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Visa for visiting Sweden

In order to travel to Sweden for a shorter period than three months, Chinese citizens need a Schengen visa. To apply for a Schengen visa at the Swedish Consulate in Shanghai you first need to send in an application electronically and at the same time pay for the application and book an appointment for your visit.

An entry visa is a permit required by persons wishing to enter Sweden for a temporary visit, for example:

on business
to take part in a conference
to visit relatives and friends
as a tourist
for sport or cultural events
simply when passing through in transit

Citizens from the following countries/territories require a visa when entering Sweden, check the list.

General information on how to apply for a visa is found below. For further information on each type of visa, please refer to the links to the right.

How long is a visa valid?

Visas are granted for a maximum of 90 days at a time. Only in exceptional cases are applicants granted a visa for a visit of more than 90 days’ duration, but never for longer than a year.

Where is a visa valid?

An entry visa is normally valid in all the Schengen countries. In exceptional cases a visa may be granted solely for entry into the country that issued it. For more information on the Schengen Agreement please refer to the link to the right.

Where do I apply?

Residents of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang shall apply at the Consulate General of Sweden in Shanghai by first sending in an e-application and at the same time book an appointment for the visit to the Consulate. For more information see link on the left.

In countries where there is no Swedish diplomatic mission, Sweden is represented by another Schengen state. These countries are listed here.

Who decides my case?

In most cases, the Embassy or Consulate General decides whether to grant a visa. If the Embassy or Consulate General is not sure what position to take on an application, it passes the case on to the Migration Board in Sweden for a decision.

How long does it take?

The time it takes to process an application at the Embassy/Consulate Generals varies but decisions are generally reached within a month.

What if my application is refused?

You can appeal against a decision to the Administrative Court in Gothenburg.

The written communication with the appeal must be submitted to the authority that made the decision and must have been received within three weeks from the date you received the decision. State which decision is appealed against and the change that is requested.

Remember!
Make sure you are properly insured so that you are covered for any costs associated with an illness, accident, etc.

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