Sweden is ranked as one of the world’s most innovative nations, that’s why in recent years the number of Sweden student visa applications has increased.
After Silicon Valley, Stockholm (Sweden’s capital) produces the most million-dollar companies per capita in the world.
International students who are interested in studying in Sweden need to either get a student visa or eventually residential permits depending on the duration of their stay.
Sweden is a beautiful Scandinavian country that also offers vocational courses and degree programs in several disciplines.
In the ultimate Sweden study visa guide, we will explain everything step by step.
It will not only solve your every query about visa documentation & Appointments but will also prepare you for the possible visa interview questions.
Don’t forget the FAQs & summary at the end of the blog.
Let’s Dive in.
Sweden Student visa
1. Types of Sweden student visa for International Students
3. Visa process time for Sweden student visa
4. Sweden Consulates and Embassies
5. Documents required for Sweden Student Visa
6. How to Apply for Sweden Student Visa
7. Interview Questions for Sweden Student Visa
8. Sweden’s Student Visa Success rate
Check our detailed guide about Spain’s student visa.
1. Types of Sweden student visa for International Students
There are two types of Sweden study visas for international Non-Eu students. Depends on the duration of time the student wants to spend in Sweden.
1.1. Sweden Schengen visit visa (Short-term Less than 90 days)
1.2. Sweden Residence permit (Long-term More than 90 days)
Let me explain.
1.1. Sweden Schengen visit visa (short term-Less than 90 days)
If the student is applying for a “Short Course” or “Apprenticeship” or “Seminars”, or “Vocational training” or “Exchange & mobility program”, or “University single course” that only requires them to stay in Sweden for up to 90 days then the applicant should apply for a “ Short term Schengen Sweden visa”.
In order to apply for a Sweden Schengen visit visa online, go to the E-services > “Visiting Sweden” > “Visit Sweden for less than 90 days”.
Students can also apply for it by contacting a third party like VFS Global etc website.
1.2. Sweden Residence permit (Long-term More than 90 days)
If the Student is applying for a course that is taking more than 90 days, then they should apply for a Sweden Residence permit.
In most cases, if the student is applying for a full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s or PhD. Their course will take more than 90 days, so they should apply for a residence permit.
This is also required for the mobility program within Sweden to study for the mobility period.
Students can also apply for it by contacting third parties like VFS Global etc website.
In order to apply for a Sweden residence Permit online, go to the E-services > “Studying in Sweden” > Apply to your desired residence permit.
Check step by step process of the Italy study visa.
1.3. Study programs & Sweden Visa table
|
Study Programs |
Stay of Duration |
Type of Sweden student visa |
|
Exchange & mobility program |
Less than 90 days |
Sweden Schengen visit visa |
|
University single course |
Less than 90 days |
Sweden Schengen visit visa |
|
Vocational training |
Less than 90 days |
Sweden Schengen visit visa |
|
Academic short course |
Less than 90 days |
Sweden Schengen visit visa |
|
Apprenticeship |
Less than 90 days |
Sweden Schengen visit visa |
|
Full-time Graduate or post-graduate programs |
More than 90 days |
Sweden Residence permit |
|
Exchange & Mobility program, University single course, Vocational training, Academic short course, Apprenticeship |
IF More than 90 days |
Sweden Residence permit |
2. Sweden student Visa Fee
The Visa Fee for the Sweden Residence permit (more than 90 days) is SEK 1500, (133 Euros).
While for The Sweden Schengen visit visa (less than 90 days ) fee is 80 euros.
Students can pay an online payment of the visa fee by MasterCard or Visa Card. The Migration agency will provide you IBAN and a Bank number.
Or
If the student is applying at an embassy or consulate-general, they can pay the fee in local currency by hand, when submitting the application. The exchange will be calculated & rounded off.
If you want to study in the UK, check out our ultimate UK study visa guide.
3. Visa process time for Sweden student visa
The Sweden student visa processing time strictly depends upon
The Applicant’s Nationality,
Sweden’s Embassy in that particular region,
Number of applicants
and
sometimes specific requirements of the Applicant’s case.
However, All the applications for the Sweden study visa are sent to Sweden.
So, the visa processing time is quite long and is processed in 90 days.
It may take even longer time, so it is better to start the visa process as soon as possible before the announcement of classes.
It could be a lot less in the case of some countries like Australia, Canada, UK, USA, etc while for other countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, etc the Sweden study visa processing time can take longer time (45 to 90 days) due to a huge number of applicants.
The online application takes less processing time than the paper application.
Therefore, It is suggested that students start the online process months before the commencement of classes.
4. Sweden Consulates and Embassies
Sweden has diplomatic offices all over the world. The embassies and consulates of Sweden are in all countries of the world.
