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Studying at upper secondary school or folk high school (residential college)
If you are a citizen in a EU/EEA country, special rules apply, see page for EU citizens.
A residence permit for study purposes is temporary. Even if your stay has lasted for several years, you will normally not be allowed to reside in Sweden.
Those who receive a residence permit will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof of your residence permit. When you enter Sweden, you must therefore show your card along with a valid passport.
Requirements to be granted a residence permit
To be granted a permit you must intend to study and:
- be admitted to full-time studies
- be able to support yourself for the planned study period
- have consent from your guardians if you are under 18.
- have a valid passport.
You cannot be granted a residence permit for studies that:
- are only in preparation for further studies in Sweden
- are directed towards further activities in Sweden
- require you to take up permanent residence in Sweden.
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.
If you can prove, for example, that you have free accommodation and/or food, this monthly figure can drop.
Applying for a residence permit
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.
In order for the Migration Board to be able to issue a residence permit card, you will be photographed and will need to submit fingerprints in connection with:
- submitting your application or
- when you receive your residence permit.
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
- a bank statement showing that you have your own funds to support yourself
- 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
- 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.
You do not need to enclose any school reports or grades.
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.
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.
If you are granted a residence permit
The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate where you applied or that you specified when you applied via the website. If you have not previously been photographed and had your fingerprints taken, you will need to visit the embassy to do so. Once the residence permit card is ready, the embassy or consulate will issue, or in certain cases send, the card to you.
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.
Extending a permit
When you apply for an extension, you must use the form Application for residence permit for students and doctoral students, no. 105031.
You must produce proof of acceptable study results to have your residence permit extended. You must also show that you have had money to support yourself during the period you have been in Sweden, for example, through a statement from your bank. You must also prove that you are enrolled for continued full-time study and that you still have your support secured.
You can also apply for an extension of your permit here at the Swedish Migration Board website or send your application by post. You will need to visit one of the Swedish Migration Board´s Permit Units to submit fingerprints and be photographed. This will usually take place when you submit your application in person. You can also be called to the Migration Board at a later date. You will also be called to the Migration Board if you apply for a residence permit electronically or if you send in your application by post.
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 have good insurance cover when you travel to Sweden.
