How to Apply for Sweden Student Visa – Are you a prospective applicant who wants to have a broad multicultural environment and great academic opportunities? Sweden has many best universities that are part of the best universities in the world.
Studying in Sweden offers students numerous benefits. Apart from the benefits that successful applicants can get, there are a lot of reasons why international students choose to study in Sweden for a degree.
Meanwhile, before successful applicants can stay in the country for their studies, they would need to purchase a student visa, also known as an educational residency visa.
Let’s take a look at the steps involved in applying for a Sweden student visa;
Apply to a Swedish university and receive your letter of acceptance
Applicants must decide for themselves which university they wish to study at before engaging in the application process. After you have been accepted to the University of Sweden, you will receive an acceptance letter which is necessary for the visa application. Without a letter of acceptance from a university in Sweden, applicants cannot apply for a student visa to the country.
You can think of the following universities;
Linnaeus University, University of Boras, Jonkoping University, Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Chalmers University of Technology.
Before applying for the Swedish student visa
Before attempting to apply for a Sweden student visa, applicants must meet the following requirements;
- The university course for which you have applied must be a full-time course.
- You must have written confirmation that you have been admitted
- You are advised to pay the first installment of tuition fees (only if tuition fees still need to be paid)
- If you stay for less than a year, you are obliged to take out comprehensive health insurance.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months
Language requirements for studying in Sweden
Applicants would need proof of Swedish or English language, which is part of successful admission to a Swedish university.
Apply for a work permit in Sweden
As an EU/EFA citizen you have the right to work in Sweden without a work permit. Non-EU/EFA citizens need a work permit; nevertheless, the employer in Sweden will apply for a work permit on your behalf from the Swedish Migration Agency. Successful applicants can work while they study but are also advised not to neglect their education as that was the main reason for their student visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions About Applying For A Student Visa For Sweden (FAQ)
When and where to apply for a student visa in Sweden?
Applications can be made online through the Swedish Migration Agency website or at the local Swedish embassy or consulate in your home country. Afterwards, visit the Swedish embassy or consulate in your country to be photographed and fingerprinted and to receive your residence permit.
The decision on your visa/residence permit will be announced by e-mail and you must make an appointment and collect the documents with the official decision document that will also be sent to your university.
Applicants are also advised to apply for the student visa promptly at this stage as the normal waiting time hovers around 2-3 months.
Here are some tips regarding the visa application process;
- Applicants must go through an interview when they submit their visa application.
- Applicants must make an appointment at the Embassy to schedule an interview
- Applicants must go to the Embassy along with their passports and original copies of documents.
What documents are required in the application process for a student visa for Sweden?
- Receipt showing that you have paid the application fee for the residence permit of EUR 145.
- Copies of the pages from your passport containing personal information, period of validity and permission to live in another country.
- The letter of acceptance from the university states that you have been accepted into a full-time program.
- Proof that you have comprehensive health insurance in Sweden (if your studies are shorter than a year). This also applies if the university covers your insurance.
- A bank statement that proves you can support yourself financially: Minimum EUR 840/month or EUR 165/month if you get free food and lodging. The document must relate to the duration of your studies and must be translated into English. You can also attach documents proving that you have received a scholarship, student loan or, in the case of a Ph.D. student, a scholarship or a job in research.
Do students from EU/EFA countries need to apply for a student visa for Sweden?
NO, applicants from EU/EFA countries do not need to apply for a student visa or residence permit.
Below you will find links to visa applications to other countries;
In this feature, applicants were guided through the steps involved in applying for a student visa to Sweden, along with required documents and some frequently asked questions.