Sweden has 350 consulates and 100 missions all over the world.
Some other websites related to Sweden study visas & universities are given below.
University admissions in Sweden
If You have any questions related to your Sweden study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.
Whatsapp Contact: +393512735708
5. Documents required for Sweden Student Visa
5.2. Passport-size photographs
5.7. IELTS for Sweden Student Visa
5.9. Admission Letter for Sweden study visa
5.10. Financial Documents for Sweden Student Visa
5.12. PCC for Sweden student Visa
5.15. Proof of university legal fee
5.16. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking
5.17. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
5.18. NOC: NO Objection Certificate (Optional)
5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements
5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates
5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate
5.1. Visa Application form
When the document of the student is completed, then they can apply online through the Swedish Migration Agency Website.
Carefully fill in all the questions. Both parents must sign the application of the student, (In case of minor).
For long term Sweden study visa:
In order to apply for Sweden residence Permit online, go to the E-services > “Studying in Sweden” > Apply to your desired residence permit.
For Short term Sweden study visa:
In order to apply for Sweden Schengen visit visa online, go to the E-services > “Visiting Sweden” > “Visit Sweden for less than 90 days”.
Students can also apply for it by contacting through third party like VFS Global etc website.
How to apply for an Australian study visa? check our step-by-step process.
5.2. Passport-size photographs
The general picture format for a Sweden student visa is the following.
A. Two recent (within 6 months) passport-size (35x45mm) photos.
B. White background with neutral facial expressions. (Unedited)
C. Avoid uniforms & the head should be 80% in the photo.
D. The applicant should look at the camera.
E. one photograph should be glued to the visa application while the other should contain the applicant’s full name on the reverse side, & should be attached with a paper clip to the visa form.
The same rules apply to every Schengen country.
5.3. Valid Passport
A: A passport must have at least 18 months of validity from the date of visa application.
B: Applicants will also provide visa copies (if they have any).
C: The passport must have at least two blank pages.
D: All the previous passports must also be attached. (If they have any)
Check our detailed guide about Finland student visa.
5.4. CNIC
A birth certificate and a National Identity card are mandatory for Sweden student visa in Sweden.
It depends on case to case.
5.5. Academic Documents
It includes all academic records & certificates.
A. Certificate & transcript of Bachelor’s (If a student is applying for a master’s program)
B. Certificate & transcript of Master’s (If a student is applying for a Ph.D. program)
C. Transcript (DMCs) of Metric & FSC and certificates (if a student is applying for a bachelor’s degree)
D. Proficiency certificate in English from the university.
E. Course summary which explains current courses & previous courses.
F. Provide two Recommendation Letters from your university along with the referee’s detail.
5.5.1. Translated Documents contain:
A. Confirmation from Translation Company/Translator
B. Translation Date
C. Name and Signature of the Translator
D. Translator’s Contact Details
NOTE:
The above-mentioned documents must be attested by respective universities and boards for study visa of Sweden.
5.6. CV
CV is compulsory for the university admission process and optional for embassy interviews.
It should contain all the contact details and academic information.
Students can make a perfect Cv in Europass here in under a few minutes.
5.7. IELTS for Sweden Student Visa
Mostly the students who are applying for bachelor’s degree programs in Sweden will need to provide an IELTS certificate, but Masters students can fulfill the requirements by providing An English Proficiency certificate.
This certificate is proof that the medium of taught courses was English.
It also depends on your university & the degree you are applying.
5.8. Statement of Purpose/Letter of Motivation/cover letter
In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course or the scholarship and what is your intention of traveling to Sweden.
This document comprises the following information about the student
A. Previous academic documents and studies
B. Employment Status
C. Relationship with your home country
D. Immigration History
E. Economic conditions of the applicant
A statement of purpose (SOP) & letter of motivation (LOM) are almost the same thing & could be interchangeable.
The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But it is advised to make it short & concise to one page.
5.9. Admission Letter for Sweden study visa
After getting admission to a Swedish university, they will issue you an invoice to pay the fee.
When you pay the fee, the university will issue you an unconditional Admission letter.
This letter is extremely important for Sweden’s study visa.
To avoid any extra hassle, it is advised that the university fee should be paid before starting the immigration process from your home country & keep the receipt.
NOTE:
Remember admission letter could also be in the form of a university formal invitation or internship or training program.
It could also include accommodation proof and details of the organization supporting the student.
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5.10. Bank statement for Sweden Student Visa
For those students who made their visa applications this year, the requirement for financial documents is at least SEK 8,370 per month.
This is around $ 860 per month & $ 10320 per annum.
