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All FAQs - Studying in Sweden
I´ve just finished my studies here in Sweden and would like to stay and work. Is it true that there are new rules that say I can stay here and look for work for six months?
No, the rules have not changed. There is a proposal that students who are going to study for at least two semesters should be granted a residence permit for 6 months after completing their studies so as to be able to look for work during that time. If you have an offer of employment and a valid residence permit for studies, you can, on the other hand, submit an application for a work permit. Read more about students who want to work
I will go home to my country and I am still waiting for the decision on my application for an extension of my residence permit for studies. Can I get priority?
Our priority is to make decisions on first-time applications. In principle we do not grant any priorities, and cannot give you priority even if you are planning to travel or have purchased a ticket for a trip.
How do I appeal against a decision for a residence permit for studies?
You may send an appeal against the decision to the Migration Board within three weeks of the date you were given the decision. There is no special form for this purpose. If you have given power of attorney to represent you to someone in Sweden, that person can write and submit the appeal for you. You can find more information about appeals in the decision from the Migration Board.
I have a residence permit to study at a Swedish university and college and want to work while I am studying. Do I have to apply for a work permit?
No, as a student at a Swedish university and college you are exempt from the requirement of having a work permit for the period you hold a valid residence permit to study.
How much does it cost to apply for a work permit?
The first time you apply for a work permit, it costs SEK 2,000. Fees
I have completed my studies at a Swedish university and college and have been offered work. Can I apply and be granted a work permit when I am in Sweden?
Yes, providing you apply for a work permit before your permit for studying has run out and that you can show that you have at least 30 ECTS credits or have completed a term of research studies. You must also satisfy other requirements in order to be granted a work permit.
I have applied for an extension of my permit in Sweden but have not yet received my new permit. Can I travel abroad before I receive my new permit?
In order to travel you need a valid residence permit card. If your permit has expired you may not be able to enter Sweden. It is better to postpone the trip until you receive your new permit and the residence permit card.
May I work while I am studying?
If you have a residence permit for studying at a university or college, you may work without a work permit providing your residence permit is valid.
What do I need to do to be granted a residence permit to study?
In order to be approved for a residence permit to study at a university/college in Sweden, you must prove that you are admitted to full-time studies, that you will be able to support yourself for the entire planned study period and that you have comprehensive health insurance if you plan to study for less than one year. You must also have a valid passport.
I have completed my studies at a Swedish university and college and have been offered work. Can I apply and be granted a work permit when I am in Sweden?
Yes, providing you apply for a work permit before your permit for studies has run out, and that you can show that you have at least 30 higher education credits or have completed a term of research studies. You must also satisfy the other requirements in order to be granted a work permit.
No, the rules have not changed. There is a proposal that students who are going to study for at least two semesters should be granted a residence permit for 6 months after completing their studies so as to be able to look for work during that time. If you have an offer of employment and a valid residence permit for studies, you can, on the other hand, submit an application for a work permit. Read more about students who want to work
I will go home to my country and I am still waiting for the decision on my application for an extension of my residence permit for studies. Can I get priority?
Our priority is to make decisions on first-time applications. In principle we do not grant any priorities, and cannot give you priority even if you are planning to travel or have purchased a ticket for a trip.
How do I appeal against a decision for a residence permit for studies?
You may send an appeal against the decision to the Migration Board within three weeks of the date you were given the decision. There is no special form for this purpose. If you have given power of attorney to represent you to someone in Sweden, that person can write and submit the appeal for you. You can find more information about appeals in the decision from the Migration Board.
I have a residence permit to study at a Swedish university and college and want to work while I am studying. Do I have to apply for a work permit?
No, as a student at a Swedish university and college you are exempt from the requirement of having a work permit for the period you hold a valid residence permit to study.
How much does it cost to apply for a work permit?
The first time you apply for a work permit, it costs SEK 2,000. Fees
I have completed my studies at a Swedish university and college and have been offered work. Can I apply and be granted a work permit when I am in Sweden?
Yes, providing you apply for a work permit before your permit for studying has run out and that you can show that you have at least 30 ECTS credits or have completed a term of research studies. You must also satisfy other requirements in order to be granted a work permit.
I have applied for an extension of my permit in Sweden but have not yet received my new permit. Can I travel abroad before I receive my new permit?
In order to travel you need a valid residence permit card. If your permit has expired you may not be able to enter Sweden. It is better to postpone the trip until you receive your new permit and the residence permit card.
May I work while I am studying?
If you have a residence permit for studying at a university or college, you may work without a work permit providing your residence permit is valid.
