Exchange studies in upper secon­dary school

If you are to be an exchange student at an upper secondary school (high school) in Sweden for more than three months, you need a residence permit for other studies. The permit must be issued before you travel to Sweden.

Requi­re­ments for resi­dence permits

For a permit, you must

  • hold a valid passport
  • have been accepted for full-time studies
  • be covered by a fully-comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden
  • be able to support yourself throughout the period for which you apply for a residence permit.
  • have the consent from your parents/legal guardians if you are under the age of 18. If so you must also enclose a certificate showing who is or are your parents/legal guardians and how you are related, and a copy of an ID document for your parents/legal guardians.

Requi­re­ments to use the e-service

In order to use the e-service, you need

  • copies of the pages in your passport which show your personal information, photograph, signature, passport number, passport issuing country, the period of the passport's validity and whether you have permission to live in countries other than your country of origin.
  • a certificate stating that you have been admitted to full-time study
  • copy of the document that proves that you have comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden. The insurance must be valid for the whole period that you will stay in Sweden, and must cover the costs for emergency and other medical care, dental care and hospitalization. The insurance must also cover the cost of a possible return journey home because of medical reasons
  • a bank statement showing that you have funds to support yourself. If permission is required from a central bank or equivalent to move money out of your country, you also need to enclose the relevant certificate. This bank statement should be dated in connection with the time of application and be translated into English, or
    a document issued in your name showing that you have been awarded a scholarship or similar (for example study support) with information on the monthly or total amount and the period during which you will receive the money.
  • a written consent from your parents/legal guardians that you are allowed to study in Sweden if you are under 18 years of age (Consent for a child to settle in Sweden, form 123011 Pdf, 680.6 kB, opens in new window.).
  • be able to pay a possible fee for the application with a credit card or charge card (application fees for residence permits for studies).

Read more about the requirements for an online application

If you are to support yourself with your own funds, you must submit your application at the earliest three months before the date you are applying for a residence permit from. This is because you must be able to show that you can support yourself close to the beginning of the study time and your documents must not get too old. This does not apply if you will receive a scholarship to cover your means of support.

You who have been granted a residence permit for upper secondary school studies, may under certain circumstances, apply for an extended residence permit if you need more time to complete your upper secondary studies.

Read more about residence permits according to the Swedish Upper Secon­dary School Act

You who have received temporary protection under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive cannot apply for an extended residence permit because you are studying at upper secondary school. You will be allowed to stay in Sweden as long as the Temporary Protection Directive applies.

Read more information about the Temporary Protection Directive

A permit for other studies does not give you the right to work in Sweden.

Read more about applying for a work permit

For applications received by the Swedish Migration Agency on or after 1 January 2024, the living expense requirement is at least SEK 10 314 per month. The living expense requirement for you as an applicant in 2023 is at least SEK 9 450 per month.

You must show that you have support for living expenses for the entire permit period applied for. If you can show that you receive free housing and/or food through the course organizeror an organisation that works for international exchange, the amount per month can be reduced. For applications received by the Swedish Migration Agency on or after 1 January 2024, the monthly amount is reduced by SEK 2 865 per month for free food and SEK 4 584 per month for free housing. For applications that have been received in 2023, the monthly amount is reduced by SEK 2 625 per month for free food and SEK 4 200 per month for free housing.

You must show that you have funds for the period for which you apply for a residence permit. You must show that you have your support secured by means of verification of your own bank assets, a scholarship or similar means of support, such as a study grant from your home country.

Your own bank assets are money in an account that belongs to you and from which only you and, if any, your spouse can withdraw money. If you are under the age of 18, your guardians’ accounts may also apply as a basis for your living expense support. Credit, funds or shares are not counted as your own bank assets.

If you refer to your own bank assets in Iranian rials (IRR), the Swedish Migration Agency uses the same exchange rate as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs uses in visa matters.

If you will be receiving a grant or similar, you must enclose a recently prepared document in your name with the details of the monthly or total amount. The document must also indicate the period you will be receiving the grant for, and how much of the money will be available for your maintenance.

The Swedish Migration Agency must check your passport before a decision can be made. You may therefore need to show your passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general if you are outside Sweden, or one of the Migration Agency's service centres if you are in Sweden.

Find out which embassy or consulate-general you should contact on the page Embassies responsible for migration matters

In some cases, you will not be required to show your passport, for example, if we have already checked your passport during a previous visit.

If you need to show your passport, we will contact you with information on how and when to do so.

If you need an entry visa or residence permit card to travel to Sweden, you will in most cases have your fingerprints taken and be photographed when you show your passport at an embassy or consulate-general.

