How To Apply Study Visa For Sweden
I’ll discuss the general procedure for applying for a Swedish study visa and provide some extra notes on the subject. You can use this information to supplement the information provided by the embassy or consulate in your country (which you should definitely consult, as well) as well as to better understand the process. I will attempt to keep this post updated as rules change.
Information about studying and living in Sweden for your destination. Here we will look into the different options available to study and work in Sweden, as well as breaking down the process of how to get approved for a student visa.
Recently, Sweden has witnessed a remarkable increase in international student admissions owing to the quality of education and the country’s drive towards being an innovative, green economy. An increasing number of foreign nationals are showing interest in studying in Sweden and looking for how to apply study visa for Sweden. This article discusses the process and documents required to get a study visa to study Sweden.
Touriangle is replete with all the relevant information you need on bank statement required for Sweden student visa, Sweden student visa age limit, Sweden student visa with spouse, and so much more. Be sure to visit our catalog for more information on related topics. You don’t want to miss this!
How To Apply Study Visa For Sweden
If you would like to study in Sweden, you must apply for an entry visa with a Swedish embassy/consulate in your country of residence. This article lists the documents needed, step-by-step application procedures and other useful information about studying in Sweden for international students.
Sweden, the country of balance and diversity, is a top destination when it comes to higher education. Being among the top education leaders in the world, universities in Sweden use teaching methods based on “freedom with responsibility”.
There are plenty of reasons why international students choose to study a degree in Sweden. These include the opportunity to pursue a tuition-free programme for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
Student Visa Sweden
Apply to a Swedish university and get your acceptance letter
If you’re still not sure where you want to study in Sweden, you will have to decide before you can start your visa/residence permit application process. After being accepted at a Swedish university, you’ll receive an acceptance letter required for the visa/residence permit application.
Consider some of the best universities in Sweden:
- Linnaeus University
- University of Boras
- Jonkoping University
- Uppsala University
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Chalmers University of Technology
Before applying for the Swedish student visa
There are a few conditions that you need to fulfil in order to be eligible for the student visa/residence permit. You can find them below:
- The university study programme you applied to must be full-time.
- You must have a written confirmation that you have been admitted. List of universities recognised in Sweden.
- You are recommended to pay the first tuition fee instalment (only if there is any tuition to be paid).
- If you stay less than one year, you are required to have comprehensive health insurance. Learn more about international student insurance for students studying in Sweden.
- Your passport should be valid for minimum 6 months.
How To Apply For Student Visa In Sweden
When and where to apply for the student visa in Sweden?
You can apply online on the Swedish Migration Agency website or at the local Swedish embassy or consulate in your country. If you chose to apply online, the processing time will start right away and will be shorter, since the documents directly reach the Swedish Migration Authority.
This period is influenced by the amount of information your file contains. You should make sure your file has all the required documents, in order to avoid adding information after you apply.
Visit the Swedish embassy or consulate in your country to be photographed and fingerprinted and to receive your residence permit card.
The decision regarding your visa/residence permit is announced via email and you will be required to make an appointment and collect the documents with the official decision. The decision document is also sent to your university.
You should apply for the student visa/residence permit as early as possible since the regular waiting time is around 2–3 months. When you apply for the visa at the local embassy, you should also present the original versions of the required documents.
Tips about the visa/residence permit application
- You will have to go through an interview when you submit your visa application.
- Make an appointment at the embassy to schedule an interview.
- Remember to bring your passport and original copies of the documents.
Language requirements for studying in Sweden
There is no specific language requirement for your study visa in Sweden. The universities will require proof of language proficiency for either Swedish or English, which is part of the successful admission at a Swedish university. The Swedish Migration Agency will simply demand the university acceptance letter.
Swedish universities offer study programmes taught both in Swedish and English. However, most English study programmes are available for postgraduate level (Master’s and PhD courses). English language tests accepted by universities in Sweden:
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
- C1 Advanced
Sweden Student Visa IELTS requirements
Documents required for the student visa in Sweden
- Receipt proving you’ve paid the residence permit application fee of 145 EUR.
- Copies of the pages from your passport with personal information, validity period and the permission to live in another country.
- The letter of acceptance from the university that states that you have been admitted for a full-time course. If you applied for a PhD degree, the duration of the course must be specified.