You have the right to work during the waiting period if you have had a residence permit for university studies for at least six months and submitted your application for extension before your current residence permit expires.
You may continue to work until you have received an answer to your application for extension. If you receive an extension of your residence permit, you may continue to work alongside your studies. If you do not receive a residence permit but receive a decision for expulsion, you may continue working until the decision for expulsion enters into legal force*.
*Legal force means that the decision can no longer be changed. A decision that is not appealed enters into legal force after three weeks from the time you learn of the decision from the Migration Board or the Migration Court. A decision from the Migration Court of Appeal enters into legal force on the day the Court made the decision. If you declare yourself satisfied with the decision, it enters into legal force immediately.
What do I need to do to be granted a residence permit to study?
In order to be approved for a residence permit to study at a university/college in Sweden, you must prove that you are admitted to full-time studies, that you will be able to support yourself for the entire planned study period and that you have comprehensive health insurance if you plan to study for less than one year. You must also have a valid passport.
If you are obligated to pay tuition fees, you are not regarded as definitely admitted until the portion of the tuition fees that the university or university college takes in advance has been paid. The university or university college (institution) will notify the Migration Board when the payment has been made. More information about residence permit for studies at university/college.
I have completed my studies at a Swedish university and college and have been offered work. Can I apply and be granted a work permit when I am in Sweden?
Yes, providing you apply for a work permit before your permit for studies has run out, and that you can show that you have at least 30 higher education credits or have completed a term of research studies. You must also satisfy the other requirements in order to be granted a work permit.
Residence permit cards
I have a new passport from my country of origin. What should I do to get a new residence permit card?
If you have a valid residence permit card you do not need to do anything. You should now get a residence permit card only if you had a sticker in your old passport. Visit the Migration Board to be fingerprinted and photographed in order to obtain a residence permit card.
How long do I have to wait until I receive my residence permit card if I have had my photograph and fingerprints taken at the embassy?
The waiting time is about four weeks. For information about how to receive your UT card, contact the embassy.
I will travel abroad but I only have a residence permit sticker in my passport. Is it still valid?
You may travel abroad if you have a valid residence permit sticker affixed in your passport. You can travel with your permit sticker during its validity period, but no later than 20 May 2015.
I have a permanent residence permit and I have a new passport. How can I receive a new permanent residence permit stickers in my passport?
Those who were granted residence permits in Sweden before 20 May 2011 received permit stickers affixed into their passports. Nowadays a residence card is issued as a proof of your residence permit instead. The card will contain your photo and fingerprints of two fingers.
I have applied for an extension of my permit and want my residence permit card sent to a Swedish embassy, as I will be abroad until I receive my extension. Is that possible?
If you have a Swedish address, the residence permit card will, without exception, be sent there. The decision can be forwarded to an embassy but the card will arrive at your home address.
Will the Swedish mission abroad send the residence permit card the same way the Migration Board Permit Units do, or is a personal visit required to collect it?
There is no fixed requirement that the residence permit card must be collected personally; this can be decided by the individual authority. The card can also be dispensed via legal representative or sent by mail. Contact the Swedish mission abroad where you submitted your application and/or your finger prints for more information.
I have a permanent residence permit. Can I receive a residence permit card issued for 5 years even if my passport expires before then?
Yes, you can receive a residence permit card issued for 5 years even if your passport expires earlier.
I've got married and changed my name. How do I get a new residence card with my new name?
You must first go to the Swedish Tax Agency, which is responsible for national registration, to register your new name. When the information is registered, you can visit the Migration Board to be fingerprinted and photographed for a new residence permit card. It is especially important when crossing the border that the same information in the passport is found in the national registration and on the residence permit card.
The information on my residence permit card is incorrect. What should I do?
Contact the Swedish mission abroad or the Migration Board's office where you submitted your application, or where you were photographed and fingerprinted. To obtain a new card with the correct information, you must be fingerprinted and photographed again.
I have been waiting for my residence permit card for more than a week but I haven't received it at home. I'm travelling tomorrow; who should I turn to for help?
Contact the Swedish mission abroad or the Migration Board's office where you submitted your application, or where you were fingerprinted and photographed to find out if they have received your residence permit card. It is not possible to speed up the production of a residence permit card.
I've had a residence permit card for a while and have now registered in the national registry. Do I need a new residence permit card?
No, you do not need a new card. Your national ID number is not printed on the residence permit card.
What should I do if I lose my card?
You must first notify the police. To get a new residence permit card, you must bring the police report, as well as be fingerprinted and photographed, in order for a new residence permit card to be issued.
