In general, there are two sorts of visas that one can apply for when traveling to Sweden. A person would apply for a Schengen Visa if they wanted to visit Sweden for recreational purposes. Essentially, this serves as a three-month visa. Tourists frequently utilize it because it provides them with entry to the Schengen Area of the European Union. The second type of visa is a long-stay visa called a Residence Permit for Sweden, which may be requested for a number of reasons. Students planning to study in Sweden have to apply for a Residence Permit or a Sweden Study Visa to legally enter the country for the purpose of the study.

Resident Permits are issued by the Swedish Migration Agency in Sweden, however they are processed by the Swedish Embassy.

Sweden Visa Processing Time
Since Sweden receives all visa applications, the processing time is roughly 90 days. You are advised to start the process as soon as you can, but it can take longer. Also, a paper application takes much longer than an online application. Students are therefore recommended to use an online application.

Sweden Study Visa Fees
At the current currency rate, the Sweden Study Visa fee for a residence permit for study purposes in Sweden is SEK 1,500. Students must make an online payment for the same using a Visa or MasterCard. (Credit and bank/debit cards are both accepted).
When making an online fee payment, keep in mind that the card you’re using has the requisite balance and may be used to make international payments. To be certain, it is best to consult with the issuing bank ahead of time.
What documents are required for Student Visas to Sweden?
Some documents must be provided when applying for a Swedish residence permit. Even before you start the actual visa application, we suggest you must ensure you have all of the following documents.

  • At the time of application, a student must have a valid passport with a validity of at least 6 months. Also, the passport must have been issued no more than ten years prior to the time of application.
  • Students must have an enrolment letter from a Swedish university that clearly shows the course duration and that they have paid (in full) the first instalment of fees.
  • The student should be aware that this must include a study period of at least 30 credits. If your first semester does not equal 30 credits, you must pay a two-semester charge. (But this is not always the case.)
  • Evidence of financial capability, which shows you have the money to pay for the course you’re taking as well as sustain your stay in the country. This could be in the form of a scholarship/sponsorship (public or private), student loan, or personal finances in the amount of SEK 8,190 for each month of your stay in Sweden, computed for the desired stay with a minimum of 10 months for each year of stay.
  • If your stay is less than ten months, you will be required to present proof of health insurance. Students who request for longer stays will be given with mandatory health insurance when they arrive in Sweden.
  • Class X/ XII/ Bachelors (whichever applicable) Mark-sheet and Certificate showing clearly the year of completion of the course.
  • Your application would also ask you to submit a 1000-character (approximately 150-word) essay explaining why you chose Sweden as your study destination. There is no set format for this, but you must explain why you believe Sweden provides something that your own country does not.
  • It is not necessary for you to provide all of the certificates. The system would simply ask you for the most recent qualification/work experience information. In case you wish to provide information for all the previous qualifications and/or work experience, you would have to provide relevant documentary proof.
  • For Paper Applications, you would need two sets of the documents – original as well as signed true copies of the same.
  • For Online, you would be required to upload the scanned copy of the original documents. Remember to scan and upload the original documents and not the photocopies.
  • Also, for online applications, the attached documents should not be larger than 2MB and in acceptable formats. PDF and JPEG are always the preferred formats for official documentation.

How to apply for a Swedish Student Visa
Candidates are required to follow the steps mentioned below to successfully apply for their Swedish Study Visa. 

  • Confirm your admission to a Swedish university and prepare the documents as per the checklist mentioned above
  • Confirm health insurance (if applicable)
  • Fill out the residence permit application form online by logging into the Migrationsverket Website.
  • Upload the documents and submit your application.
  • Pay the visa fee of SEK 1,500 through a Visa/ Mastercard
  • Receive confirmation from the consulate/ embassy
  • Submit your biometric information and photograph at the nearest embassy/ consulate office of Sweden on receiving the email

Working while on Student Visa in Sweden?
International students are permitted to work while studying in Sweden. There is no limit to the number of hours a student can work. A student must, however, complete a minimum of 40 hours of study every week. Most Swedish universities have their own career centres where students can get help finding suitable part-time jobs.

Working after Studies
Students who have finished their studies in Sweden can apply for and receive a 6-month extension of their residence permit to search for suitable jobs. After the student obtains a suitable work, he or she will be required to obtain a Work Permit for Sweden. Students can also apply for a Residence Permit in Sweden in order to start their own business.

Scholarships for studying in Sweden
A substantial number of international students prefer to study in Sweden. But, obtaining an education in Sweden is not cheap. As a result, students must seek alternative means of raising income to cover tuition and living expenses. Depending on student demand, several colleges in Sweden offer scholarships to international students. We have included several popular scholarships for studying in Sweden below.

have given some popular scholarships for studying in Sweden.

