Sweden Student Visa - Eligibility, Requirements, Fees & How to Apply

After completing your admission application requirements for Swedish universities, international students who get admitted will have to apply for a student visa. Understand how to apply for Sweden student visa, the documents required, the fee for the visa and its prerequisites in this article.

A person can apply for two different types of visas when planning to go to Sweden. One intending to travel to Sweden for recreational purposes would apply for a Schengen Visa, valid for three months. Tourists typically use it as this allows them to pass through the European Union’s Schengen Area.

The other visa is the Residence Permit for Sweden, a long-stay visa under the first- or second-cycle studies. It can be applied for a variety of reasons. Students planning to study in Sweden have to apply for a Residence Permit or a Sweden Study Visa to enter the country and study legally. Resident Permits are issued by the Swedish Migration Agency in Sweden but processed by the Swedish Embassy and Consulates in India. 

Sweden Visa Processing Time 

All visa applications are sent to Sweden; the processing time for Sweden's study visa is 90 days. However, it might take longer, and you are advised to start the process as soon as possible. Moreover, a paper application takes much longer than an online application. Hence, students are advised to opt for an online application.  

Sweden Study Visa Fees 

Sweden's study visa fee for Residence Permit for Study purposes for Sweden is SEK 1,500 at the current exchange rate. Students must make an online payment for the same by using a Visa or a MasterCard. (Both Credit and Bank/Debit Cards are acceptable).

What documents are required for Student Visas to Sweden?

The applicant must provide the required documents for a Residence Permit in Sweden. Even before you start the actual visa application, you must ensure you have all of the following documents for visa: 

• A student must have a valid passport for at least six months at the time of application. Also, the passport should be issued not earlier than 10 years preceding the time of application for a Sweden study visa. 

• Students need an enrolment letter from a University in Sweden that clearly states the course duration and that they have paid (in full) the first instalment of the fees. 

• The student must note that this must include a study period equivalent to 30 credits. If your first semester does not equal 30 credits, you must pay a fee for two semesters. (Though this usually is not the case) 

• A student must show proof of financial capacity for the visa. This means you must have the funds to pay for the course you are enrolled in and support your stay in the country. This could be in the form of a scholarship/ sponsor (public or private), student loan or own funds to the tune of SEK 9,450 for each month of your stay in Sweden, computed for the intended stay with a minimum of 10 months for every year of staying in Sweden. 

• You would be asked to provide proof of health insurance if your stay is less than 10 months. Students applying for longer stays would receive compulsory health insurance when they reach Sweden. 

• Class X/ XII/ Bachelors (whichever is applicable) The mark sheet and Certificate clearly show the course's year of completion. 

• Your visa application would also ask you to submit a 1000-character (roughly 150 words) essay on why you have chosen Sweden for your studies. There is no fixed format for the same, but you have to give a specific reason for what you believe Sweden offers that your home country does not.  

• Note: You are not required to submit all the certificates for a Sweden study visa. The system only prompts you to provide details on your last qualification/ work experience. If you wish to provide information on all your previous qualifications and/or work experience, you must provide relevant documentary proof. 

• Two sets of documents – original and signed true copies- are required for paper visa applications. 

• You must upload a scanned copy of the original documents for online applications. You must scan and upload the original documents and not the photocopies. 

• Moreover, the attached documents should not be larger than 2MB for online applications and in acceptable formats. PDF and JPEG are always the preferred formats for official documentation. 

Also Read: Student Guide to Sweden

Sweden Student Visa Eligibility Requirement

To qualify for a Swedish Residence Permit for Studies, you must:

1. Have a Valid Passport: Ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your intended stay.
2. Be Admitted to Full-Time Studies: You must have an official admission letter from a Swedish educational institution confirming your enrollment in a full-time program.
3. Pay Tuition Fees: If applicable, the first installment of your tuition fees should be paid before applying.
4. Demonstrate Financial Means: You need to show that you can support yourself financially during your stay. As of now, the requirement is SEK 9,450 per month for the duration of your studies.
5. Have Comprehensive Health Insurance: If your study period is less than a year, you must have health insurance that covers emergency and other medical care.

How to Apply for a Swedish Student Visa

Candidates must follow the steps below to apply for their Sweden Study Visa successfully.  

• Confirm your admission to a Swedish university and prepare the documents per the abovementioned checklist. 

• Confirm health insurance (if applicable) 

• Fill out the residence permit application form online by logging into the Migrationsverket Website. 

• Upload the documents and submit your application. 

• Pay the student visa fee of SEK 1,500 through a Visa/ Mastercard 

• Receive confirmation from the consulate/ embassy 

• Upon receiving the email, submit your biometric information and photograph at Sweden's nearest embassy/ consulate office. 

Working while on a Student Visa in Sweden?

International students can work while they are pursuing their education in Sweden. There is no upper limit to the number of hours a student can work for. However, a student must mandatorily complete a minimum study of 40 hours a week. Most  Universities in Sweden have career cells where students can be assisted in finding appropriate part-time options.

Working after Graduating from Swedish Universities

Students who have completed their studies in Sweden can apply for and get an extension of their Residence Permit for 6 months to seek suitable employment. Once the student has an appropriate job, s/he must have a Work Permit for Sweden. Students can also seek a Residence Permit to start a business in Sweden.

Related Articles: Top Universities in Sweden

Scholarships for Studying in Sweden

A large number of international students prefer Sweden to pursue higher studies. However, pursuing an education in Sweden is not cheap. Therefore, students must look for different ways to arrange funds to cover tuition fees and living costs. Considering the demand of the students' various universities in Sweden offer scholarships to international students. Below, we have given you some popular scholarships for studying in Sweden.

• Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses)
• Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Also, read about student visas for study abroad and student visas for prominent international study destinations. Also, if you wish to apply for free counselling to apply at universities abroad, you can sign up at Shiksha Abroad Counselling.