simplify and speed up the often lengthy application process for Swedish citizenship.
“The Migration Board has carried out a broad development of services and by the end of 2011 we will have the most expedient citizenship application process in Europe,” said Dan Eliasson, Migration Board director-general, in a report by The Local.
Although the official announcement of the new service was only made last week, the first electronic applicant, Thai citizen Napasorn Rungrueang, has already been approved and has received citizenship confirmation from staff at the Migration Board.
The online application process will still require potential citizens to submit a signed form, but the rest of the electronic submission can be paid for and completed entirely online. The application is then forwarded to the Migration Board for processing.
A valid email address in required by all citizenship applicants, along with the capacity to make payment via internet banking or credit card. Applicants will also need access to a printer and should wait for approval before submitting the final, signed form.
The Migration Board has advised potential applicants that the requirements for citizenship remain the same, and that at least five years’ residency in Sweden is considered standard.