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Sweden is a Scandinavian nation located in Northern Europe. The dense forest, mountains, and beautiful coastlines make Sweden one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. If you are thinking about visiting Sweden this year, make sure you know if you need a visa to enter the country.
Do I Need a Visa to Go to Sweden?
Whether you need a visa to enter Sweden or not depends on your country of origin— Sweden does not require visas for:
- Citizens of the EU/EEA. Citizens from other Schengen countries can enter Sweden freely.
- Nationals from the USA, Britain, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. Citizens from countries with a visa-free agreement with Sweeden can stay in the country for up to 90 days.
Citizens of countries outside the European Union must apply for a Sweden visa if they plan to visit the country. If you belong to one of the countries that need a Schengen visa to enter Sweeden, you can proceed with the visa application process.
Sweden Visa Types
Before applying for a Sweden visa, you must choose the type of visa based on the reason you are traveling as listed below:
- Sweden Tourist Visa. A Sweden Schengen (Tourist) visa is required for citizens from countries without a visa liberalization agreement with Sweeden. With this visa, you can enter Sweden and other Schengen member states for a period of 90 days within 180 days.
- Sweden Transit Visa. Depending on your nationality, you may need an airport transit visa if you use the Sweden airport to change flights. However, a transit visa does not allow you to leave the international transit area of the airport.
- Sweden Student Visa. Students accepted to a university or a university college in Sweden that need to stay for a more extended period based on study purposes should apply for a student visa. The student visa must be issued before traveling to Sweden. After you are done with your studies, if you want to seek employment in Sweden, you need to apply for a work permit.
- Sweden Work Visa. If you have found a job in Sweden and want to live in the country to continue your employment, you need a work visa. You must be granted a work permit before entering Sweden. The work permit can be obtained only if you have an employment offer in Sweden.
- Sweden Family Visa. A family visa is issued for people who have spouses, a registered partner, cohabiting partner, or children that are living in Sweden and want to join them. The application for a family visa can be made by you or other people under a power of attorney. A family visa allows its holder to live, study and work in Sweden for the duration of its validity.
- Sweden Work and Holiday Visa. Young people between the ages of 18 to 30 can stay in Sweden for up to one year with a working holiday visa. This type of visa gives young people the opportunity to explore life and culture in Sweden. You are allowed to work during the time you are in the country, but the job must be temporary.
- Sweden Investment Visa. An investment visa is issued to people or businesses that want to invest in Sweden. There are no restricted investments, and the minimum investment cost is €100,000 (no limits).
Documents Required for a Sweden Visa
These are the documents you are required to submit for a Sweden visa application:
- Sweden visa application form. Complete the application form following the instructions and sign it at the end.
- One photograph. Take one photograph following the passport format. The photos need to be in color, with white background, and must be in accordance with the guidelines of the Schengen visa.
- Passport and copies of your current and previous passport for the past seven years. A valid passport with two blank pages for stamping. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after your visa expires. Provide copies of all used passport pages.
- Cover letter. Write a cover letter stating the purpose of your travel to Sweden and give information about your traveling itinerary.
- Travel health insurance. A confirmation that you have at least €30,000 medical coverage within Sweden and other Schengen countries.
- Flight itinerary. Provide of purchased flight tickets to Sweden, including details of your travel, the entry/depart dates, etc.
- Confirmed accommodation in Sweden. Provide documents that prove you have a place to stay in Sweden or that you can afford to find a place to stay (hotel, family member, friend, etc.).
- Financial status. Give a bank statement of the last three months to show that you have enough income for your stay in Sweden. This will prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your daily expenses.
Here you can find the complete list of required documents for Sweden visa application.
How to Apply for a Swedish Visa?
You can apply for a Swedish visa in different ways via one of the following:
- An external service provider
- E-service (online)
- Embassy
Applying through an external service provider
Visit your embassy website to find out if you need to apply through an external service provider. If your embassy has an agreement with an external service provider, you may continue with your application. The embassy will instruct you on how to proceed further.
When applying through an external service provider, you may be required to pay an additional service fee.
Applying through E-Service
If your embassy does not have an agreement with an external service provider and you are applying through the Swedish embassies in Seoul (South Korea), Teheran (Iran), or Tokyo (Japan), you can apply via e-service. Your application will be valid for 72 hours. If you do not register your application at the Swedish Migration Agency within 14 days, it will be removed.
Applying through an embassy
If you can’t apply either from an external service provider or through the e-service, you have to apply directly at the embassy. It is important to read all the requirements before going to the embassy.
Note: Read the COVID-19 requirements before entering the country.
Sweden Visa Processing Time
Usually, you will be notified about your visa status within two weeks. The processing time at the embassy or consulate can last longer. In individual cases, the processing time for a Sweden visa can be extended to 45 days.
If you have submitted the application to a third-party responsible for collecting applications for the embassy or consulate, you will be notified by that external service provider.
How to Check Sweden Visa Status Online?
The Swedish embassy offers the possibility for online visa applications in South Korea, Iran, and Japan. If you apply online, you can follow your case through the e-service.
All you have to do is log in to the account you registered your application.
After entering the site, you will have access to:
- The information you submitted in your application
- The documents you scanned and submitted
- If you have received a decision about your application
How Much Does a Swedish Visa Cost?
When applying for a Swedish visa, you will be required to pay a standard fee of 80€ for adults and a 40€ fee for children between the ages of 6-11. You can pay the Swedish visa fee with either online or at the embassy/consulate
The fee you paid after applying for a Swedish visa will not be refunded if your visa application gets rejected.
How Long Can I Stay in Sweden with a Visa?
A Sweden Schengen visa is valid for 90 days within a period of 180 days. The visa sticker on your passport shows how many days you can stay in the Schengen countries. The 90 days can be used during the time indicated on your visa sticker. The period is often 15 days longer than the number of allowed days.
If you want to stay in Sweden for longer than 90 days, you need to apply for a long-stay (Type D) visa. The long stay visa types allow its holder to enter and live in Sweden for one year, with the possibility of extending the duration up to two years. The type D visa is usually issued for employment, education, and family reunion. After receiving a long stay visa, you should apply for a temporary residence permit after arriving in Sweden.
Can I Extend a Sweden Visa?
The visa extension is only possible in certain cases, such as:
- Force majeure. Unexpected events that prevent you from leaving Sweden (extreme weather conditions)
- Humanitarian reasons. If you or a relative living in Sweden has a serious disease.
- Personal reasons. Health care or business trip.
You must apply for a visa extension before your visa expires, and the reason behind your extension application must have occurred after you came to Sweden. You might be required to pay a fee of 30€ when the Migration Agency evaluates that your application is based on strong personal reasons.
What If My Sweden Visa Is Rejected?
The embassy or consulate-general will notify you whether your visa has been approved or not. If your Sweden visa application is rejected, you can write an appeal letter to the embassy. You need to submit the letter of appeal no later than three weeks from the day you received an answer for your visa status. The instructions on how to fill in an appeal letter are written in the visa decision.
Do You Need a Sweden Visa from the US?
No, citizens of the U.S do not need a visa to visit Sweden if the visit is for 90 days or less. For longer visits, US citizens must apply for a visa and a valid permit.