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- | Facts about visas
If you wish to visit Sweden and are a citizen of a country outside the EU, you will in most cases need a visa. To find out if you need a visa, click on the link in the right-hand column.
In Sweden, visas are governed by the rules of the Schengen Agreement. As a result of the Agreement,
Schengen countries
have abolished border controls for people travelling between these countries. A visa granted by any one of these countries is also valid for visits to the others. In exceptional cases, the visa may only be valid for entry into the issuing country or only for certain countries if the holder´s passport is not approved by all the Schengen countries.
A visa is a permit which is required to enter and remain in Sweden and the other Schengen countries for a short period of time, for example
A visa is time-limited and is valid for a maximum of three months in any six-month period. Anyone who has spent three months in the Schengen zone must therefore leave the area for three months before they can be granted a new Schengen visa.
If there are special grounds, a visa may be granted for a longer period — up to a maximum of one year — but this visa will only be valid for entry into and a stay in Sweden. Such special grounds could, for example, include persons needing to travel to Sweden several times a year to conduct business or to visit their children. This type of visa (D visa) only grants the holder the right to enter and leave Sweden. Should the return journey be made via other Schengen countries, then a permit must be sought from the relevant countries.
It is not possible to extend a Swedish visa. Instead, you may apply for a residence permit for a visit if you wish to stay longer in Sweden. Those who know in advance that they wish to remain in Sweden for longer than three months should apply to the Swedish mission abroad for a residence permit for a visit or, if you have special grounds, a visa that is valid for a longer period of time (see above). By doing so, you will avoid paying fees twice.
Visa applications are considered by a Swedish mission abroad (embassy or consulate). In the event that they are unable to make a decision, the application is passed on to the Swedish Migration Board in Sweden.
Questions about an individual visa case should first be addressed to the embassy or consulate where the application was submitted.
The Swedish Migration Board determines the guidelines for issuing visas (visa practice). Practice is based on the knowledge which the Board has of the conditions in different parts of the world. Experiences from individual cases also affect practice.
Different reasons for visiting Sweden
A visa is a permit which is required to enter and remain in Sweden and the other Schengen countries for a short period of time, for example
- to visit relatives or friends
- as a tourist
- on business
- to attend a conference
- or simply to transit the country.
A visa granted by any one of these countries is also valid for visits to the others. In exceptional cases, the visa may only be valid for entry into the issuing country or only for certain countries if the holder´s passport is not approved by all the Schengen countries.
Period of validity
A visa is time-limited and is valid for a maximum of three months in any six-month period. Anyone who has spent three months in the Schengen zone must therefore leave the area for three months before they can be granted a new Schengen visa.
If there are special grounds, a visa may be granted for a longer period — up to a maximum of one year — but this visa will only be valid for entry into and a stay in Sweden. Such special grounds could, for example, include persons needing to travel to Sweden several times a year to conduct business or to visit their children. This type of visa (D visa) only grants the holder the right to enter and leave Sweden. Should the return journey be made via other Schengen countries, then a permit must be sought from the relevant countries.
It is not possible to extend a Swedish visa. Instead, you may apply for a residence permit for a visit if you wish to stay longer in Sweden. Those who know in advance that they wish to remain in Sweden for longer than three months should apply to the Swedish mission abroad for a residence permit for a visit or, if you have special grounds, a visa that is valid for a longer period of time (see above). By doing so, you will avoid paying fees twice.
Embassies and consulates consider applications
Visa applications are considered by a Swedish mission abroad (embassy or consulate). In the event that they are unable to make a decision, the application is passed on to the Swedish Migration Board in Sweden.
Questions about an individual visa case should first be addressed to the embassy or consulate where the application was submitted.
The Swedish Migration Board determines the guidelines for issuing visas (visa practice). Practice is based on the knowledge which the Board has of the conditions in different parts of the world. Experiences from individual cases also affect practice.
