Study in Sweden - procedures

Frequently asked questions
Fact sheets
Application forms

Who needs a visa?
Nationals in the majority of countries outside the EU require a visa to visit Sweden and the other Schengen countries. This is a decision reached by Sweden together with the other EU countries.

You can find a list of the countries whose nationals require a visa to visit Sweden by following the link in the right-hand column.

Visitors who arrive from countries that are not on the list can enter Sweden and the other Schengen countries and remain there without a visa for three months.
Countries whose citizens require entry visas

A visa is valid for the whole of the Schengen area
In Sweden it is the Schengen Agreement visa rules that apply.

The Schengen Agreement means, among other things, that the Schengen countries, i.e. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Norway and Iceland, have abolished border controls for persons travelling between these countries. A visa granted by any one of these countries is also valid for visits to the other countries. In exceptional cases the visa could be valid only for entry into the issuing country or only for certain countries if the holder's passport is not approved by all the Schengen countries.

Review each time you enter the area
A visa does not mean that the holder is automatically entitled to enter the Schengen area. This right is examined each time he or she passes the outer border of the Schengen area.

At the border control everyone who enters the area must be able to show that they have money for their keep during their visit and for their return journey home and that they have medical travel insurance and documents showing the purpose of their visit.


What is required to be granted a visa?
If you wish to visit Sweden and the other Schengen countries you will need a passport valid for at least three months after the final date stated in the visa.

You must also have money for your keep and for the journey home. The Swedish authorities have estimated that a person needs €40 (approximately SEK 370) for each day spent in Sweden. This amount could in certain instances be lower, such as in the case of a young child, if the cost of food and accommodation is paid in advance or if the applicant intends to stay with relatives or friends. You can prove that you have sufficient money for your keep by, for example, producing an account statement from your bank or a document showing that the person inviting you to Sweden promises to cover all expenses during your visit.

It is also necessary to have individual medical travel insurance which covers any costs that could arise in conjunction with

1) emergency medical assistance
2) emergency hospital care
3) transport to your home country for medical reasons.
 
The insurance should cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all the Schengen countries.

You will be granted a visa if the authority that makes the decision – a Swedish mission abroad (embassy or consulate) or the Swedish Migration Board – considers that you will leave the Schengen area after your visit. If it is considered that your true intention is to reside in the Schengen area your application will be rejected. The same applies if you are registered in the computer system SIS (Schengen Information System), where the member countries can register persons who are not permitted to enter the Schengen area. These rules apply in all countries that have ratified the Schengen Agreement.


Where do I hand in my application?
You should hand in your visa application to a Swedish mission abroad. In certain countries Sweden is represented by another Schengen country.

There are, however, countries where Sweden does not have a mission abroad and is not represented by another country. If that is the case and you wish to submit a visa application you must travel to the nearest country where there is a Swedish mission abroad or where another country represents Sweden.
Swedish embassies and consulates

To apply for a visa you should fill in the form Application for Schengen Visa.

You can also order by e-mail: distributionen@migrationsverket.se , by fax on +46 (0) 11 15 66 91 or by writing to the Migration Board, Distributionen, SE-601 70 Norrköping.

Forms are also available at Swedish missions abroad..
Application forms and referee's appendix

Information that must be included in the application
To enable the authorities to process your application you must state clearly

¤ why you are visiting Sweden
¤ how long you intend to stay in Sweden
¤ how you will support yourself during your time in Sweden
¤ the type of passport you hold and how long it is valid
¤ where you intend to travel following your visit to Sweden
¤ if you have a permit to travel to the country you intend to travel to after your time in Sweden
You must also enclose two passport photographs, taken with you looking straight ahead and which are not older than six months.

Apart from the application, all applicants must submit an Appendix D form (family appendix).

Note
Certain Swedish missions abroad could require that you enclose further documents with your application. It could also be that they require that the authenticity of all the documents is confirmed by a notary public.

It is therefore advisable that you call the mission abroad before you go there so that you know which documents you should take with you. You should also call if you wish to hand in your application at another Schengen country's mission abroad (a country that represents Sweden, see above). In that case it is that country's application forms and documentary requirements that apply. Documents should also be translated into the language of that country.

Many Swedish missions abroad have their own websites with information on how to apply for a visa and possible local requirements. If you can, read this information before you call.
Swedish embassies and consulates

What does it cost to apply for a visa?
For most applicants it costs €60 (approximately SEK 550) to submit a visa application at a Swedish mission abroad. The fee is not refunded if you are not granted a visa. Certain groups are exempted entirely or partly from this stipulation.

Who decides whether or not I will be granted a visa?
In the vast majority of cases the mission abroad can reach a decision after making certain checks with the other Schengen countries.

If the mission abroad is uncertain about how to assess your application, it could pass the application on to the Migration Board in Sweden, which then makes the decision.
Fact sheet about the Schengen Agreement

How long will it take?
Normally, a decision is made within two weeks although processing times at the missions abroad vary. If the Migration Board is to make a decision it could take longer as the mission abroad must then send the application by mail to the Migration Board. To be certain that you will receive your visa in time you should submit your application at least two months before you are due to travel to Sweden. During the holiday period June–August it could take longer.

How long is my visa valid?
A visa is time-limited and is valid for a maximum of three months in any six-month period. This means that if you have spent three months in the Schengen area you must leave the area for three months in order to be granted a new Schengen visa. If you have particular reasons you can be granted a visa for a longer period – subject to a maximum of one year – although in that case the visa is only valid for entry into Sweden and for a stay in Sweden. Particular reasons could, for example, be that you need to travel to Sweden several times during the year on business or to visit your children.

It is stated in the permit how many days you can use your visa during the permit period. This is often slightly longer than the period of validity of the visa. The reason for this is that the authorities expect that you could need a little time to arrange the trip – to book tickets and take out medical insurance for example.

It should be noted that you are not permitted to stay in Sweden or another Schengen country longer than the number of days stated on the permit sticker. The time is calculated from the date of entry on the first trip.

A Schengen visa can also be granted if you need to travel through Sweden and the Schengen area. It is stated on the permit sticker how many times you may travel through the Schengen area during the period of validity.

Can I extend my visa while I am in Sweden?
It is not possible to extend a visa. However, you can apply for a residence permit for a visit at one of the Migration Board permit units if you wish to stay longer than the time covered by a visa. However, this carries an extra cost of SEK 1,000 per adult and SEK 500 for children under the age of 18 years.

If you know in advance that you want to remain in Sweden for more than three months you should apply at the mission abroad for a residence permit for a visit or, if you have particular reasons, a visa that is valid for a longer period of time (see above). By doing so, you avoid paying fees twice. The mission abroad sends applications for a residence permit for the purpose of a visit to the Migration Board, which then makes a decision.

Source: The Swedish Migration Board