Sweden for four years (in case of refugees and stateless persons), or five years (in case of other aliens).236 Finally, the person is expected to have “led and can be expected to lead a respectable life”.237 It is noteworthy that the Swedish legislation and practice does not include any requirements regarding Swedish language skills as a condition for naturalization. In the Government Bill on the Act on Swedish Citizenship, it is debated whether the law should specify that the four year residence requirement is only applicable to persons who are stateless involuntarily. It was concluded that whereas this specification was not necessary in the law itself, the already existing (unwritten) practice of applying the more beneficial provisions for stateless persons in naturalization matters would continue to be reserved only for those who have not themselves taken any measures in order to become stateless. On the other hand, the fact that a person could acquire a nationality of another State should not have an impact on whether the person is considered as stateless or not.238 Section 12 provides some exceptions to the requirements of Section 11. Even if the conditions of Section 11 are not met, a person can be naturalized if he or she has previously been a Swedish national; if he or she is married to (or living together as if married to) a Swedish national; or if there are other special reasons for naturalization. An important exception is also made to the requirement to establish one’s identity in Section 11(1): a person who cannot establish his or her identity can be naturalized if he or she has resided in the country for at least eight years and has made it probable that the presented identity is correct (see Section 3.3.2.2 above on questions of proof). Finally, Section 13 provides that “in a decision concerning naturalization it shall also be decided whether the applicant’s unmarried children under the age of eighteen shall acquire Swedish citizenship”. As such, the naturalization of children does not occur automatically upon naturalization of the parents. Neither the Act on Swedish Citizenship nor the Government Bill provides specific information on when children would not follow their parents’ naturalization. However, given the more beneficial provisions for children and young adults in Sections 6, 7 and 8, it should not be a problem for children to obtain citizenship (through notification as opposed to through naturalization). According to Section 11 of the Decree on Swedish Nationality, stateless persons are exempted from application fees for naturalization, which is in line with the recommendations of Article 32 of the 1954 Convention. Article 32 of the 1954 Convention also urges states to “make every effort to expedite naturalization proceedings”. This has not been explicitly translated into Swedish law or procedure, but in practice applications lodged by stateless persons are processed “expeditiously”.239 The procedure and the positive exceptions are in line with Article 32 of the 1954 Convention, which requires Contracting States to facilitate the naturalization of stateless persons. Table 13 below presents the number of stateless individuals, or individuals with “unknown” nationality or nationality “under investigation” who have been granted Swedish citizenship through naturalization between the years 2000 to 2015. 70 236 For nationals of other Nordic Countries only two years of lawful and habitual residence in Sweden are required. 237 The Act on Swedish Citizenship, Section 11(5). Guidance as to the content of this “good conduct” obligation can be found on the SMA website, at: http://goo.gl/XXWZtq. 238 Regeringens proposition (1999/2000), Lag om svenskt medborgarskap, p. 46. 239 Email from the SMA, 25 October 2012. M A P P I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S I N S W E D E N