For studies that are shorter than three months, citizens in certain countries must have an entry visa. Special rules apply if you are an EU citizen or a long-term resident.

Countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Sweden External link, opens in new window.

Read more about applying for a visa

Read more about the rules for EU citizens and long-term residents

Apply for the first time

If you are not able to apply online, you must fill out the form Application for a residence permit for students – First-time applicants, 113011. Exchange studies at upper secondary school count as other studies.

Submit your application to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence. The application form specifies which documents to enclose. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit your application.

Application for a residence permit for students – First-time applicants, form 113011 Pdf, 858.2 kB, opens in new window.

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.

If there is no possibility to submit an application in your country, you must apply at the embassy or consulate-general closest to your country of residence. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit your application for further information.

Find out which embassy or consulate-general you should contact on the page Embassies responsible for migration matters

If you are applying at an embassy or consulate-general, you pay the fee when you hand in your application. For more information about the fee, contact the embassy or consulate-general where you are applying, as they do not have the same fees and terms of payment as the Migration Agency.

Extend your permit

If you want to extend your permit, fill out the form Application for a residence permit for students – Application to extend, 115011. Exchange studies at upper secondary school count as other studies. The application form specifies which documents to enclose.

Send your application to the Swedish Migration Agency, Box 3100, 903 03 Umeå.

Application for a residence permit for students – Application to extend, form 115011 Pdf, 842.1 kB, opens in new window.

In most cases you must pay a fee.

Application fees for residence permits

The permit must have been granted before leaving for Sweden. If you are under 18 your legal guardian must apply on your behalf.

Application fees for residence permits

Check that the information given on the documents you enclose is clear. Important details, such as your name, must be given in the documents. The information in the documents should be as recent as possible. The documents should also be translated into Swedish or English by certified translators, if the contents are in another language. Copies of the original document must always be enclosed with translations of documents.

If we need additional documents from you

Once your case officer has started working on your case, they may request additional information from you if we need it to be able to make a decision about your case. In that case, you will be contacted by mail or e-mail, depending on whether you applied via a paper form or made an online application.

Please read the request carefully and send your response as soon as possible, within the requested deadline. Even if we have not received the required information within the requested time, we will make a final decision in your case by that date, based on the information we have.

If your case officer has requested copies of documents, you will receive a link in the request via which you can upload the required documentation. Make sure that the document you attach contains everything requested. Please note that copies of documents already included in your application should not be resubmitted, as we have already checked these and found that they are insufficient.

Time to a deci­sion

In order to obtain an impression how long you need to wait for your decision, you can visit the page Time to a decision. Note that the average time that is shown on the page is calculated based on previously decided cases in the same category. The time can vary from application to application.

Time to a decision

After you have sent the application

If you obtain a residence permit, you will also receive a residence permit card. The card, which is proof that you have the right to be in Sweden, contains your photo and fingerprints.

If you need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should go to the embassy or consulate-general as soon as possible to have your picture and your fingerprints taken, if you did not do this in connection with showing your passport. Not all embassies or consulates-general have the possibility to take your picture and your fingerprints. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before your visit for more information.

If you do not need a visa for travel to Sweden, as soon as possible after your arrival in Sweden you should visit the Migration Agency to be photographed and fingerprinted. However, your permit must be granted before you travel to Sweden.

Read more about residence permit cards

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.

Check if your application has been registered or if a decision has been made in your case

The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate-general you selected in your online application. Take your passport along when picking up your decision.

The Swedish embassy or consulate-general will hand over or send you the residence permit card as soon as it is ready. Don't forget that it might take up to four weeks to make and send the card to the embassy or consulate-general after you receive your decision. When you enter Sweden, you must show your residence permit card along with a valid passport. 

Book an appoint­ment

If you do not need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should be able to show a copy of the decision when you arrive. As soon as possible after you have arrived in Sweden, you should book an appointment to be fingerprinted and photographed. When your residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to your address in Sweden. It is therefore important that you can state your address in Sweden when you visit the Migration Agency to have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

Resi­dence permit card

The residence permit card will be produced at the time the decision is made, but no earlier than three months before the residence permit becomes valid. We cannot speed up the production or delivery of the card.

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.

Check if your application has been registered or if a decision has been made in your case

Book an appointment at the Migration Agency in Sweden to be fingerprinted and photographed if you can travel without a visa

Useful links if you have recently moved to Sweden and have a residence permit

You can receive a residence permit for the time your studies require, but usually for a maximum total of one year’s time. Residence permits can never be granted for longer than the validity of your passport.

If the Migration Agency refuses your application, you can appeal the decision within three weeks from the date when you were informed of the decision. Your decision contains information about how to do so.