  • The BL Mandhana Scholarships
  • Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses)
  • Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
  • TOEFL Scholarship Program
  • BrokerFish International student scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Q. What is the student visa processing time for Sweden?
    It takes time to process a student visa for Sweden. Sweden does not have a special kind of visa for students. Anyone seeking to stay in Sweden for more than 90 days is required to apply for a residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for accepting or rejecting your visa application. Therefore, your student visa applications are sent to Sweden. It usually takes around 90 days to process your visa application. Students are advised to apply for a student visa as early as possible. A Paper visa application takes much longer than an online application, hence students are advised to opt for an online application.
  • Q. What is the cost of a student visa for Sweden?
    The Embassy of Sweden only cooperates with VFS Global in India and Nepal. The Schengen visa application fee is tied to the euro. From April 15, 2021, the visa application fee for adults is €80, whereas for children (age 6-12) the visa application fee is €40. Citizens of countries that have signed visa facilitation agreements with the EU pay a reduced fee or are exempt from payment. Visits longer than 90 days require D Visa. The revised visa application fee from April 4, 2021, is €60. However, the visa application fee for children (age 0-6) is nil. The visitor’s permit for adults is SEK 1,500 and for Children under 18 is SEK 750. 
  • Q. How to pay the visa application fee?
    VFS global official service provider to Sweden embassy to process the visa applications. You can pay for your visa applications at VFS Global visa application centres . You can pay in cash or with a debit/credit card. If someone decides to apply directly via Swedish Embassy then you can pay fees by bank draft, UPI payments or a bank card. Payment made by Bank Draft should be in favour of the “Embassy of Sweden (Visa)”. Bank drafts have to be made for each application. Collective Bank drafts are not accepted. 
  • Q. What is the quickest way to get a residence permit for Sweden?
    Students who are non-EU nationals and their course of study require them to stay in Sweden for more than 90 days, need to apply for a residence permit. However, if your course of study requires you to stay in Sweden for less than three months and you are not an EU citizen then you may need a visa instead. The fastest way to get a residence permit to study at universities and colleges in Sweden is to apply online. Since all the visa-related decisions are taken by Swedish Immigration Authority in Sweden all the online applications go directly to the Swedish Immigration Authority and are given priority. Meanwhile, if you do not wish to apply online or wish to study other than at university or college, you can submit your application documents at the Swedish Embassy in person. 
  • Q. How can I submit my biometrics for a residence permit card?
    To submit biometrics for the residence permit card, the applicant is required to visit the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi. You are required to bring the passport registered in the application for identification. It is not necessary to submit your biometrics before the approval on your residence permit. You can submit your biometrics before or after a decision on your residence permit application is taken. Once you get the control number on your application, you can go to the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi during the biometrics submission hours along with the original passport to submit your biometrics. 
  • Q. How long it takes to get a residence permit card?
    First you apply via an online application form to get a residence permit in Sweden. Once your application for a residence permit is accepted and you are granted a permit to stay in Sweden for longer than three months, a residence permit card is issued before you depart for Sweden. Residence permit cards are only proof of residence permit, you cannot use them as Identity cards or travel documents. Your residence permit is checked by the Embassy and after that, a notification is sent to you via email. You can then visit the Embassy of Sweden along with your passport to collect your residence permit card during the collection hours at the Embassy. 
  • Q. Can I work while studying in Sweden?
    Yes, you can work while studying in Sweden. If you are pursuing a course longer than three months, then you are required to get a residence permit for Sweden. The residence permit of Sweden allows international students to work while studying. However, you should keep in mind that your working hours should not affect your study and you are able to perform better academically. Working for 20 hours a week is advisable for international students, as this is the norm all over the world for international students working while studying. 
  • Q. Is there any scholarship for international students in Sweden?
    Sweden is not cheap; it is one of the very expensive countries in the world for international students in terms of cost of living and cost of tuition. Therefore, the scholarship becomes one of the most desirable things for international students going to Sweden for higher education. There are several scholarships available to international students. Universities provide scholarships at their level to international students. There are several merits and need-based scholarships as well. Besides this, there are several external agencies which offer scholarships to international students.
  • Q. What are the documents required for a student visa to Sweden?
    Documents required depends on what kind of visa you are applying for, for courses shorter than three months you need to apply for a normal visa. However, for courses longer than three months, you are required to apply for a residence permit. To apply for a residence permit you need a valid passport which has a validity of at least six months at the time of application. Students are also required an enrolment letter form university in Sweden, health insurance, and essay. 
  • Q. Do I need to give proof of financial capacity for a student visa to Sweden?
    Yes, you need to present a proof of financial capacity, i.e., you have funds to pay for the course you are enrolled in a Swedish university. Your proof of financial capacity should also show that you have enough fund to support your stay in Sweden. You can present proof of financial security via scholarship, sponsor, student loan or own funds. You must have at least SEK 8,190 for each month of their stay in Sweden, computed for the intended stay with a minimum of 10 months for every year of studying in Sweden. 
  • Q. What is a Schengen visa for Sweden?~
    If the duration of your travel to Sweden is less than three months, then you are required to apply for a Schengen visa. A Schengen visa is issued for a maximum of 90 days. Schengen visa allows you to travel across all the countries of Schengen region. All the travellers are responsible for verifying the travel restriction in place before departure. A Schengen visa is not a guarantee for entry to Sweden or the Schengen area. The Border Police of Sweden determines whether an individual meets the entry conditions or not.