The specifics of obtaining a visa to Sweden

A visa to Sweden, like many other European countries, has its own characteristics. There is a C visa for short-term stay: it can be obtained by submitting documents to an accredited visa center. And there is a D visa and a residence permit for a long-term stay in the country.

If you intend to study in Sweden for more than three months and you are not an EU citizen, you must obtain a residence permit.

The fastest and easiest way to apply for a student residence permit is online. Online applications go directly to the Swedish Migration Agency and receive priority.

To apply for a Schengen C visa, you must submit your fingerprints. After the introduction of the VIS on September 14, 2015, a person wishing to apply for a visa to Sweden must submit biometric data (fingerprints) and a digital photo. It only takes a few minutes: biometric data can be submitted both at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow and at VFS visa centers throughout Russia.

The decision can take up to 15 calendar days (and in individual cases may be extended up to 45 calendar days) after your application has been declared admissible. The time limit for making a decision on an application only begins when it is determined that your application is admissible, and not when the application was filed by the applicant.

If you want to visit Sweden for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit to visit or, if there are special reasons, for a Swedish national visa type D.

A foreigner who initially knows that he or she will be in Sweden for more than 90 days must first apply for a residence permit to visit.

Residence permit applications are always sent to the Swedish Migration Agency for a decision. Consequently, the processing time for these applications is longer than in the case of D and C visas. In case of a positive decision, a temporary residence permit is issued for a period of 3 to 12 months.

On special grounds, you can obtain a national visa (D-visa) with a stay of more than 90 days (max. 1 year). Special reasons include, for example, the need to visit their next of kin (parents, children and spouses) or business in Sweden. A type D visa grants the right to free movement within the Schengen area: you independently decide how many trips you need to make during the validity of the visa.

If you are going to get a temporary residence permit for visiting or a national Swedish visa, the purpose of your trip should be to visit Sweden, not permanent residence. You must have sufficient funds to support yourself + have a return ticket or funds to return to your country of residence.

Required documents:

• Application form for a residence permit for the purpose of visiting ( in Swedish or English )
• Appendix to the Family Information Questionnaire ( in Swedish or in English )
• Passport or other valid travel document
• A copy of the page with the personal data of the foreign passport (including information on passport renewals and / or changes in the passport)
• Copies of all pages with internal passport marks
• Documents confirming sufficient financial resources to stay in Sweden
• Copy of return ticket
• Invitation (in Swedish or English )
• If you are a minor or are traveling accompanied by minors, you will need a residence permit application form for the visit for minors ( in Swedish or English ). Please note that additional documents are required for persons under the age of 18
• Consular fee for a residence permit for visiting
• Comprehensive health insurance policy.

Since the application for a residence permit is carried out using an online service, certain formalities must be followed. Prepare in a clear scanned version:

• copies of your passport, which indicate your personal data, signature, validity period and whether you have a residence permit in countries other than your country of residence
• an admission decision from an organizer of higher education in Sweden, which shows that you are admitted to full-time study in a program or courses that require your presence in Sweden
• a copy of documents confirming that you have or have applied for a comprehensive health insurance policy valid in Sweden (if you have been admitted to studies for less than one year). You can provide a medical policy provided by your school.
• an account statement confirming that you have sufficient funds to cover living expenses. It is necessary to show finances for the entire requested training period
• be able to pay the possible application fee using a credit or debit card.

After the approval of the residence permit, the Embassy will contact the applicant so that he comes personally to the Embassy and receives his residence permit card.

Terms of consideration

It can take up to 15 calendar days to make a decision on a visa (in individual cases, it can be extended up to 45 calendar days) after your application has been declared admissible for consideration.

The term for consideration of a residence permit takes from 4 weeks.

The visa gives the right to enter and short-term stay in Sweden. As a rule, the visa is valid in all countries of the Schengen area, but the visa application must be submitted to the representative office of the country where you plan to travel, or, if you plan to visit several countries, or if several different trips are planned within two months, to the representative office of that the country that will be the main country of visit by the number of days or the purpose of the trip.

A visa application can be submitted no earlier than six months (and no later than 15 calendar days before the intended trip. We recommend applying for a visa in advance, especially during peak season.

A visa can be issued for a period of 1 to 90 days of stay, the total duration of which in the Schengen area cannot exceed 90 days within every 180 days.

Having a visa does not guarantee entry into the Schengen area. You go through the final check at border control points where you may be denied entry. We recommend that you have with you the documents on the basis of which you received your visa.

List of required documents:

• Agreed visa application form in Swedish or English , completed and signed by the applicant.
• Photo in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Consular fee
• Passport or other valid document that must:

1. be valid for a minimum of three months after the expected date of (last) departure from the Schengen area
2. have at least two blank pages
3. be issued within the last ten years.

• Travel medical insurance, which covers any costs that may arise in connection with returning home for medical reasons, the need for urgent medical attention.
• Confirmation of the availability of funds. As a general rule, we recommend having 450 SEK per person per night. You need to confirm the availability of funds: for example, with the help of a certificate from work (indicating the salary) or other documents (bank statement for the last 3 months, proof of ownership in Russia, sponsorship letter). In the event that the inviting person pays your expenses, you must provide evidence that the person has funds.
• A copy of the internal passport (issued from the age of 14): pages with the biographical data of the applicant, with marks of registration in Russia, marital status, issued foreign passports
• Documents depending on the purpose of your trip.

Consular fee for a visa

• C-visa: 2400 rubles. (about 35 euros).
• C-visa, if the documents are submitted 3 or less days before the trip (urgent visa): 4800 rubles. (about 70 euros).

The following categories are exempt from paying consular fees regardless of their citizenship:

• Children under 6 years old
• Schoolchildren, students of higher educational institutions, graduate students, as well as accompanying teachers (provided that the purpose of the trip is to study)
• Close relatives (spouses, registered partners, dependent children under the age of 21) of citizens of the European Union states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, if they travel together or the trip is related to their meeting
• Students who have received scholarships to study in Sweden from SIDA or other Swedish or international organizations.

Stay over 90 days

• D-visa: 4100 rubles. (about 60 euros)
• Residence permit for the purpose of a visit , adults: RUB 9750 (SEK 1500)
• Children under 18: 4900 rubles. (SEK 750).