Studying in higher educa­tion

If you are to study at a university, university college, higher vocational education or folk high school at the post-secondary level in Sweden for a period of time longer than three months, you can apply for a residence permit for higher education. The permit must be issued before you travel to Sweden.

EU/​​​​EEA citi­zens and long-term resi­dents

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or family member of an EU/EEA citizen, Swiss citizen or are a long-term resident, you cannot apply for a residence permit for studies. Different rules apply to you.

Rules for EU/EEA citizens, Swiss citizens and long-term residents

Stays of less than three months

If your total period of stay in Sweden is less than three months, you should not apply for a residence permit, but should instead apply for an entry visa. Citizens of some countries may stay in Sweden for up to three months without a residence permit or visa. During this period, it is permitted to study.

Countries whose citizens require an entry visa for travel to Sweden External link, opens in new window.

Read more about applying for an entry visa

Apply for a first residence permit for higher education

Undergraduate or graduate level studies at a university college or university include bachelor’s and master’s programmes. If you are admitted to such a programme, you can apply for a residence permit for higher education. There is a list on studyinsweden.se of which seats of learning are counted as universities and university colleges.

See if your seat of learning counts as a university or university college on studyinsweden.se External link, opens in new window.

Apply for a residence permit for undergraduate or graduate studies

If you are going to participate in contract or specialisation education for doctors or dentists, you must instead apply for a residence permit for contract or specialisation education.

Apply for a residence permit for contract or specialisation education in Sweden

If you are admitted to doctoral studies in Sweden, you can apply for a residence permit for higher education.

Apply for a residence permit for doctoral studies

If you intend to begin your programme in Sweden and conduct part of your studies in Sweden as a mobility student

If you are to study at a Union programme or a multilateral programme that includes mobility measures and are to begin your studies in the programme in Sweden, you can apply for a residence permit for higher education in Sweden for the entire programme. If you are to study in a different EU country as a part of the programme, you should contact the migration authorities in that country to check if you need to submit a report to them about your planned stay.

Apply for a residence permit for mobility studies that you will begin in Sweden

If you intend to begin your programme in another EU country and conduct part of your studies in Sweden as a mobi­lity student

If you are studying at a Union programme or a multilateral programme that includes mobility measures, you do not need to apply for a residence permit for higher education in Sweden to study at a Swedish university within the programme if you already have a residence permit for this in another EU country. You must instead notify the Swedish Migration Agency of your planned stay in Sweden.

This applies if you are to study at a Swedish university as a part of your educational programme.

Read more about how to make a registration of notification of studies in Sweden

If you have been admitted to studies in higher vocational education or to studies at the post-secondary level at a folk high school, you can apply for a residence permit for higher education.

There is information on higher vocational education programmes at the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education. There is a list of all courses at Sweden’s folk high schools at www.folkhogskola.nu. The course descriptions state the level of the programme in question. It should be mentioned that the folk high schools also offer studies that are not at the post-secondary level, which are therefore not to be considered higher education studies.

See higher vocational education programmes at the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education External link, opens in new window.

List of all courses at Sweden’s folk high schools External link, opens in new window.

Apply for a residence permit for studies in a higher vocational education programme or at folk high school at the post-secondary level

A residence permit is also required for studies that are not higher education, so-called other studies.

Apply for a residence permit for other studies

If you intend to be an exchange student at an upper-secondary school, the rules for other studies also apply.

Read more about what applies to you if you intend to study as an exchange student at an upper-secondary school

If you are to conduct contract or specialisation education in Sweden for a period of time longer than three months, you can apply for a residence permit.

Apply for a residence permit for contract or specialisation education in Sweden

If you have not been admitted to studies in Sweden, but intend to conduct research here or if you need to come to Sweden as a part of your doctoral studies in a different country, you should not apply for a resident permit for higher education.

A researcher is a person who is qualified for a doctoral programme through a programme of higher education and is selected to conduct research in Sweden. If you have received a hosting agreement as a researcher, you must apply for a residence permit as a researcher.

Apply for a residence permit as a researcher

If you are a doctoral student and are to study in Sweden as a part of your education in another country, you cannot receive a residence permit for studies in higher education if you have not been admitted to a Swedish university. You can instead apply for a residence permit for visitors.

Read more about how to apply for a residence permit as a visitor

Apply for an extension of a residence permit for higher education

Undergraduate or graduate level studies at a university college or university include bachelor’s and master’s programmes. If you are still admitted to such a programme, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit for higher education.

Apply to extend your residence permit for higher education

If you are still admitted to doctoral studies, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit for higher education.

Apply to extend your residence permit for doctoral studies

If you are still admitted to studies in higher vocational education or to studies at the post-secondary level at a folk high school, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit for higher education.

There is information on higher vocational education programmes at the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education. There is a list of all courses at Sweden’s folk high schools at www.folkhogskola.nu. The course descriptions state the level of the programme in question. It should be mentioned that the folk high schools also offer studies that are not at the post-secondary level, which are therefore not to be considered higher education studies.

See higher vocational education programmes at the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education External link, opens in new window.

Apply for a residence permit for studies in a higher vocational education programme or at folk high school at the post-secondary level

If you intend to continue studying after your permit expires, you must apply for an extension of your residence permit.

Apply to extend your residence permit for other studies

If you intend to continue studying after your permit expires, you must apply for an extension of your residence permit.

Apply to extend a permit to attend contract or specialisation education

If you want to continue working as a researcher after your permit expires, you must apply for an extension of your residence permit. It is important that you submit your application before your current permit expires.

Apply to extend your residence permit for researchers or exchange doctoral students

Apply for a residence permit to seek employment after completed studies

If you have a residence permit for studies in higher education and have completed a university programme of at least two semesters in Sweden, you can receive a residence permit to seek employment or investigate the possibilities of starting your own company here.

Read more about residence permits to seek employment

Apply for a permanent residence permit as a doctoral student

If you have lived in Sweden with a residence permit for doctoral studies for a total of four years in the past seven years, you can receive a permanent residence permit.

Read more about a permanent residence permit as a doctoral student

Apply for residence permits for family members

If the entire family applies at the same time, you can apply together in the same online application.

Read more about the application for a residence permit as a student

If the person who received a residence permit for studies is already in Sweden, you as a family member can submit your own online application afterwards.

Read more about residence permits as a family member of a student who is already in Sweden

If the entire family applies at the same time, you can apply together in the same online application.

Read more about residence permits for doctoral studies

If the person who received a residence permit for doctoral studies is already in Sweden, you as a family member can submit your own online application afterwards.

Read more about residence permits as a family member of a doctoral student who is already in Sweden

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