Read more about what happens if you are in Sweden and the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application

Information for persons arriving in Sweden with a residence permit

Do not forget to save your residence permit decision. It will be useful when contacting various national authorities and organisations.

To register as living in Sweden and obtain a Swedish personal identity number, contact the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket. External link, opens in new window.

To be registered in the social insurance system, contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan. External link, opens in new window.

Some municipalities have municipal housing agencies where you can look for accommodation. The municipality can also give you advice on private landlords.

The municipality in which you live will offer child care and schooling for children.

For questions about health care, contact the region where you live. Find healthcare in the whole of the country on 1177 Healthcare Service Guide. External link, opens in new window.

For questions about learning Swedish for Immigrants (SFI), contact the municipality you live in. See also the website of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. External link, opens in new window.

If you are looking for a job you can register with the Swedish Public Employment Service, Arbetsförmedlingen. External link, opens in new window.

The Swedish Pensions Agency External link, opens in new window. has information in Swedish about income support for the elderly for those who come to Sweden late in life and have a low or no pension.

For information about studying at colleges or universities, see Universityadmissions.se External link, opens in new window. or studera.nu. External link, opens in new window.

For questions about student loans and grants, contact CSN. External link, opens in new window.

For questions concerning driving licenses, visit the Swedish Transport Agency. External link, opens in new window.

For questions about the right to vote, contact the Election Authority, Valmyndigheten. External link, opens in new window.

Information from the Swedish National Agency for Education about the Swedish education system can be found at Skolverket. External link, opens in new window.

Information about society in Sweden can be found in a number of languages at informationsverige.se. External link, opens in new window.

For more information on society in Sweden visit the website of the Swedish Institute. External link, opens in new window.

Hej hej Sverige! External link, opens in new window. has simple and inspiring films about how Sweden works.

On the page Learn Swedish on www.informationsverige.se, External link, opens in new window. you will find links to several programmes for learning Swedish on your own.

The information service at the Swedish Consumer Agency External link, opens in new window. can answer your questions about buying goods and services and about contract terms and conditions.

Extending a permit

You must apply for an extension before your current permit expires.

How to apply

You apply for extension of your permit in the e-service.

You will probably be required to pay an application fee.

Application fees for residence permits

What to enclose with your appli­ca­tion

You must enclose

  • copies of the pages in your passport where your identity, citizenship and the period of validity are indicated. Your passport must be valid in order for the Migration Agency to be able to grant you a permit. If your passport is about to expire, you must apply for a new one in your home country or at your home country's embassy
  • a certificate stating that you have been admitted to full-time study
  • a document from the course organizer showing that you have made acceptable progress in your studies
  • account statements from your bank that confirm that you have money to cover your living expenses. The account statement should be dated in conjunction with the application timing and be translated to English, or
    documents issued in your name that show that you have been granted a stipend/scholarship or the like (such as student finance) with information on the monthly amount or total amount and the period during which you will receive the money.
  • copy of the document that proves that you have comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden. The insurance must be valid for the whole period that you will stay in Sweden, and must cover the costs for emergency and other medical care, dental care and hospitalization. The insurance must also cover the cost of a possible return journey home because of medical reasons
  • a written consent from your parents/legal guardians that you are allowed to study in Sweden if you are under 18 years of age (form 123011).

Consent for a child to settle in Sweden, form 123011 Pdf, 680.6 kB, opens in new window.

Read more about what documents you should attach if you submit a paper application

Once we have received your appli­ca­tion

If you submit an application for an extension before your previous permit expires, you have the right to remain in Sweden until the Migration Agency has made a decision.

If you travel abroad when your permit is about to expire, it may be difficult for you to enter Sweden before your new permit is granted. You may need to wait for a new decision outside Sweden.

You may need to show your passport

The Swedish Migration Agency may need to check your passport before a decision can be made. You will then need to visit one of the Swedish Migration Agency's service centres to present your passport.

In some cases, you will not be required to present your passport, for example, if we have already checked your passport during a previous visit.

If you need to show your passport, we will contact you with information on how and when to do so.

Resi­dence permit card

If you are granted a permit, you will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof that you have permission to remain in Sweden and contains your fingerprints and a photo of you. You should, therefore, book a time to have your photograph and fingerprints taken as soon as possible. You need to do this even if you have had a residence permit previously, as your photograph and fingerprints cannot be saved.

Check if your application has been registered or if a decision has been made in your case

Book an appointment at the Migration Agency to be fingerprinted and photographed

Read more about residence permit cards

After the deci­sion has been made

The decision will be sent to your address in Sweden. Once the residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to you within approximately one week.

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