Although Sweden's nationality score is the highest of the 28 MIPEX countries, significant improvements are needed for it to reach best practice. Sweden's lowest scores across all the dimensions are for eligibility for access to nationality, and dual nationality. A Swede's spouse can apply to naturalise after less than three years of residence. Although Nordic citizens can apply after two years, all other first-generation migrants must wait five. Migrants' descendants are not automatically Swedish at birth; they can apply for citizenship before the age of 15 if their parents are long-term residents or between the ages of 15-18 once they have lived in Sweden for three years. Sweden ranks 2nd on conditions for acquisition after PT and top on security of nationality of the 28 MIPEX countries (see box). Sweden has dual nationality policies halfway to best practice: with exceptional cases for naturalising citizens, and under conditions for the Swedish-born children of migrants.
