If you are a citizen of the US and are planning a holiday to Sweden, then one question that comes up would be: ‘How do I get a visa to Sweden?’ You know that flights to Swedenare expensive and this could be the only trip you take in the next few years. So you wouldn’t want your application for the Schengen Visa for Sweden to be rejected, would you?

Most people often wonder how their Schengen Visa for Sweden is going to be granted. As you know, all countries in the Schengen Area are part of Iceland and Norway, not the UK and Switzerland. This means that those from outside of Northern Europe may need a visa to enter Iceland or Norway. They will receive 1 month out of 6 months or 2 months out of 12 months stay. You need to understand that different rules apply to stay in any country of Iceland and Norway. The requirements necessary for a Sweden Tourist visa is different from the other non-European countries.

Schengen Visa For Sweden

The Schengen Visa entry requirements for Sweden vary depending on your specific nationality, travel purpose and why you want to go to Sweden. The key point here is that, if you’re traveling to a Schengen country but you don’t need a visa – you’ll need to get a Swedish tourist visa, not a Scandinavian tourist visa. If you plan on visiting other Schengen countries on your trip, the rules vary but we’ll give you all the information you need below.

The Schengen visa is one of the most often mistaken categories of visa, as well as one of the most frequently given out. Its complexity is derived from its uniqueness. It is different form other visas, like a tourist visa or an employment visa, or a business visa or study visa.

Sweden Visa Application Requirements

Depending on the purpose of your travel to Sweden, there are different types of visas that will apply to the occasion.

Whether you are planning to go on a visit, study or work and reside in Sweden permanently, you will have to apply for a different Schengen Visa, accordingly.

You can apply for the Sweden Schengen Visa since 2001 when Sweden as an European Union Member State also became a member state of the Schengen Area.

Sweden Entry Restrictions in Response to Coronavirus

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Sweden, as well as the rest of the EU and Schengen Area members imposed an EU-wide entry ban on third-country nationals in mid-March 2020.

Amid the improved epidemiological situation in Sweden, the EU and abroad, Sweden has lifted the entry ban for the residents of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Uruguay.

The exemption will also be made for the following categories:

• Students who study in Sweden.
• Highly skilled professionals, if the job cannot be postponed or be done remotely.
• Individuals holding a residence permit or right to reside in Sweden or another EEA country, holders of a national (class D) visa for Sweden or a national (class D) visa valid for more than three months in another EEA country, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the Vatican.
• Individuals with a proved family connection, i.e. spouse, common-law partner, partner or child, to a Swedish citizen, EEA citizen or a foreigner holding residence permit or national (class D) visa in Sweden or an EEA country.
• Healthcare professionals.
• Those working with the transportation of goods.
• Seafarers
• People travelling for urgent family reasons.
• Individuals working in international organizations or who are invited by such organizations and whose presence is needed for the operation of the organization, military staff, aid workers or staff working with civil defence.
• Military staff.
• Individuals entering Sweden for studies.
• Highly skilled professionals, if the work cannot be postponed or completed remotely.
• Internationals who are going to work within the agricultural, forestry or gardening industry.

General required documents for a Sweden Visa Application:

• Download the Sweden Visa Application form, fill it completely and with sincerity. You can also fill the Sweden Schengen Visa application form electronically and then print a hard-copy.
• 2 photos must be attached; the photo should be of passport format – a recent whole-face capture with a light background. Learn more about photo requirements and specifications for a Swedish Visa.
• Your passport and copies of your previous visas – valid for at least 3 months beyond return date – are required. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
• A copy of your return-ticket reservation. It is not recommended to purchase the ticket before obtaining the visa – if not otherwise required
• Travel health insurance confirmation of minimum 30,000€ coverage within Sweden and the entire Schengen area
• A cover letter stating the purpose of visit to Sweden and itinerary
• Flight ticket reservation with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Sweden
• Hotel booking reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Sweden
• Proof of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable)
• Means of subsistence – Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Sweden. A foreigner who seeks to enter the territory of Sweden must be able to attest possessing 450 SEK or 48.26€/day of stay in Sweden, at the moment applying for a Swedish Visa to the Swedish Embassy or Consulate.

UK residents, please read: How to Apply for a Sweden Visa in the UK!

If employed:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
• No-objection certificate from employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

If self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

If a student:

• Proof of enrollment
• Leave approval letter from school or university

If retired:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If applicable:

• Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months

*Note: The signed application form must be accompanied the rest of the above-mentioned mandatory documents and handed personally at the appropriate embassy/consulate or its representative in your home country.

Apart from the general documentation required, accompanying should be other additional documents depending on the purpose of your Swedish Visa application.

List of additional documents required for the most frequent purposes of Sweden Visa Application:

Swedish Tourist/Visitor Visa:

• Invitation letter from your family or friends in Sweden with the address and phone number  – if applicable
• Bank statement of the last 6 months
• Passport copies

Sweden Visa for Business Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the Swedish company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit
• A certificate from your employer stating/allowing your business travel
• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies, proof of such events must be provided
• Business bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies) Trade License (first issued and present renewal), Proprietorship/Partnership documents
• Regarding the applicant’s expenses during stay in the Schengen zone, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Sweden Visa for Medical Purposes:

• A local medical report
• A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Sweden, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation
• Payment receipt of medical fees

Sweden Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the above-mentioned authorities with details upon the nature of events or activities – purpose of visit , expense coverage
• Names of the applicants (crew members)
• Duration of stay
• Travel itinerary

Sweden Visa for Members of Official Delegations:

• The official invitation copy
• Identity of applicant
• Purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations)
• Duration of stay
• Place of accommodation 

Sweden Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes:

• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses
• Certificate of completion or courses attended
• Financial sustenance 

Sweden Visa For The Wife/Husband of a Swedish citizen:

• Proof of Swedish citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Swedish nationality or naturalization order)
• Swedish marriage certificate
• Swedish family record book

Swedish Airport Transit Visa:

• Visa or other type of entry permit in the transit country
• Copy of your valid visa for your final destination 

Sweden Visa for Under-Age Children:

• Proof of parent’s regular income (work contract with specified monthly income or a bank statement or business license)
• Notarized travel permission from parent (parental travel consent)
• If one parent lives in another country – their notarized parental travel consent

*Note: When applying at the Swedish embassy/consulate in home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their under-age children.

Can I extend my Schengen visa in Sweden?

Yes, you can extend your Sweden Schengen visa but only in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry in Sweden.

Please read How to Extend a Schengen Visa to understand in what circumstances and what are the conditions you must fulfill in order to be eligible to Extend your Sweden Schengen Visa.

Attention! Please consult the Embassy of Sweden in your country for the updated Sweden Visa requirements!