Sweden
Sweden visa guide: every visa and permit type
- 17 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Sweden work
Sweden is a Schengen state, so a short visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period uses a uniform Schengen (type C) visa, while anything longer needs a Swedish residence permit (uppehållstillstånd) granted by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). If your nationality needs a Schengen visa, you apply to the Swedish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence; many missions have applications collected by an external visa application centre, which charges an extra service fee.
A Schengen visa costs €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12. Apply no earlier than six months and at least 15 days before the trip; decisions are normally made within 15 calendar days, extendable to 45. Tourists must be able to show SEK 700 for each day of the stay and medical travel insurance of at least €30,000.
Residence permits for work, study, family and research are applied for mostly online through Migrationsverket, which takes the decision in Sweden. Swedish embassies and consulates-general handle appointments, interviews, passport checks, fingerprints and the collection of residence permit cards. A first permit must normally be granted before you travel; applying after arrival on a visa usually leads to rejection.
Several rules changed in 2026. Since 1 June a work permit requires a salary of at least 90 per cent of the Swedish median, SEK 34,470 a month from 16 June, and EU Blue Cards can run for four years. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum applies from 12 June. Since 12 July people with protection permits no longer receive permanent residence, and long-term resident status now comes with a five-year permit. From 1 October the maintenance requirement for family reunification rose, for example to SEK 13,408 a month after rent for a couple.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, visiting family or friends, business meetings or conferences of up to 90 days: a Schengen visa in the matching category at the Swedish mission responsible for your place of residence; for a longer private visit, a visitor’s residence permit.
Study: a residence permit for higher education after final admission and payment of tuition; after graduating, a permit of up to 12 months to look for work.
Work: a work permit for a job paying at least SEK 34,470 a month, an EU Blue Card for highly qualified jobs paying SEK 53,625, an ICT permit for transfers within a group, a seasonal work permit for up to nine months, or a research permit with a hosting agreement.
Holders of a Master’s or PhD who want to explore the Swedish labour market can request up to nine months to look for work or start a business; entrepreneurs owning at least 51 per cent of a business apply for a self-employed permit.
Joining a spouse, partner or parent: a residence permit on family ties; family of workers, students and researchers apply with them or afterwards.
Visa types for Sweden
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
A holiday in Sweden of up to 90 days needs a Schengen visa if your nationality requires one, applied for at the Swedish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence or the visa application centre it uses.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area - Family and friends visit visa Schengen visa (type C) for visiting relatives and friends
To visit relatives or friends in Sweden for up to 90 days, applicants who need a visa apply for a Schengen visa at the Swedish mission responsible for their place of residence, with an invitation from the host.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Schengen visa (type C) for business and conferences
Meetings, negotiations, trade fairs and conferences in Sweden of up to 90 days need a Schengen business visa if your nationality requires one, lodged at the Swedish mission responsible for your place of residence or its visa application centre.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area - Self-employed and freelancer visa Residence permit for self-employed people (running your own business)
Entrepreneurs who will run their own business in Sweden apply for a residence permit for self-employment.
Maximum stay: Up to 2 years, never longer than the passport; renewable.
Study and training
- Student visa Residence permit for higher education studies (uppehållstillstånd för högskolestudier)
Studying in Sweden for more than three months requires a residence permit for studies, granted by Migrationsverket before you travel.
Maximum stay: One or two years at a time depending on the institution, never longer than the programme or passport; two weeks added if the permit covers the full programme. - Researcher visa Residence permit for research (hosting agreement)
Researchers recruited by a Swedish university, research institute or company approved by the Swedish Research Council apply for a research residence permit on the basis of a signed hosting agreement.
Maximum stay: Up to 4 years at a time, limited by the hosting agreement and passport validity. - Au pair visa Residence permit to work as an au pair
Young people aged 18 to under 30 can spend up to a year with a Swedish host family as an au pair, combining childcare and light housework of up to 25 hours a week with Swedish language study.
Maximum stay: Up to one year, never longer than the passport; cannot be extended.
Work
- Work visa Work permit for employees (arbetstillstånd)
A job offer from a Swedish employer is the basis of a work permit.
