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- | Studying in Sweden
- | University or college
For studies that are shorter than three months, citizens in certain countries must have an entry visa; see link in the right column.
Residence permits for studies are temporary. Even if your stay has lasted for several years, you will normally not be allowed to reside in Sweden. The permit must be valid and included in your passport before you travel to Sweden.
Requirements to be granted a residence permit
To be granted a residence permit you must:
- have a valid passport
- be admitted to full-time studies
- be able to support yourself for the planned study period
- have comprehensive health insurance that covers the whole period you are in Sweden if you plan to study for less than one year.
You must be able to support yourself
You must show that you have funds for the whole of the planned study period the first time you apply for a residence permit. You must show that you have your support secured by means of verification of personal bank assets, a scholarship or similar means of support, such as a foreign study grant. You must enclose a bank statement showing that you have your own bank assets available in an account belonging to you. If you have a scholarship you must present a certificate proving this. We do not accept that a sponsor (such as a relative or a company) supports you during your stay in Sweden.
The support requirement is at present a minimum of SEK 7,300 per month. If you intend to study for one year or more you must show that you can support yourself for 10 months per year. (See fact box below.)
If you can prove, for example, that you have free accommodation and/or food, this monthly figure can drop. The monthly amount drops by SEK 1,500 per month for free food and by SEK 1,500 per month for free accommodation.
Applying for a residence permit
You must apply for a residence permit as a student or doctoral student from your native country or other country outside Sweden where you live permanently. Your permit must be valid and be included in your passport before you travel to Sweden.
You apply at a Swedish embassy or consulate in the country you are living in. You must use the form Application for residence permit for students and doctoral students, no. 105031.
Make sure your application is complete
Make sure that you answer all questions in the questionnaire on the application form. You must also enclose all necessary documents so that your application is complete, otherwise there is a risk that the processing of your application will be delayed and you will not receive a decision in time.
Enclose the following documents with your application:
- copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity, the validity period of your passport and whether you have permits to be in countries other than your native country
- two photographs in passport format, taken from the front and that are not more than six months old
- a certificate stating that you have been admitted to full-time study.
- if permission is required from a central bank or equivalent to move money out of your country, you must enclose the relevant certificate with your application
- receipt of paid application fee
- copy of the document that proves you have comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden if you plan to study for less than one year.
In addition, you must enclose one or more documents proving you can support yourself:
- a bank statement showing that you have your own funds to support yourself (in English)
- a document showing that you have been awarded a scholarship or similar (such as a foreign study grant) with details of the amount and the period during which you will receive the money
- a document showing that you have been awarded a study grant or a wage (applies to doctoral students) with details of the amount and the period during which you will receive the money.
Check the requirements of Swedish missions abroad
Note that the embassy or consulate where you submit your application may require additional documents. You will find more information and contact information on the website of the relevant embassy. Click on the link in the right column to find the appropriate embassy.
If you are granted a residence permit
You will be informed of the decision by the embassy or consulate where you submitted the application. The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate where you applied or that you specified when you applied via the website. You need to bring your original passport with you when you pick up your permit.
Application fee
Most people have to pay an application fee; see page on fees. If your application is refused, your money will not be returned. You must also pay a fee when you apply for an extension to your permit.
You may work
You may work over the same period as the residence permit. You do not need a special work permit.
Permit validity period
For studies that last longer than one year, you will be granted a residence permit covering one year at a time. You must then apply for an extended residence permit. If the period of study is less than one year you will be granted a residence permit which is valid for the length of the study period. If you need to stay longer, e.g. because you need to resit an exam, you can apply for an extension to your residence permit.
Extending a permit
You must apply for an extension of your residence permit before your current permit expires. When you apply for an extension, you must use the form Application for residence permit for students and doctoral students, no. 105031.
You can apply for an extension of your permit here at the Swedish Migration Board website or send your application by post. Bring your original passport when you collect your permit. You do not need to take any photos with you to collect your permit as the Swedish Migration Board will photograph you.
You must produce proof of acceptable study results to have your residence permit extended. This means that you must acquire at least 15 ECTS credits during the first academic year, 22.5 ECTS credits during the second academic year and 30 ECTS credits during the third and the following academic years. You must enclose an extract from the register of your educational institution.
You must also show that you have had money to support you during the period you have been in Sweden, and that you have your support secured to cover your remaining study period. You must also prove that you are enrolled for continued full-time study.
We can cancel your permit
The Swedish Migration Board can cancel your residence permit if, for example, after entering Sweden:
- you have not commenced studies at the place of learning
- you discontinue your studies
- you do not satisfy the support requirement
- you deliberately provide incorrect information.
You then risk being deported from Sweden.
Permits for family members
Your husband/wife, common law spouse and unmarried children under 18 are eligible for residence permits for the same period as you providing their support is secured. The support requirement for the entire period of stay is SEK 3,500 per month for a husband/wife or common law spouse and SEK 2,100 per month for each child. (See fact box below.)
With their application your family members must also enclose documents that prove their family relationship. Your family members cannot apply on-line the first time they apply, not even if this may be in connection with you extending your permit.
They will be granted residence permits for the same period as you. They are, however, not permitted to work. When your family applies for residence permits, they must use the application form Application by co-applicants to students/doctoral students (DB), no. 135011.
Important to remember
People who stay in Sweden for a period that is shorter than one year are not entitled to the same welfare benefits as those who reside here. It is therefore important that you and your family have good insurance cover when you travel to Sweden.
Right to appeal
If the Swedish Migration Board rejects your application for a residence permit, you may appeal the decision within three weeks of the date you were given the decision. Send your appeal to the Swedish Migration Board. If the Board upholds its decision to reject your application, your appeal will be forwarded to the Migration Court at one of the three administrative courts, in either Stockholm, Göteborg or Malmö. Which court will hear your appeal depends on which Permit Unit rejected your application.
If you have given power of attorney (and thus the right to represent you) to someone in Sweden, that person can write and submit the appeal for you.
| Study period | You must have at least | Your husband, wife or common law spouse must have at least | Support requirement per child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 months | SEK 36,500 kronor (5 x SEK 7,300) | SEK 21,000 (5 x SEK 3,500) | SEK 10,500 (5 x SEK 2,100) |
| 12 months | SEK 73,000 (10 x SEK 7,300) | SEK 42,000 (12 x SEK 3,500) | SEK 25,200 (12 x SEK 2,100) |
| 18 months | SEK 109,500 (15 x SEK 7,300) | SEK 63,000 (18 x SEK 3,500) | SEK 25,200 (18 x SEK 2,100) |