I have to travel a long way to get to the embassy. Is there no other way?
No, unfortunately. Since the residence permit card contains your finger prints, you must go there personally to submit them and be photographed.
Who must submit finger prints?
Finger prints must be submitted by persons over the age of 6 at the time of application, or when the biometric data is collected. Persons with permanent physical impediments — permanent damage on the fingers, for example — are exempt. Difficulty in getting to a Swedish mission abroad is not grounds for exemption due to physical impediment.
Where do I go to be photographed and fingerprinted?
If you are in Sweden, contact the Migration Board. If you are abroad, visit the Swedish mission abroad where you live to be fingerprinted and photographed.
If you have a valid residence permit card you do not need to do anything. You should now get a residence permit card only if you had a sticker in your old passport. Visit the Migration Board to be fingerprinted and photographed in order to obtain a residence permit card.
How long do I have to wait until I receive my residence permit card if I have had my photograph and fingerprints taken at the embassy?
The waiting time is about four weeks. For information about how to receive your UT card, contact the embassy.
I will travel abroad but I only have a residence permit sticker in my passport. Is it still valid?
You may travel abroad if you have a valid residence permit sticker affixed in your passport. You can travel with your permit sticker during its validity period, but no later than 20 May 2015.
I have a permanent residence permit and I have a new passport. How can I receive a new permanent residence permit stickers in my passport?
Those who were granted residence permits in Sweden before 20 May 2011 received permit stickers affixed into their passports. Nowadays a residence card is issued as a proof of your residence permit instead. The card will contain your photo and fingerprints of two fingers.
You will need to visit the Swedish Migration Board to be fingerprinted and photographed. It takes about a week to produce a residence card. Note that the card is not an ID card or a travel document; it must be used with a valid passport when you travel.
I have applied for an extension of my permit and want my residence permit card sent to a Swedish embassy, as I will be abroad until I receive my extension. Is that possible?
If you have a Swedish address, the residence permit card will, without exception, be sent there. The decision can be forwarded to an embassy but the card will arrive at your home address.
Will the Swedish mission abroad send the residence permit card the same way the Migration Board Permit Units do, or is a personal visit required to collect it?
There is no fixed requirement that the residence permit card must be collected personally; this can be decided by the individual authority. The card can also be dispensed via legal representative or sent by mail. Contact the Swedish mission abroad where you submitted your application and/or your finger prints for more information.
I have a permanent residence permit. Can I receive a residence permit card issued for 5 years even if my passport expires before then?
Yes, you can receive a residence permit card issued for 5 years even if your passport expires earlier.
I've got married and changed my name. How do I get a new residence card with my new name?
You must first go to the Swedish Tax Agency, which is responsible for national registration, to register your new name. When the information is registered, you can visit the Migration Board to be fingerprinted and photographed for a new residence permit card. It is especially important when crossing the border that the same information in the passport is found in the national registration and on the residence permit card.
The information on my residence permit card is incorrect. What should I do?
Contact the Swedish mission abroad or the Migration Board's office where you submitted your application, or where you were photographed and fingerprinted. To obtain a new card with the correct information, you must be fingerprinted and photographed again.
I have been waiting for my residence permit card for more than a week but I haven't received it at home. I'm travelling tomorrow; who should I turn to for help?
Contact the Swedish mission abroad or the Migration Board's office where you submitted your application, or where you were fingerprinted and photographed to find out if they have received your residence permit card. It is not possible to speed up the production of a residence permit card.
I've had a residence permit card for a while and have now registered in the national registry. Do I need a new residence permit card?
No, you do not need a new card. Your national ID number is not printed on the residence permit card.
What should I do if I lose my card?
You must first notify the police. To get a new residence permit card, you must bring the police report, as well as be fingerprinted and photographed, in order for a new residence permit card to be issued.
I have to travel a long way to get to the embassy. Is there no other way?
No, unfortunately. Since the residence permit card contains your finger prints, you must go there personally to submit them and be photographed.
Who must submit finger prints?
Finger prints must be submitted by persons over the age of 6 at the time of application, or when the biometric data is collected. Persons with permanent physical impediments — permanent damage on the fingers, for example — are exempt. Difficulty in getting to a Swedish mission abroad is not grounds for exemption due to physical impediment.
Where do I go to be photographed and fingerprinted?
If you are in Sweden, contact the Migration Board. If you are abroad, visit the Swedish mission abroad where you live to be fingerprinted and photographed.
Sidan senast uppdaterad: 2012-01-30
Migrationsverket