So it is advised to show the bank statement of at least 12,000 $ for a Sweden study visa to prove that they can cover this amount for the stay period during the residence permit.
In the case of a scholarship or grant, there is no need of showing a bank statement.
The bank account must be in the name of the student.
Bank Statement that shows a statement of the last six months that is signed and stamped by the bank officer.
National Tax Number Certificate or exemption proof if applicable. Proof of documents like income-generating assets is also acceptable.
5.10.1 SPONSORSHIP
In the case of sponsorship, the applicant should make an Affidavit of the sponsor, in which they will state their relationship.
The sponsor is also required to show the tax return for the last two years.
Property Details & other Income sources of the sponsor are also required.
5.11. Health Insurance for Sweden student visa
Unlike many countries, Sweden needs comprehensive health insurance even when you reapply for a short-term study visa that could cover at least three months of health expenses like hospitalization and even transport to your home country in case of emergency.
When a student is applying for a residence permit or short-term study visa in Sweden, the student will fill out the Swedish Migration Agency online application form to provide health insurance proof.
Later students can use the Swedish healthcare system when they are studying in Sweden.
Swedish universities normally don’t send separate insurance certificates to students.
Note:
If a student is a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who is paying tuition fees for his studies at Lund University, a special insurance cover is provided by the Swedish government called FAS+. Accident cover, liability cover, legal expenses, and property cover are all included in the insurance.
5.12. PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) for Sweden student Visa
International students who want to apply for a Sweden residence permit (Long term student visa of more than 90 days) must submit a document showing a history of a criminal record.
This document must be issued by the country of your residence within five months of starting the visa application.
Generally, PCC can be issued by your local security police station or many international students can also make it online.
Indian students can make it through Passport seva, and Pakistani students can make it in “Police Khidmat Markaz” or the ICTP app or ICTP website.
International Students normally don’t need PCC for short-term Sweden student visas, however, it’s better to cross-check the requirement with your local Swedish consulate.
5.13. Medical certificate
Students must do a medical examination and answer questions and show previous medical history about medication and illness.
A Swedish vaccination program is enough to make a clear medical history. Students must provide test proof of Tuberculosis and Hepatitis A and B. Different authorized centers of Sweden all over the world provide vaccination certificates to students and provide a health certificate for a student visa.
The cost of a medical certificate varies between SEK 1500-6000 for Sweden Student Visa for Sweden.
Students make sure to regularly contact the embassy in case of any questions.
5.14. Payment of the visa fee
Students can pay a non-refundable visa fee through an online debit card and fill out an application. For online payment, the debit card must be activated.
International students can pay through bank transfer after submitting an application.
The Visa Fee for the Sweden Residence permit (more than 90 days) is SEK 1500, (133 Euros).
While for The Sweden Schengen visit visa (less than 90 days ) fee is 80 euros.
Note: Sometimes Extra fees could be charged like Service Fees or Convenience Fees by third parties like VFX global etc. That extra fee could be between 10-20 euros.
5.15. Proof of university legal Fees
It is a receipt or proof of the application fee from the university.
Depends from university to university.
It may be the first-semester fee or the fee for the whole year.
When you pay the fee to the Swedish university, they will send you one unconditional letter, the applicant needs to apply with that letter for the Sweden study visa.
5.16. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking
The booking confirms the arrival date in a particular country.
The hotel reservation shows that a student researched the process.
5.17. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
A family registration certificate (FRC) is a document that tells that the family record of the student is complete in the database of the home country.
This document contains details of the name and information of the parents and siblings.
This document is very much important in case of extending a residence permit or in case of permanent settling in Sweden.
International students can get it from their local ministries & authorities.
Pakistani students can get FRC through NADRA offices in Pakistan. They can also apply for it online.
5.18. NOC: No Objection Certificate (Optional)
It also varies from country to country. It is compulsory for some countries and known as NOC.
NOC must be written by the Dean or HOD of the university.
This letter will include that the student is applying for a student visa to Sweden. Students will return to the country after completing their education.
5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements (Optional)
These certificates include internship certificates and experience letters.
The embassy gives extra value to these certificates.
5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates
Students must complete the COVID-19 vaccination before the interview appointment at the embassy.
The administered vaccines are listed by the WHO (World Health Organization).
5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate
The embassy may ask about Childbirth Certificates and marriage certificates.
It is better to bring both childbirth and marriage certificates along with you.
NOTE: Students should carry all these documents along with their photocopies when applying for a Sweden study visa.
The Swedish embassy reserve the right to ask for additional documents, that why it’s good to carry the optional documents.
The passport will not be returned until the final decision on the visa is taken.
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6. How to Apply for Sweden Student Visa
International students can apply for a Sweden study visa by following 5 easy steps.
