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Sweden

Visa Sweden

Europe · Europe du Nord

In Sweden, visits are handled by Migrationsverket, the Swedish Migration Agency. The pages consulted on 2026-09-17 distinguish the Schengen entry visa, for a stay of up to 90 days, from the visitor's residence permit, for a stay of more than 90 days. A visa application is filed with an external service provider, a Swedish embassy or consulate general, or the mission of another Schengen country. The pages state the documents expected, the fees and the processing times announced.

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.

Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.

Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Migrationsverket — Swedish Migration Agency
Filing channel
External service provider in most countries, Swedish embassy or consulate general, or the mission of another Schengen country; the Agency's online service in a limited number of cases
Electronic visa
The portal describes an online service for the visitor's residence permit; for the entry visa, it states an online service limited to certain filing countries listed on the page
Portal language
Swedish and English (English version consulted)

Do you need a visa?

Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.

Documented visa types

“Schengen visa” — entry visa for a stay of up to 90 days
For a visit of 90 days at most per 180-day period, according to the page consulted. It also mentions multiple-entry visas, valid for five years at most. Official page (new tab)
“Visitor's residence permit”
For a stay of more than 90 days or to extend a visit under way; the page states that the stay must have the visit as its sole purpose and that the applicant must intend to leave Sweden afterwards. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to file the application

For the entry visa, the official page states three filing channels: an external service provider in most countries, a Swedish embassy or consulate general in some countries, or the mission of another Schengen country in others. The page invites applicants to select their country from a drop-down list to find the exact filing place. It also points to an online service run by the Agency for a limited number of filing countries.

For the visitor's residence permit, the page describes an online service open to adults who have a valid email address, a Visa or Mastercard and the ability to scan their documents. A paper form remains possible: it is filed with a Swedish embassy or consulate from abroad, or by post from within Sweden. The page also mentions an in-person visit to show the passport.

Steps in the procedure

  1. Determine, according to the length of the intended stay, whether it is an entry visa for up to 90 days or a visitor's residence permit beyond that.
  2. Identify, from the portal's list, the filing place provided for the country where the applicant is.
  3. Gather the documents requested, which vary according to the purpose of the visit according to the page consulted.
  4. File the application through the channel indicated, or through the online service where the page provides for it, and pay the fee.
  5. Attend in person to show the passport, as the page on the visitor's residence permit states.
  6. Wait for the authority's decision; it notifies the applicant and returns the passport.

Documents mentioned by the authority

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the individual situation; only the official page is authoritative.

Fees and processing times stated

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the entry visa costs 90 euros from age 12 and 45 euros for children aged 6 to 11; it is free for children aged 0 to 5. The visitor's residence permit costs 1,500 SEK for an adult and 750 SEK for a child. The page states that fees are not refunded if the application is rejected. It also mentions exemptions and reductions: they depend on the situation and, for some, on nationality, and only the official page sets them out.

According to the same portal consulted on 2026-09-17, a decision on the entry visa is normally taken within 15 days of its receipt by the embassy, the waiting time being able to vary by country. For the visitor's residence permit, the page states that 75% of recently decided cases were decided within three months when the application was filed from abroad, and within four months when it was filed from within Sweden.

After the decision

According to the page consulted, the embassy or the Swedish Migration Agency informs the applicant of the decision and returns the passport. If an entry visa is granted, a sticker is placed in the passport; it states the validity dates and the authorized length of stay.

For the visitor's residence permit, the page states that the decision is sent by post to the embassy or to the applicant's address, with the grounds for the grant or the rejection. The decision rests with the authority.

Published procedures

No reviewed and published procedure for Sweden to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.

Explore procedures

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a visa to travel to Sweden?

It depends on the nationality and the purpose of the trip; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.

Where is the application filed?

According to the portal, with an external service provider in most countries, with a Swedish embassy or consulate general in some countries, or with the mission of another Schengen country. The page offers a list for identifying the filing place for the country concerned.

What is the difference between the entry visa and the visitor's residence permit?

According to the pages consulted, the entry visa covers a stay of 90 days at most per 180-day period, while the visitor's residence permit is for stays of more than 90 days or for extending a visit under way.

What fees are stated?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: 90 euros for the entry visa from age 12, 45 euros from 6 to 11, free from 0 to 5; 1,500 SEK for an adult visitor's residence permit and 750 SEK for a child.

What processing times does the authority state?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: normally 15 days for the entry visa after receipt by the embassy, and, for the visitor's residence permit, three months from abroad or four months from within Sweden for 75% of recently decided cases.

Is there an electronic visa?

The portal describes an online service for the visitor's residence permit and, for the entry visa, an online service limited to certain filing countries listed on the page. It does not speak of a general electronic visa.

Consulted sources

Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.

What this guide does not know yet

Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.

Prepare my case

This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.

  1. Describe your situation

    Nationality, residence, purpose and dates. The checker tells covered routes apart from situations that are still unknown.

  2. Check at the source

    Open the destination’s official source and compare it with your situation before starting a procedure.

  3. Track what is left to do

    Your space keeps your answers and your declared checklist. A complete checklist does not announce a favorable decision.

Check my route Open my case

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.