Swedish Student Visa

Are you looking to study in this beautiful Nordic nation? Here is what you should know concerning the Swedish student visa. Sweden’s foreign student population is steadily on the rise, and universities have been going heavy on foreign student recruitment in the last few years.

In spite of the fact that the country introduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA scholars in 2011, making it one of the more costly study overseas destinations, the nation has in recent times seen an increase in international students.

Foreign candidates are fascinated by Swedish universities for their top-class academic standards that affords students the chance to enjoy exciting career prospects after graduation.

Universities in Sweden are also advanced and the nation has been ranked one of the world’s most pioneering countries. As such, curricula here are centred on assisting students build soft skills like analytical and creative thinking.

Chinese students make up the mainstream of the foreign student population in Sweden. In the words of UniversityWorldNews, “Presently, 826 Chinese scholars are registered in programs all over [Stockholm], which is a growth of 18% in comparison with the past year.”

Apply to a Swedish university

Your initial step in putting in for a Swedish student visa is to obtain your admission letter from a Swedish higher academic institution, as you’ll require it to go through the visa application process.

You can only submit an application for a Swedish student visa if your program is full-time.

Find out which Swedish student visa you’re qualified for

The student visa in Sweden is called “resident permit for studies”. If your program will not last up to three months long, you’ll be required to make application for the Short stay visa.

If your program will last longer than six months, the visa you’re qualified for is the Long stay visa type D.

Get your finances in order

To get approval for your Swedish student visa, you are required to pay for the first semester’s tuition fees and submit evidence of payment.

You have to also show evidence of your financial capacity to pay the expense of the whole program, like a bank statement or scholarship award letter.

Check the validity of your passport

To get approved for your Swedish student visa application, make sure your passport has at least six months validity at the period of your visa application.

Check whether you require health insurance

If the length of your study program is less than a year, you are expected to have complete health insurance coverage.

Apply for the Swedish student visa

When you have your documentation sorted out, you can submit an application online through the Swedish Migration Agency website for your student visa. You can also upload and submit the required credentials together with your application.

If you are not able to submit an application online, you are required to fill out the ‘First-Time application for a residence permit’ form and turn it in at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your nation of domicile, together with backing credentials.

You are expected to hand in your application no less than three months prior to when your study program commences.

Await the decision

When a decision on your visa application has been made, you will normally be informed if the embassy has made a decision to grant you a student visa through email.

To collect your student visa, you have to bring your passport to the embassy or consulate-general. Though, the website specifies that some embassies or consulate-generals will mail the decision and residence permit card by post. Get in touch with your local embassy to find out if this applies to you.

Get your entry visa

Once you’ve been issued your Swedish student visa, you will require an entry visa that will permit you to travel to Sweden.

This is subject to which nation you’re from. Click here for a list of nations that require an entry visa for Sweden.

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