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All FAQs - visiting Sweden
General questions
I wish to stay for a period longer than 90 days — can I apply for a residence permit for a visit instead?
Yes, you can apply for a residence permit for a visit at one of our Permit Offices. It costs 1000 kronor for an adult and 500 kronor for a child.
How do I invite someone to visit me in Sweden?
The person living in Sweden should fill in the form Invitation, no. 241011. You should send this Appendix and a civic registration certificate (purpose of invitation) to the person you wish to invite to Sweden. The applicant should leave the documents and the visa application to the Swedish embassy.
How long do I have to wait for a visa decision?
Usually, it is the mission abroad that will make decisions on visas. You will normally receive a response within two weeks, but processing times can vary at missions abroad. If you need current information about this, contact the Swedish mission abroad which will process your application. If the Swedish mission sends your application on to the Migration Board, the process may take longer. To be sure that you receive your visa in time, you should submit your application at least two months before you are due to travel to Sweden. During the June-August holiday period, the processing time could be longer.
Who decides in an application for a visa?
In most cases, it is the embassy or the consulate, who decides in an application for a visa.
Yes, you can apply for a residence permit for a visit at one of our Permit Offices. It costs 1000 kronor for an adult and 500 kronor for a child.
How do I invite someone to visit me in Sweden?
The person living in Sweden should fill in the form Invitation, no. 241011. You should send this Appendix and a civic registration certificate (purpose of invitation) to the person you wish to invite to Sweden. The applicant should leave the documents and the visa application to the Swedish embassy.
How long do I have to wait for a visa decision?
Usually, it is the mission abroad that will make decisions on visas. You will normally receive a response within two weeks, but processing times can vary at missions abroad. If you need current information about this, contact the Swedish mission abroad which will process your application. If the Swedish mission sends your application on to the Migration Board, the process may take longer. To be sure that you receive your visa in time, you should submit your application at least two months before you are due to travel to Sweden. During the June-August holiday period, the processing time could be longer.
Who decides in an application for a visa?
In most cases, it is the embassy or the consulate, who decides in an application for a visa.
Extensions
Which conditions must be satisfied to get an extension?
If it is considered that the reasons for an application for an extension are sufficient to be granted an extension, the following must also be satisfied:
What documents should I attach to the extension application?
You should be able to produce:
Where do I submit the application for an extension of my visa?
You submit the application personally at one of our Permit Offices, link to addresses.
Which form do I use to apply for an extension of my visa?
You should use the form Application for Schengen visa, No 119031 (No 118031 in swedish). Applications and forms
What does it cost to extend a visa?
There is no charge for an extension application owing to force majeure or humanitarian grounds. An extension application owing to strong personal reasons costs 30 euro, corresponding to about 300 kronor.
For how long can one extend a visa?
The total period of stay in the Schengen area may not exceed 90 days during a 180-day period.
If it is considered that the reasons for an application for an extension are sufficient to be granted an extension, the following must also be satisfied:
- The passport must be valid for three months after the planned outward journey
- Sufficient funds for the extended period of stay must be verified
- It must also be shown that the medical travel insurance that was taken out in conjunction with the application for a visa also applies in the future for the extended term of the stay.
What documents should I attach to the extension application?
You should be able to produce:
- your passport
- a document showing that you still have medical travel insurance covering the desired extended stay in Sweden
- documents verifying your reasons for getting an extension.
Where do I submit the application for an extension of my visa?
You submit the application personally at one of our Permit Offices, link to addresses.
Which form do I use to apply for an extension of my visa?
You should use the form Application for Schengen visa, No 119031 (No 118031 in swedish). Applications and forms
What does it cost to extend a visa?
There is no charge for an extension application owing to force majeure or humanitarian grounds. An extension application owing to strong personal reasons costs 30 euro, corresponding to about 300 kronor.
For how long can one extend a visa?
The total period of stay in the Schengen area may not exceed 90 days during a 180-day period.
Rejections
Can I appeal if I am not granted an extension of my visa?
No, it is not possible to appeal against the decision.
The embassy decided not to grant my friend a visa to visit Sweden. Why not?
A common cause is that the embassy do not believe that it is a visit, and that the person will stay in Sweden or the Schengen area for a longer time than the visa is valid. Other reasons can be that the embassy does not know if the applicant has enough money to support himself during the stay, the applicant does not have a valid passport or that the person is registered on the blacklist of the Schengenarea. To get more information your friend must contact the embassy who made the decision.
No, it is not possible to appeal against the decision.
The embassy decided not to grant my friend a visa to visit Sweden. Why not?
A common cause is that the embassy do not believe that it is a visit, and that the person will stay in Sweden or the Schengen area for a longer time than the visa is valid. Other reasons can be that the embassy does not know if the applicant has enough money to support himself during the stay, the applicant does not have a valid passport or that the person is registered on the blacklist of the Schengenarea. To get more information your friend must contact the embassy who made the decision.
My page
What is My page?
If you have applied online for en entry visa for Sweden, you will be granted access to My page. There you can see information about your application, documents you have sent in and if you have received a decision.
How do I log in to My page?
You log in using the user identity that you received via email when you made your online application. The password is the one that you chose when you made your application.
If you have applied online for en entry visa for Sweden, you will be granted access to My page. There you can see information about your application, documents you have sent in and if you have received a decision.
How do I log in to My page?
You log in using the user identity that you received via email when you made your online application. The password is the one that you chose when you made your application.
Apply online
Which cards can I pay with when I apply for a visa online?
You can only pay with Visa or MasterCard.
Can I book an appointment for a visit to the Swedish Mission abroad after I have applied for a visa online?
It is possible to book an appointment afterwards. You can do so via My page, which you are granted access to when you apply online. You can also cancel the appointment from My page.
There are no free time slots for appointments at the Swedish Mission abroad I want to send my online application to. Can I apply anyway?
You can send in your online application anyway. It is not obligatory to book an appointment.
You can only pay with Visa or MasterCard.
Can I book an appointment for a visit to the Swedish Mission abroad after I have applied for a visa online?
It is possible to book an appointment afterwards. You can do so via My page, which you are granted access to when you apply online. You can also cancel the appointment from My page.
There are no free time slots for appointments at the Swedish Mission abroad I want to send my online application to. Can I apply anyway?
You can send in your online application anyway. It is not obligatory to book an appointment.
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: 2011-09-05
Migrationsverket