Maximum stay: Up to 2 years per permit, limited by the contract and passport; renewable. - EU Blue Card EU Blue Card (EU-blåkort) for highly qualified employment
The EU Blue Card is Sweden’s permit for highly qualified jobs of at least six months that pay 1.25 times the average Swedish salary, SEK 53,625 a month since 15 July 2026.
Maximum stay: At least 9 months and up to 4 years per permit (from 1 June 2026, previously 2 years). - Job seeker visa Residence permit to look for work or start a business (highly qualified persons and graduates)
Sweden offers two job-search permits.
Maximum stay: Up to 9 months for applicants from abroad; up to 12 months after Bachelor’s or Master’s studies in Sweden, 12–18 months after a Swedish PhD. - Intra-company transfer visa ICT permit for intra-corporate transferees (managers, specialists and trainees)
Managers, specialists and trainees employed by a company outside the EU can be transferred to a Swedish branch or group company for more than 90 days on an ICT permit.
Maximum stay: Managers and specialists up to 3 years, trainees up to 1 year in total; then you must leave the EU before a new ICT permit. - Seasonal work visa Seasonal work permit (säsongsarbetstillstånd)
Seasonal work in Swedish agriculture, horticulture, hotels and restaurants, ski and golf resorts, tourism, amusement parks and berry picking for employers established in Sweden uses a seasonal work permit.
Maximum stay: Up to 9 months in any 12-month period (6 months before 1 June 2026), as one permit or several shorter ones.
Family
- Family reunification visa Residence permit for family of someone with a permit to work, study or research in Sweden
Family members of people who already hold a Swedish work, self-employment, research, ICT, Blue Card or study permit can apply to join them, either together with the main applicant or later.
Maximum stay: Same period as the family member in Sweden, never longer than the passport. - Spouse and partner visa Residence permit to live with a spouse, registered or cohabiting partner (anknytning)
If your spouse, registered partner or cohabiting partner lives in Sweden, or you plan to marry or move in together, you can apply for a residence permit on family ties.
Maximum stay: Up to 2 years per permit, or the same period as a sponsor with a temporary permit; renewable.
Residence
- Residence permit Visitor’s residence permit (besöksuppehållstillstånd) for stays over 90 days
A private visit to Sweden of more than 90 days needs a visitor’s residence permit from Migrationsverket, not a Schengen visa.
Maximum stay: Depends on purpose: close relatives 6 months (9 on special grounds), non-working parent 1 year, tourism 6 months, medical treatment 1 year, volunteers 1 year. - Permanent residence Permanent residence permit (PUT) and long-term resident status
Sweden has two long-term routes.
Maximum stay: PUT: indefinite (the card is renewed). Long-term resident status: five-year permit.
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection International protection (asylum) in Sweden
Asylum in Sweden can only be requested once you are in Sweden or at its border, not from abroad or at a Swedish embassy.
Maximum stay: Refugee status: 3-year permit; subsidiary protection: 13-month permit; both renewable.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Sweden?
It depends on your nationality. If you need a Schengen visa, you need it even for short visits, and stays over 90 days generally require a residence permit. The visa is applied for at the Swedish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or at the visa application centre it uses.
How much does a Swedish Schengen visa cost?
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12; children under 6 pay nothing. A visa application centre adds its own service fee. The fee is not refunded after a refusal.
Where do I submit a work, study or family permit application?
Most people apply online with Migrationsverket. You then give fingerprints, show your passport, attend any interview and collect your residence permit card at the Swedish embassy or consulate-general you chose; paper applications can also be submitted there.
What is the minimum salary for a Swedish work permit in 2026?
At least 90 per cent of the median salary, which is SEK 34,470 a month for applications from 16 June 2026. About twenty listed occupations and some groups, such as former students in Sweden, need 75 per cent, or SEK 28,725.
Can I apply for a residence permit after entering Sweden on a visa?
Generally no. First-time applications for work, study and family permits must be made from outside Sweden and granted before you travel, with narrow exceptions such as some students changing to a work permit.
Can I get permanent residence in Sweden?
Work permit holders can apply for permanent residence after four years of work in the last seven, if they support themselves and meet the good conduct requirement. Since 12 July 2026 people with protection permits cannot get it, and long-term resident status gives a five-year permit.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.