Residence permit for studying in Sweden

We recommend you to apply in person at the Embassy. This will shorten the processing time for the application. Please note that you are not required to apply for residence permit through any agency.

If the Embassy finds it necessary, you may be summoned to an additional personal interview, in which case the Embassy will contact you. Your application may be forwarded to the Migration Board in Sweden. When the decision has been made in your case, the Embassy will inform you of the decision. You should leave Sweden after you have finished your studies. Even if you have been studying in Sweden for several years you can normally not get a permanent residence permit to settle down in Sweden.

You are required to enclose the following documents with your application:

• Two fully completed and signed application forms.
  
  
• Two passport photos taken within the past six months. Photos that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing the application.(Please see the photo guide on the right).
  
  
• A valid passport and two photocopies of the identity page of the passport. We only accept passports which have been signed by the holder of the passport. Please note that even if you are not yet a holder of a valid passport it is possible to apply for residence permit. You can forward your passport to the embassy later.
  
  
• A certificate, or an invitation letter, stating that you have been enrolled for full-time study or research work.
  
  
• Those who first wish to study language and join another university or college later are required to enclose a letter of acceptance and confirmation letter from both the language school and the university.
  
  
• If you are employed by an institute or company in China, you should enclose a letter of introduction from this institute or company, as well as a copy of the letter. The letter should state your position at the institute or company, and should also include the address of your employer, contact person and telephone number. The letter must be in english and carry an official signature and stamp.
  
  
• If you are a student, or have recently graduated, you should enclose a letter of introduction from your school, as well as a copy of the original letter. The letter should state your position at the school, and should also include the address of your school, contact person and telephone number. The letter should be translated into english and carry an official signature and stamp.
  
  
• About the financial guarantee. The sum requested is at present SEK 7300 per month for 10 months a year. Please submit a bank certificate showing your financial resources. The money should be deposited in your own account. You must be able to show that you have enough money for your upkeep throughout the whole period of your stay in Sweden. The information should be in English, and in two copies.
  
  
• If your stay in Sweden will be less then one year, you must have a comprehensive health insurance. The insurance should be valid for the entire duration of the stay, with a cover of at least 30.000 Euro and covering any emergency medical treatment and/or repatriation for medical reasons.
  
  
• You are required to pay an application fee when you hand in your application. If your application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded. The application fee is currently 890 RMB for adults and 440 RMB for students below 18 years of age. The Embassy will only accept card payment. Please observe: cash payment can only be accepted, when card payment is not possible.
  
  
• Information for visiting researchers (a person with a university/college education which qualifies him/her for access to postgraduate studies): Visiting researchers do not any longer need a work permit to conduct research in Sweden. When you apply for residence permit you should use the form Application for a residence permit for a visiting researcher and fill in a hosting agreement. Complete information on how to apply for visiting research in Sweden can be found on the home page of the Swedish Migration Board.  
  
  
• If you are a non-Chinese applicant a valid Chinese residence permit is required.

If you fail to supply the necessary documents mentioned above, the decision-making process of your case may be delayed. The Embassy may call you to ask for additional documents or information if necessary.