- Search for your desired courses & Get admission in Sweden by following this university finder.
Graduate applicants can apply for four different master’s while undergraduate applicants can apply for eight bachelor’s. - Fulfill the list of 21 docs we discussed above in detail.
3. Apply online through the Swedish Migration Agency Website. Carefully fill in all the questions.
For long-term Sweden study visa:
In order to apply for Sweden residence Permit online, go to the E-services > “Studying in Sweden” > Apply to your desired residence permit.
For Short term Sweden study visa:
In order to apply for Sweden Schengen visit visa online, go to the E-services > “Visiting Sweden” > “Visit Sweden for less than 90 days”.
Students can also apply for it by contacting a third party like VFS Global etc website.
4. After successfully uploading all the required documents (Which are discussed above in detail), Pay the student visa fee which is SEK 1500, (133 Euros) for the Sweden Residence permit (more than 90 days) is While for The Sweden Schengen visit visa (les than 90 days ) fee is 80 euros.
5. Wait for the interview. & prepare the list of questions that we discussed below in detail.
NOTE:
Students can also apply for a Sweden student visa through the VFS Global website.
If you want to study in the UK for free, find out our detailed guides about Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships.
7. Interview Questions for Sweden Student Visa
There are common questions students may face during their Swedish student visa interviews.
These questions vary from profile to profile and are below:
What is your name?
Explain your purpose for going to Sweden?
Tell us your previous educational qualification.
Did you already search for opportunities in your home country?
Where is the university located in Sweden?
What is your course structure or Course summary?
Which course will you start at the university?
Why did you choose this university and these courses?
How will this course shape your career?
How did you find this university?
What are your plans after the completion of the course?
When will your course start?
Why did you choose Sweden and not another country?
Where will you stay in Sweden?
Tell us about your financial stability? Can you support yourself?
Some questions could also be asked about the amount of money in your bank Account.
8. Sweden’s Student Visa Success rate
The success rate for accepting Sweden student visa applications for a residence permit is between 50-60%. It says that the chance of getting a student visa for international students to move to Sweden is 50:50.
The rejection rate for applications for Student visas in Sweden in 2019-2020 was 40-50%.
There are many reasons for the rejection of student visa residency permits for international students. The Sweden Migration Agency is very strict regarding issuing a residential permit to international students.
The reasons could be
A: Not able to give proper convincing answers during the visa interview.
B: Lack of good communication skills.
C: Insufficient funds.
D: Irregularity in studies or less resemblance with future studies.
E: Lack of English Language fluency
9. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions about Sweden Student visas)
9.1. Can a student work on a student visa in Sweden?
Yes. A student can work on a student visa while studying in Sweden. For that, a residency permit is mandatory. Those students who are from the EU/EEU can stay in Sweden even after finishing their studies.
Remember international can’t work on a student Schengen Visit visa.
9.2. Do International students require IELTS for their Sweden Study Visa?
It depends. Most international students who are applying for bachelor’s degree programs in Sweden will need to provide an IELTS certificate, but Masters’s students can fulfill the requirements by providing An English Proficiency certificate.
This certificate is proof that the medium of taught courses was English.
The IELTS requirement also depends on your university & the degree you are applying.
However, having a better band in IELTS certainly helps in smoothing the visa process. Due to huge competition, it is advised to do IELTS to avoid any hassle.
9.3. Can a student get PR after studying in Sweden?
Yes. After completing their education at a Swedish university, international students have to find a job & fulfill the tax requirements for Swedish permanent residency.
PR will open new doors of opportunities & international students can even apply for loans to start their businesses in Sweden.
9.4. Is Sweden a good destination for students?
Yes. Sweden is considered a good choice for international students.
There are 60 Bachelor’s degrees and 900 Master’s degrees available on the portal for Sweden. Students can select from a wide range of programs and fields that are taught in English.
Swedish universities are also offering scholarships for international students.
Which countries need a Sweden Study visa?
Here is a list of countries, that will need a Sweden study visa.
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10. Sweden study visa for international students (SUMMARY):
1. Take a visa appointment at a Sweden embassy & choose the correct category of visa.
2. Pay the visa fee & provide financial resources and bank statement details.
3. Prepare the list of documents discussed above i.e., Health insurance, bank statement, etc.
4. Appear at the visa interview & wait for the result. It will take up some time.
We covered everything in detail, but if you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
If You have any questions related to your Sweden study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.
Whatsapp Contact: +393512735708
Am requesting for sponsorship of my sons who is doing KCSE exams on December 2023 and 2024
Pls am requesting for school sponsorship nd I wish it could cover myself,husband nd son.