You have been admitted to studies and have paid any tuition fees
You receive a letter of admission or an admission decision and pay any tuition fee. If you need to pay a tuition fee, it must be paid before you apply for a residence permit.
You apply
You fill in the application and attach the required documents. In the application, you state which Swedish embassy or consulate-general you want to visit if we need to meet you in person before we make a decision. If we need to meet you, you will be asked to make an appointment at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general.
We recommend that you submit your application as soon as you have received a letter of admission or admission decision and paid any tuition fee, so that we can process your application well in advance of the start date for your studies.
The Swedish Migration Agency reviews your application
The Swedish Migration Agency will review your application and the information in the questionnaire. We process all applications in the order in which they are received, and it is not possible to get priority. If we can immediately see that you do not meet the requirements for a residence permit, we may already make a decision to reject your application.
We will contact you if we need more information.
Present your passport and provide fingerprints
Before the Swedish Migration Agency can make a decision, you must present your passport. Most applicants will receive an email about doing so through a digital passport check via an app. If you are unable, or do not want to do a digital passport check, you must decline via the link in the email. We will inform you if you must present your passport in person.
Read more about digital passport check
You need to book an appointment to visit an embassy or consulate-general if any of the following applies to you:
- The Swedish Migration Agency has informed you that you need to present your passport in person.
- You have been summoned to an interview.
- You need a visa to enter Sweden and must provide fingerprints and be photographed for your residence permit card.
You are waiting for a decision – You have applied for the first time
The Swedish Migration Agency reviews newly received information
Once you have presented your passport and been interviewed (if necessary), the Swedish Migration Agency will review all the information related to your application and investigate whether you can be granted a residence permit.
We will contact you if we need more information.
You receive our decision
If you applied in the e-service, you will receive an email as soon as we have made a decision. The email will tell you whether you have been granted a residence permit or if your application has been rejected. The decision will then be sent by post to your chosen embassy or representative. In certain cases, you need to book an appointment at the embassy to pick it up. If you have applied using a paper form, you will not receive an email from us. Instead, the embassy will contact you to inform you of the decision.
When you receive the decision, you can find out the reasons on which we based it. If you are granted a residence permit, you have the right to live and study in Sweden as long as the permit is valid. If your application is rejected and you are currently in Sweden, you must prepare to leave the country.