SwedenBusiness and self-employment
Sweden business visa (Schengen type C)
Schengen visa (type C) for business and conferences
In short
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. The core of the file is an invitation from the Swedish company or organiser stating the purpose and length of the visit, and a letter from your own employer. The inviting company may cover your costs.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
- Validity
- The sticker shows the permitted days; validity usually runs 15 days longer than the stay. Multiple-entry visas can be valid up to five years.
- Fee
- €90Adults €90, children 6–12 €45, under 6 free. A visa application centre, where the mission uses one, adds its own service fee. Not refunded after a refusal or withdrawal.
- Funds required
- SEK 700 per daySEK 700 per day unless the inviting company covers the costs; the file must state who pays.
- Processing time
- Normally 15 calendar days, extendable up to 45 days if more examination or documents are needed.
- Work
- No; work is allowed only in exceptional cases with a work permit.
- Where to apply
- The Swedish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or the visa application centre it uses.
What counts as a business visit
Business visas cover activities such as meetings with Swedish partners, contract negotiations, visits to trade fairs, conferences and similar short trips. Productive work for a Swedish employer is not covered: working on an entry visa is allowed only in exceptional cases, and anything else needs a work permit. Employees posted to a Swedish subsidiary for more than 90 days need an ICT permit instead.
Invitation and employer letter
The invitation from the Swedish company or conference organiser should state the purpose, dates and length of the visit and who pays. Your employer’s letter is addressed to the Swedish embassy or consulate and gives your name, passport number, position, start date and confirmation of leave. Employees add proof of employment; company owners add their business registration, tax and activity documents and recent bank statements. For trade fairs, include the entry card or participation documents.
Required documents
Identity
- Passport and copies of the data page and last 6 months of visas and stamps
Travel
- Flight reservation and hotel booking
Money
- Proof of means, such as three months of salary slips, and who covers the costs
Work
- Invitation from the Swedish company or organiser stating purpose and length of the visit
- Employer letter addressed to the Swedish mission with your passport number and leave approval
- Proof of employment for employees, or company registration, tax and activity documents for owners
Insurance
- Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000
Other
- Signed Schengen visa application form
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Other
- Trade fair entry card or conference participation documents
Fees and timing
The fee is €90; a visa application centre adds its own service fee. Apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before departure; decisions normally take 15 calendar days, up to 45 in some cases. Regular business travellers can receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years, with each stay limited to 90 days in 180.
Insurance and entry
Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000 valid in all Schengen states is required for the whole trip. A visa does not guarantee entry: carry the invitation, return ticket, insurance and proof of funds, because border police check them on arrival.
- Ask the Swedish company or organiser for a written invitation stating purpose, dates and who pays.
- Get an employer letter addressed to the Swedish embassy or consulate and your employment or company documents.
- Book an appointment with the Swedish mission responsible for your place of residence or the visa application centre it uses.
- Lodge the application in person, pay €90 and give fingerprints if required.
- Collect the passport after the decision and travel with the invitation and insurance.
Refusal and appeal
A refused business visa can be appealed in writing within three weeks of receiving the decision; if the mission does not change it, a Migration Court in Sweden decides. The fee is not refunded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Sweden on a business visa?
No. Meetings and conferences are allowed, but working on an entry visa is possible only in exceptional cases; regular work needs a work permit.
Who can cover the costs of a business trip?
You, your employer or the inviting Swedish company. The invitation or employer letter must state it.
Can I get a multiple-entry business visa?
Yes, Sweden can issue multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years, with each stay limited to 90 days in any 180.
How early should I apply before a trade fair?
Up to six months ahead and at least 15 days before departure; decisions normally take 15 calendar days and can take up to 45.
Official sources
- Swedish Migration Agency – Apply for a Schengen visa (visiting Sweden for up to 90 days)
- Sweden in Türkiye – Required documents: business and conference visits
- Consulate General of Sweden, Istanbul – How to apply for a visa
- Sweden in Türkiye – Visa and visitor permit fees (valid from 8 June 2026)
- Swedish Migration Agency – Your application for a Schengen visa has been rejected
- European Commission – Applying for a Schengen visa
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Sweden
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
Business and self-employment
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Maximum stay: Up to 2 years, never longer than the passport; renewable.
Study and training
- Student visa 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 Maximum stay: Up to 4 years at a time, limited by the hosting agreement and passport validity.
- Au pair visa Maximum stay: Up to one year, never longer than the passport; cannot be extended.
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: Up to 2 years per permit, limited by the contract and passport; renewable.
- EU Blue Card Maximum stay: At least 9 months and up to 4 years per permit (from 1 June 2026, previously 2 years).
- Job seeker visa 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 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 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 Maximum stay: Same period as the family member in Sweden, never longer than the passport.
- Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: Up to 2 years per permit, or the same period as a sponsor with a temporary permit; renewable.
Residence
- Residence permit 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 Maximum stay: PUT: indefinite (the card is renewed). Long-term resident status: five-year permit.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: Refugee status: 3-year permit; subsidiary protection: 13-month permit; both renewable.