South Africa
Sweden
Sweden visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Sweden.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Sweden visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at swedenabroad.se
Which Sweden visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Normally 15 calendar days, extendable up to 45 days if more examination or documents are needed.
Sweden’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities. Processing time, as Sweden states it: Normally 15 calendar days, extendable up to 45 days if more examination or documents are needed. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
Swedish missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria
Park Street, 1166 Pretoria
Sweden has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.
Sweden: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | 0 | – |
In 2025, Sweden’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 5 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 5. Applications rose by 150% compared with 2023 (2).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Sweden’s consulates worldwide refused 23.1%. Sweden was the 21st most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Swedish citizens travelling to South Africa
SwedenSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Sweden
Travel advice for Sweden
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from South Africa to Sweden, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates Sweden at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 17 May 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Sweden (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Sweden (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Sweden
How long South African citizens may stay in Sweden is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Swedish embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Sweden; fees, documents and processing times are published by Sweden.
Sweden and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Sweden lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Sweden when it is the main destination of the trip.
Sweden’s neighbours for South African citizens
Norway and Finland require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Swedish citizens travelling to South Africa
Swedish citizens do not need a visa for South Africa: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Sweden?
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Sweden.
Where is the Swedish embassy in South Africa?
The Swedish embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria.
How much does the Sweden tourist visa cost?
Sweden’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Normally 15 calendar days, extendable up to 45 days if more examination or documents are needed.
Do Swedish citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Swedish citizens do not need a visa for South Africa: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
Can South African citizens enter Sweden visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Sweden obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.