Swedish for immigrants (sfi)

Sfi, Swedish for immigrants, is a basic training program for adults which serves to provide you with basic skills in the Swedish language. Solna stad is responsible for providing you with information and handling the application process. For information in other languages, please use Google translate.

If you are already a student and have questions about your studies, you should turn directly to the school where you are currently studying.

The sfi tuition gives you the opportunity to develop an ability to communicate in Swedish in your everyday life, social life, working life and education – both verbally and in writing. Tuition is free of charge and the school provides you with all the books you need.

Who is entitled to study sfi?

Main requirements to study sfi:

  • Be registered in the municipality of Solna and lack a basic knowledge of Swedish,
  • have a personal identity number (personnummer),
  • be at least 16 years old.

You register at vux.solna.se/sfi External link, opens in new window..

EU/EES-citizens without a personal identity number Visa Dölj

If you are an EU/EES-citizen without a personal identity number or coordination number, you are entitled to study sfi if:

  • you lack a basic knowledge of Swedish,
  • live in Solna (have an address in Solna),
  • are at least 16 years old,

You register via SFI (EU) - registration External link, opens in new window.

Solna stad will keep a copy of your passport and residence permit. This is only to ensure that we have all necessary information concerning your sfi-application. After your application has been handled, the copies will be destroyed.

If you are not an EU/EES-citizen Visa Dölj

If you are not an EU/EES-citizen but have a right of residence in a EU/EES-country apart from Sweden, you are entitled to study sfi and:

  • lack basic knowledge of Swedish
  • be at least 16 years old
  • live in Solna (have an address in Solna)

You register via SFI (EU) - registration External link, opens in new window..

After registration you must visit Solna stads contact center and bring a copy of your residence permit, which Solna stad will keep. This is only to ensure that we have all necessary information concerning your sfi-application. After your application has been handled, the copy will be destroyed.

Information about different study paths

Studypaths sfi

Sfi consist of three different paths, 1-3 with four different courses, A-D. Your studylevel depends on your educational background, your prior knowledge or by earlier languagetest.

  • Kurs A - B Study path 1. For you who have little or no schooling.
  • Kurs B - C Study path 2. For you who have primary education, are highly educated but need to study at a slower pace.
  • Kurs C - D Study path 3. For you who have higher education, experience of language learning and have the ability to work independently.

You can read more about the study-paths and courses at the web-site of The Swedish National Agency for Education External link, opens in new window..

Find a school and registration Visa Dölj

There are several different schools that offer different times. Find information about times, places and schools on the page Skolor sfi (in Swedish). You sign up via a web form. In the application you must choose a school and time for your studies. You can find the registration for sfi on website https://vux.solna.se External link, opens in new window. After you have completed your application you will get a message from the school about when you can start. If you have questions about when you can start, please contact the school.

Do you need help?

Due to the corona virus, Adult Education is available only by phone and email. During regular drop-in times, you can call our Contact Center on 08-746 10 00 who will help you with registration or get in touch with adult education. Go to visiting hours.

What happens after registration? Visa Dölj

Live in Solna

After registration you will get a confirmation by e-mail or letter from the school you have choosen. In most cases you are able to start within 2-3 weeks after registration. Every school admit new students every 14:th day except during Summertime.

Do not live in Solna

If you like to study sfi in Solna, you must go trough the municipality you live in. It´s your municipality who decides if you can study in Solna or not. Read more on webbpage Information inför dina studier/Studera i annan kommun.

For how long is the education ongoing?

Course time varies, depending on your educational background, previous knowledge and planned course of study. It also depends on what way you choose to study, during daytime, evenings, Saturdays or by distance.

Change of time or school

Do you want to change time for your studies? Talk to your school. Do you want to change school during ongoing studies? Talk to your school, tell them that you want to quit. Choose a new school and make a new application. To sfi-application External link, opens in new window.


Sfi during Summer Visa Dölj

There is no Summerholiday for sfi-studies.
Tution is ongoing whole year and there is no break for Summer-holiday.
If you have own plans for Summer-vacation you have to fill in a application for Summer-leave. The school where you study provide this application.

Grade or certificate Visa Dölj

After finishing an sfi-course you can receive a grade after every separate course. The scale of passed grades are five; E, D, C, B or A. If you fail you will receive grade F. If the teacher don´t have enough information to decide a grade due to your absence you get an -. You can also ask for a certificate.

Read more about certificate and how you can make an order on this side.

Examination and test Visa Dölj

If you live in Sweden and need a certificate of your knowledge in Swedish you have the possibilty of examination of course B, C and D. Even though you already have a certificate you can always make a test and examination. Read about the possibility on page Prövning och validering (in Swedish)

CSN Visa Dölj

You are not entitled to student finance (studiestöd) from CSN (Centrala Studiestödsnämnden) when you study sfi. Read about student finance on the website CSN.se External link, opens in new window.

Certain rules apply if you receive unemployment benefit (A-kassa) and in the same time study sfi. If so, you have to check with Arbetsförmedlingen Arbetsförmedlingens website. External link, opens in new window.

Studies in another municipality Visa Dölj

Special rules apply if you are registered in Solna but wish to study in another municipality.

Special rules also apply if you are not registered in Solna but wish to study in Solna municipality.

Read about studies in another municipality on the website Studera i annan kommun.

Swedish for professionals (sfx) Visa Dölj

If you already are qualified and have a university or vocational degree from your native country, you can study Swedish for professionals (sfx). These courses have focus on your profession with the purpose to quickly find a work to match your profession.

As a citizen in Solna you apply for sfx via Solna Vuxenutbildning even though you may study in another municipality than Solna.

Read more on the website Swedish for professionals(sfx) External link, opens in new window.

Sfi in combination with vocational education Visa Dölj

You have the possibiltity to study to a profession in combination with sfi-studies. You study vocational courses on upper secondary school level and have practise on a workplace. Make an application on website https://vux.solna.se External link, opens in new window.

To find the vocational courses in combination with sfi, specify SFI in the application area according to this picture.

Practice Swedish on the web Visa Dölj

The website Hejsvenska is a form of digital support for training in Swedish as a second language at the SFI level. It is free and can be used by anyone, regardless of study background or computer experience. Hejsvenska is available on the web and as a free app to download to tablets and smart phones. Suitable for those who want to practice Swedish in their spare time. To the website Hejsvenska External link, opens in new window.

Kontakta oss

Solna stads kontaktcenter

08-746 10 00

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