- Proof that you have comprehensive medical insurance coverage in Sweden (if your study lasts for less than a year). This applies also if the university or university college covers your insurance.
- A bank statement that proves you can financially support yourself: minimum of 840 EUR/month or 165 EUR/month if you receive free food and accommodation. The document must cover the duration of your study and to be translated into English. You can also attach documents that show that you’ve received a scholarship, student aid or, in the case of PhD students, an educational grant or employment in research.
Can You Work In Sweden On A Student Visa
As an EU/EEA citizen, you are entitled to work in Sweden without a work permit. Non-EU/EEA citizens will need a work permit; however, the employer in Sweden will apply for a work permit on your behalf at the Swedish Migration Agency.
During university studies, you are allowed to work without hourly restrictions. But you are advised not to neglect your education since you will have to prove that you will have made progress and show satisfactory academic results.
Sweden Student Visa Processing Time
Broadly, there are two different types of visas a person can apply for when planning to go to Sweden. A person intending to travel to Sweden for recreational purposes would apply for a Schengen Visa. This is essentially a visa that is valid for three months. It is typically used by tourists as this allows them a pass through the European Union’s Schengen Area. The other visa is called the Residence Permit for Sweden, which is a long-stay visa and can be applied for a variety 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 but processed by the Swedish Embassy and Consulates in India.
Sweden Visa Processing Time
Since all visa applications are sent to Sweden, the Visa is processed in about 90 days. However, it might take longer and you are advised to start the process as soon as possible. Also, a paper application takes much longer than an online application. Hence, students are advised to opt for an online application.
Sweden Student Visa Fee
Sweden Study Visa fee for Residence Permit for Study purposes for Sweden is SEK 1,500 at the current exchange rate. Students are required to make an online payment for the same by using a Visa or a MasterCard. (Both Credit and Bank/Debit Cards are acceptable).
How To Apply For Visa To Study Abroad
If you are applying for a Residence Permit for Sweden, you would have to provide certain documents. Even before you start the actual visa application, we suggest you must ensure you have all of the following documents.
- A student must have a valid passport with a validity of at least 6 months at the time of application. Also, the passport should be issued not earlier than 10 years preceding the time of application.
- Students need an enrolment letter from a University in Sweden that clearly states the duration of the course and that they have paid (in full) the first instalment of the fees.
- The student needs to note here that this must include a study period that is equivalent to at least 30 credits. In case your first semester does not equal 30 credits, you would have to pay a fee for two semesters. (Though this usually is not the case)
- Proof of financial capacity which means that you have the funds to pay for the course you are enrolled in as well as support your stay in the country. This could be in the form of a scholarship/ sponsor (public or private), student loan or own funds to the tune of SEK 8,190 for each month of your stay in Sweden, computed for the intended stay with a minimum of 10 months for every year of staying in Sweden.
- You would be asked to provide proof of health insurance if your stay is less than 10 months. For students applying for longer stays, they would be provided with compulsory health insurance when they reach 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 (roughly 150 words) essay as to why you have chosen Sweden as the country for your studies. There is no specific format for the same but you have to give a specific reason for what you believe Sweden offers that your home country does not.
- Note: You are not required to submit all the certificates. The system would prompt you only to provide the last qualification/ work experience details. 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 can work while they are pursuing their education in Sweden. There is no upper limit to the number of hours a student can work for. However, a student is required to mandatorily complete a minimum study of 40 hours a week. Most of the Universities in Sweden have their own career cells where students can be assisted in finding appropriate part-time options.
Working after Studies
Students who have completed their studies in Sweden can apply for and get an extension of their Residence Permit for 6 months to seek suitable employment. Once the student has an appropriate job, s/he would be required to have a Work Permit for Sweden. Students can also seek a Residence Permit to start their own business in Sweden.
Scholarships for studying in Sweden
A large number of international students prefer Sweden for pursuing higher studies. But, pursuing an education in Sweden does not come cheap. Therefore, students have to look for different ways to arrange funds to cover tuition fees and living costs. Considering the demand of the students’ various universities in Sweden offer scholarships to international students. Below we 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 in India (Masters)
- BrokerFish International student scholarship
