If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and want to visit Sweden for a maximum of 90 days, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa. This entry visa is a permit to enter and stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
If you want to visit Sweden for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a visitor’s residence permit.
You want to apply – Visiting Sweden for more than 90 days
Who needs to apply for a Schengen visa?
If you come from a country whose citizens need an entry visa to enter Sweden and the Schengen area, you must have a Schengen visa to visit Sweden for up to 90 days.
Countries whose citizens need an entry visa for travel to Sweden
External link.
You do not need a Schengen visa if you
- are a citizen or long-term resident of another country in the Schengen area, or have a residence permit there (see which countries are part of the Schengen area External link.)
- come from a country whose citizens do not need an entry visa to visit Sweden.
Even if you do not need a Schengen visa, requirements may be imposed on you
If you come from a country outside the Schengen area and you do not need an entry visa to travel to Sweden or to another Schengen country, you must still meet a number of requirements. Before you enter Sweden, the border police will check that you meet these requirements.
You must have
- a passport valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area
- a valid round-trip ticket with a return journey within 90 days
- a written invitation from your family member or friend with whom you will be staying, or a booking confirmation if you are staying at a hotel
- money for your subsistence and return journey.
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden. In some cases, this amount may be lower, for example for younger children, if you have paid for your meals and accommodation in advance, or if you will be staying with relatives or friends. You must show that you have enough money to support yourself financially. You can do this with the help of, e.g., bank statements from your bank or documents in which the person inviting you to Sweden promises to cover all costs during your visit.
Insurance
It is recommended that you have individual medical travel insurance that covers the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical care, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons. The insurance should cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries.
The border police will answer your questions
If you have any questions before your trip, you can contact the border police. The border police can not give an advance decision on whether you will be allowed to enter Sweden, since this decision is taken directly at the border control.
If you will be visiting several countries
If you are planning to visit several countries in the Schengen area, you must apply for a Schengen visa from the authorities of the country that is your main destination.
Where you can apply for a Schengen visa
In many countries, Sweden has an agreement with an external service provider, VFS Global, which receives applications for Schengen visas. It is then the Swedish authorities that process and make a decision regarding your application.
In some countries, you must submit your application to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general. In a number of countries, Sweden is represented by another Schengen country, and it is then that country’s embassy or consulate-general that receives and processes your application.
Find out where and how to apply for a Schengen visa:
A representative can apply for you
If you have applied for an entry visa to Sweden or another Schengen country within the past five years and provided fingerprints when you did so, a representative can submit your application for you. To do so, your representative will need a power of attorney from you. They must attach a copy of the power of attorney to your application.
Prepare this before you apply
The documents you must submit depend on the country in which you are applying. In some cases, another country’s embassy is representing Sweden, and they may require other documents or forms. It is therefore important that you check on the website of the correct embassy to find out which documents you should prepare.
What you need to prepare for your application depends on the reason for your visit. Select the reason for your visit to see what applies to you.
Visiting family and friends
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031)
Pdf, 788.3 kB.
You must be able to describe the purpose of your visit
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden. This cost can also be covered by the person who invites you to Sweden.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
Documents that the person you will be visiting should send to you
The person you will be visiting in Sweden must send you these documents, which you must then attach to your application:
An invitation
The person you will be visiting must fill in the form:
Invitation – Before application for Schengen visa (241011) Pdf, 822.2 kB.
Copy of an ID document for the person in Sweden
A copy of an ID card, passport document, or equivalent documentation showing the person’s identity (a residence permit card does not count as an ID document).
Documents with information about the income and assets of the person who will be responsible for your financial maintenance during your visit to Sweden
Applies when the person in Sweden will be covering the cost of your subsistence. Examples of the documents your host needs to submit can be found on the invitation form.
A special extract from the Swedish Population Register for this purpose (Invitation)
The person in Sweden can order the Inbjudan [Invitation] extract from the Swedish Population Register from the Swedish Tax Agency: Extracts from the Swedish Population Register via the Swedish Tax Agency External link.. The extract does not need to bear the stamp and signature of the Swedish Tax Agency or another authority.
Entry visa for a business trip or to attend a conference
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031) Pdf, 788.3 kB.
You must be able to describe the purpose of your visit
You must have an invitation from the company or the person organising the conference
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden. This cost can also be covered by the company that invites you to Sweden.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
Entry visa for a tourist visit
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031) Pdf, 788.3 kB.
You must be able to describe the purpose of your visit
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
Entry visa for medical treatment
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031) Pdf, 788.3 kB.
Medical certificate
You will need two medical certificates:
- A medical certificate from Sweden that shows when you will receive your treatment and what it entails.
- A medical certificate from the country where you reside showing that you cannot receive treatment there.
Proof that you have deposited money in Sweden for the planned treatment and any aftercare
A completed questionnaire
You must fill in the form:
Questionnaire for visa because of medical treatment (219011) Pdf, 1.1 MB.
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden, unless you will be hospitalised or live where you receive your treatment.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
Entry visa to visit Sweden for religious purposes
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031) Pdf, 788.3 kB.
You must be able to describe the purpose of your visit
You must have an invitation from a religious organisation or congregation
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden. This cost can also be covered by the organisation or congregation that has invited you.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
Entry visa as a doctoral exchange student
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031) Pdf, 788.3 kB.
You must be able to describe the purpose of your visit
You must have an invitation or certificate of admission from a higher education institution in Sweden
You must have a certificate from your primary higher education institution abroad, if you are already enrolled at a higher education institution
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
Entry visa for volunteer work or internship
You need to prepare:
A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least three months after the entry visa’s expiration date, have been issued within the past ten years, and have at least two blank pages.
A completed Schengen visa form
Application for Schengen visa (119031) Pdf, 788.3 kB.
You must be able to describe the purpose of your visit
You must have an invitation from an internship provider or volunteer organisation
You must have individual medical travel insurance
The insurance must cover the costs that may arise in connection with emergency medical assistance, urgent hospital treatment, or transport to your country of origin for medical reasons (the insurance must cover costs of at least €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen countries).
You must have money for your subsistence and return journey
Sweden requires that you have SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden.
You must show that you intend to leave Sweden and the Schengen area no later than the last day of your entry visa’s period of validity
A passport-sized photograph
This only applies if a representative applies for you. The photo must be taken straight from the front and cannot be more than six months old.
How long is an entry visa valid, and can I make multiple visits?
You can get a Schengen visa for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period. The entry visa sticker that is pasted into your passport states how many days you can stay in the Schengen countries. These days can be used during the period of time indicated on the sticker. The period is usually 15 days longer than the number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen countries. This is to give you the opportunity to change your travel date if something unforeseen happens. However, you may only use the number of days stated on the visa sticker.
The entry visa can be valid for one or more entries
The entry visa sticker states how many times you can enter the Schengen countries during the period of validity, as well as how long you can stay in the Schengen countries.
A Schengen visa can be valid for multiple entries. A multiple-entry visa can be valid for a maximum of five years. Each stay can last for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Calculate your entry visa period
The EU’s Short-Stay Visa Calculator allows you to calculate how many days you have left on your entry visa period and how long you must stay outside the Schengen area before you can re-enter.
Calculate your entry visa period with the EU’s Short-Stay Visa Calculator External link.
Your entry visa may be valid for only certain countries
If you are granted a Schengen visa, you can usually visit other Schengen countries.
In some cases, your entry visa may only be valid for entering and staying in Sweden or in certain countries in the Schengen area, for example if your passport is not accepted by all Schengen countries. Your entry visa will state which countries you are allowed to enter.