Abstract This study examines how middle-aged foreign-born residents (35-60) experience inclusion, participation and opportunities for involvement in citizen dialogue in Sävsjö municipality. The study also explores how municipal employees describe the municipality’s work with inclusion and citizen participation. The research is based on a qualitative case study using semi structured interviews with 15 participants, including foreign-born residents, Swedish-born residents and municipal employees, as well as an analysis of municipal policy documents and development strategies. The empirical material was analysed through theories of citizenship, inclusion and exclusion, participation, social belonging, and institutional barriers. The findings show that several foreign-born participants experience limited knowledge about citizen dialogue and municipal decision-making processes, despite long-term residence, employment, and everyday establishment in the municipality. Many respondents describe feelings of social exclusion, limited belonging and experiences of cultural and religious othering in everyday life. The study also demonstrates that formal inclusion, such as employment or legal citizenship, does not automatically lead to social inclusion or a sense of belonging. At the same time, positive experiences of inclusion were connected to respectful social relationships, supportive workplaces, and accessible meeting places. Interviews with municipal employees reveal strong ambition to work with inclusion and participation, but also organisational challenges in reaching underrepresented groups and creating long-term, inclusive dialogue processes. The study concludes that citizen dialogue requires more active outreach strategies, accessible communications and relationship-based approaches in order to strengthen democratic participation and social inclusion among groups that risk marginalisation.