Visa for visiting Sweden

Who needs a visa?
A list of the countries or regions whose citizens must have visas to enter Sweden can be found under 'Download' on the Swedish Government website
> Sweden.gov.se

Holders of the following British Passports/Travel Documents do not need a visa

• British 'European Community' passport
• British ' Isle of Man', 'Jersey' and 'Guernsey and its dependencies' passport.
• Travel Documents according with the Convention of July 28, 1951 (blue cover) or the Convention of September 28, 1954 (red cover)
• British Subject passport, with the additional entry: Holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
• British Overseas Territories citizen passport, with the additional entry: Holder is defined as a UK National for community purposes.
• British National Overseas (BNO) passport

Family members of EEA nationals - DOES NOT APPLY IF YOUR SPOUSE IS BRITISH 
According to the EU Directive 38/2004 (Art. 10) family members of EEA nationals who are in possession of a British "Residence Card of a family member of an EEA national" or "Permanent Residence Card" do not need a visa for visits up to 90 days in the Schengen area if you are joining or travelling with the EU national. Your UK permit need to look exactly like the example picture for you to be able to travel without a Schengen visa. See under Related files on the EU-Family Visa page
>EU-Family Visa

Visas and immigration control
Please note that holders of Schengen visas are still subject to immigration control and are not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries, even though they may hold a valid visa for these countries.

Which type of visa should I apply for?
Apply for the correct type of visa for your travel purposes, as this will increase your chances of obtaining a visa. Please see under 'Content' on the right hand side of this page.

FAST TRACK VISA SERVICE AT VFS GLOBAL

The Embassy has an agreement with VFS Global in London and Edinburgh to give a fast track service  for Schengen visa applications for stays in Sweden shorter than three months for applicants with a UK residence permit.
The fast track procedure not only avoids queues and waiting lists but also focuses on delivering the visas within a very short time. The service incurs a non refundable fee of  £ 24, in addition to the visa fee. The cost of visa is the equivalent of €60 (at present £53). Children 6-12 years of age €35 (at present £31)
Please see the VFS website for further details and to make your application
>Fast track visa service

LIMITED VISA SERVICE AT THE EMBASSY

Visa appointments at the Embassy can only be booked by post. Please send your letter of request to the Embassy with a copy of your passport, a copy of your UK residence permit, and self addressed stamped envelope for your appointment letter.
Our address is: Embassy of Sweden, 11 Montagu Place, London W1H 2AL

Emergencies
In emergencies, such as a relative’s death or critical illness, please contact the Embassy for further information. (See contact details further down the page). A letter of support from an undertaker or a hospital is required.

Diplomatic passports
Holders of diplomatic or service passports may submit applications without prior appointment.

For details of telephone and opening hours, e mail and which days we are closed to the public, please see look under - Facts - in the top right hand corner of the page.

What if my application is turned down?
Since April 5, 2011, it's possible to appeal a decision on an entry visa. At the same time, the decision to reject an application for an entry visa will require justification. This means that you will get information in the decision as to why your application was rejected.

If you received a decision you are not satisfied with, you can submit a written appeal no later than 3 weeks from the day you received the decision.

How to appeal
In your appeal, write down which decision you are not satisfied with, and why and how you want it to be changed. If you have any documents that you didn’t submit earlier, you can supplement your case with them. Your appeal should be submitted to the Swedish mission abroad (embassy or consulate) that made the decision. The Swedish mission abroad will verify that the appeal came in on time and will go over the case again. If more than 3 weeks have passed, the appeal will be rejected; in that case you will have to submit a new application.

If the Swedish mission abroad changes the decision
The decision can be changed if new information comes in. In that case you will be notified, and the entry visa placed in your passport.

If the Swedish mission abroad does not change the decision, it will be forwarded
If the appeal came in on time and the authority that made the decision sees no reason to change the decision, the case will be forwarded as soon as possible. Your application, the decision, and all other documents submitted in the case will be sent by courier to the Administrative Court in Göteborg. The Administrative Court will then make a decision and notify the Swedish mission abroad, who in turn will notify you.