Work · Sweden
Swedish (SFI)
Learn Swedish — for free
What is SFI
Free Swedish Classes
SFI (Svenska för invandrare) is free Swedish language education for adult immigrants. Every municipality is required to offer it.
- Cost
- Completely free
- Start within
- 3 months of applying
- Requirement
- Age 16+, registered in a Swedish municipality
- Schedule options
- Daytime, evenings, and distance/online
- Provider
- Your local kommun (municipality)
- Contact your municipality's SFI coordinator
- Take a placement test to determine your starting level
- Choose between daytime, evening, or distance classes
- Attend classes regularly (attendance is tracked)
- Progress through levels at your own pace
Official sources
Course Levels
SFI Course Levels
SFI has 4 courses (A, B, C, D) across 3 study tracks. You're placed based on your educational background and learning speed.
- Track 1 (SFI A–B)
- For those with limited schooling
- Track 2 (SFI B–C)
- For those with some secondary education
- Track 3 (SFI C–D)
- For university-educated learners
- Duration
- 6–24 months depending on track and pace
- National test
- SFI D national exam at completion
- Take the initial placement assessment
- Begin in the assigned track and course level
- Attend regularly and complete assignments
- Pass each course to advance to the next level
- Complete SFI D national test to finish
Official sources
After SFI
Beyond SFI — What's Next
After completing SFI D, you can continue to SAS (Swedish as a Second Language) at grundläggande or gymnasial level — also free.
- SAS grundläggande
- Equivalent to compulsory school Swedish
- SAS gymnasial
- Equivalent to upper secondary Swedish
- University requirement
- SAS 3 (gymnasial) for Swedish-taught programmes
- Cost
- Free through Komvux (adult education)
- TISUS test
- Alternative path to university eligibility
- Complete SFI D with a passing grade
- Enroll in SAS grundläggande at your local Komvux
- Progress to SAS gymnasial for university eligibility
- Take the TISUS exam as an alternative university path
- Apply to Swedish-language university programmes
Official sources
Free Resources
Learn Swedish Online
Beyond SFI, there are excellent free resources to practise Swedish. Combining formal classes with self-study accelerates your progress.
- SVT Språkplay
- Swedish TV with subtitles — free, all levels
- Duolingo Swedish
- Gamified learning — free tier available
- UR Play
- Educational radio/TV in easy Swedish
- 8 Sidor
- News in easy Swedish (lättläst)
- Språkcafé
- Free conversation practice at libraries
- Download SVT Play and enable Swedish subtitles
- Read 8 Sidor daily for easy Swedish news
- Attend a local språkcafé at your library
- Use Duolingo for daily vocabulary practice
- Listen to UR Play podcasts during commutes
Official sources
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