SwedenVisits and short stays
Sweden tourist visa (Schengen type C)
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
In short
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. Plan on €90, SEK 700 for each day of your stay, travel insurance of at least €30,000 and a decision normally within 15 calendar days.
checked 24 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 of stay for subsistence; can be lower for young children, prepaid meals and accommodation, or when staying with friends. The return trip must also be covered.
- 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.
Who applies to Sweden and passport rules
Apply to Sweden only if Sweden is your main destination, meaning the country where you spend the most time; for a trip with equal stays, apply to the first country you enter. The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, be valid at least three months after you leave the Schengen area and have at least two blank pages.
Documents the mission expects
Besides the form and passport, show your situation at home: employees add an employer letter giving their role, start date and the length of paid or unpaid leave, with proof of employment; company owners add business registration and tax documents; students add a certificate of enrolment.
Proof of means is a recent bank statement showing the source of regular income, plus salary slips or pension records. A hotel booking or other proof of accommodation and a flight reservation complete the file. The mission where you apply publishes its own checklist and may ask for more.
Required documents
Identity
- Passport issued within 10 years, valid 3 months after return, with 2 blank pages, plus copies of the data page, visas and stamps from the last 6 months
Travel
- Flight reservation or other proof of travel and itinerary
- Hotel booking or other proof of accommodation
Money
- Recent bank statements and proof of regular income, such as salary slips or pension records
Work
- Proof of your status: employer letter with leave approval and proof of employment, or business registration or student certificate
Insurance
- Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000 valid in all Schengen states
Other
- Schengen visa application form in English or Swedish, signed and dated
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Family
- For minors travelling alone or with one parent: notarised consent of the other parent or proof of sole custody
Money and insurance
Migrationsverket expects SEK 700 for each day in Sweden plus the cost of the return journey; a 10-day holiday therefore needs about SEK 7,000 on top of the ticket. Travel medical insurance must cover at least €30,000, be valid in all Schengen states and run for the whole trip, including repatriation.
Appointment and biometrics
Book an appointment with the Swedish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or with the visa application centre it uses, which charges its own service fee. You must appear in person to give fingerprints unless you gave them for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months.
- Check that Sweden is your main destination and that your passport meets the 10-year, 3-month and 2-page rules.
- Gather the documents on the mission's checklist: proof of status and income, bank statements, accommodation, flight reservation and insurance.
- Fill in the Schengen application form and book an appointment at the Swedish mission responsible for your place of residence or the visa application centre it uses.
- Attend the appointment, pay the €90 visa fee and give fingerprints unless you gave them in the last 59 months.
- Wait for the decision, normally within 15 calendar days, and collect your passport.
- Travel with your return ticket, insurance, booking and proof of funds; border police make the final entry check.
When to apply and how long it takes
You can apply up to six months before the trip and at the latest 15 days before it. A decision is normally made within 15 calendar days, but can take up to 45 days if more examination or documents are needed, so apply early, especially before the summer peak.
Refusal, appeal and extension
A refusal states its reasons. You can appeal in writing within three weeks of receiving the decision; the mission that took the decision first reconsiders it and, if it stands, forwards the appeal to a Migration Court in Sweden. Extending a visa inside Sweden is possible only for force majeure, humanitarian grounds or strong personal reasons that arose after entry, and a refused extension cannot be appealed.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a Sweden tourist visa?
SEK 700 for every day of the stay plus the return journey, shown with bank statements and income proof. Prepaid accommodation or meals can lower the amount.
Where do I submit a Sweden visa application?
At the Swedish embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or at the external visa application centre it uses; the mission decides the application.
How long does a Sweden visa take?
Normally 15 calendar days, extendable up to 45 days in individual cases. Apply no earlier than six months and at least 15 days before travel.
Do I need to translate my documents?
The application form must be completed in English or Swedish. Check the checklist of the mission where you apply for which documents need a translation; the mission may ask for more documents.
Official sources
- Swedish Migration Agency – Apply for a Schengen visa (visiting Sweden for up to 90 days)
- Consulate General of Sweden, Istanbul – How to apply for a visa
- Sweden in Türkiye – Visa and visitor permit fees (valid from 8 June 2026)
- Sweden in Türkiye – Required documents: tourist visit
- Swedish Migration Agency – Your application for a Schengen visa has been rejected
- Swedish Migration Agency – Apply to extend your entry visa
- 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
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
- 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.