In a letter seen by The Local, the Migration Agency instructs those it has invited to take the test only to apply if they can already prove that they have sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language.

"If you cannot demonstrate knowledge in either Swedish or in Swedish society, DO NOT apply for the citizenship test," the letter warns recipients.

They should, it said, ONLY apply to take the citizenship test if they can demonstrate their knowledge of Swedish language, for which you need to have successfully completed the Swedish for Immigrants course (SFI), or passed Swedish as a Second Language in a leaving exam or at upper secondary level, or passed the Tisus test.

As well as applying to take the test at the application link, the document says they should also send in proof of Swedish knowledge to the Migration Agency.

READ ALSO: How to show proof of Swedish and civics knowledge for citizenship

In the unlikely case that one of those invited can already demonstrate both language and civics knowledge, they are also advised not to apply for the test.

Sweden will hold its first civics exam for citizenship on August 15th at the Stockholmsmässan conference centre in Älvsjö outside Stockholm, and the roughly 1,000 people who have registered to take the test have now already received their places.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about the coming civics test for citizenship

Of the six people The Local has been in contact with who have been invited to take the test, none were already able to demonstrate their Swedish knowledge. Four deciding not to register for the test as a result, while two opted to defy the instructions and register to take the test anyway, with their registration apparently going through without any problem.

The Local has contacted the Migration Agency to ask whether it is correct that only those who cannot prove sufficient Swedish knowledge to qualify for citizenship are ineligible to take the civics, or whether they are only being advised not to take it.