Schengen short-stay visa

If you come from a country whose citizens need an entry visa to enter Sweden and the Schengen area, you must have a Schengen visa to visit Sweden for up to 90 days.

You do not need a Schengen visa if you are a citizen or long-term resident of another country in the Schengen area, or have a residence permit there (see which countries are part of the Schengen area External link.) come from a country whose citizens do not need an entry visa to visit Sweden.

Visiting family and friends

Entry visa for a business trip or to attend a conference

Entry visa for a tourist visit

Entry visa for medical treatment

Entry visa to visit Sweden for religious purposes

Entry visa as a doctoral exchange student

Entry visa for volunteer work or internship

It is only in exceptional cases that you are allowed to work when you are in Sweden with an entry visa but without a work permit.

If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and want to visit Sweden for a maximum of 90 days, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa. This entry visa is a permit to enter and stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

A Schengen visa can be valid for multiple entries. A multiple-entry visa can be valid for a maximum of five years. Each stay can last for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The entry visa sticker that is pasted into your passport states how many days you can stay in the Schengen countries. These days can be used during the period of time indicated on the sticker.

In some cases, your entry visa may only be valid for entering and staying in Sweden or in certain countries in the Schengen area, for example if your passport is not accepted by all Schengen countries. Your entry visa will state which countries you are allowed to enter.

If you come from a country outside the Schengen area and you do not need an entry visa to travel to Sweden or to another Schengen country, you must still meet a number of requirements. Before you enter Sweden, the border police will check that you meet these requirements.

You must have a passport valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area a valid round-trip ticket with a return journey within 90 days a written invitation from your family member or friend with whom you will be staying, or a booking confirmation if you are staying at a hotel money for your subsistence and return journey.

Sweden requires that you have SEK 700 for each day of your visit to Sweden. In some cases, this amount may be lower, for example for younger children, if you have paid for your meals and accommodation in advance, or if you will be staying with relatives or friends. You must show that you have enough money to support yourself financially. You can do this with the help of, e.g., bank statements from your bank or documents in which the person inviting you to Sweden promises to cover all costs during your visit.

The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.

The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).

You must apply for an entry visa before your trip to the Schengen area. Remember to submit your application well in advance. It normally takes 15 days to receive a decision about an application. You can apply no more than six months before your visit.

In many countries, Sweden has an agreement with an external service provider, VFS Global, which receives applications for Schengen visas. It is then the Swedish authorities that process and make a decision regarding your application.

In some countries, you must submit your application to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general. In a number of countries, Sweden is represented by another Schengen country, and it is then that country’s embassy or consulate-general that receives and processes your application.

If you have applied for an extension, it is the Swedish Migration Agency that makes a decision in your case and sends the decision to you.

If you want to visit Sweden for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a visitor’s residence permit.