For Other Questions

1. What are the detailed requirements for the "proof of your financial means" when an applicant applies for a visa due to business reasons?
It is the financially responsible party that should provide the guarantee letter (either in an invitation letter or in an introduction letter from the Chinese company, and should include signature, and official stamp, the address, telephone number, fax number).

2. What are the detailed requirements for the "proof of your financial means" when an applicant applies for a visa due to family reasons?
It is the financially responsible party that should provide a bank statement from the last 3 to 6 month, no depostits. The Embassy asks that the applicant has at least 370 SEK/day at their disposal during their stay in Sweden, accomondation not included.

3. What are the detailed requirements regarding insurance?
Persons who require a visa for entry into the Schengen area shall normally be expected to be in possession of travel and medical insurance. The Embassy requires the applicant to show us the letter or insurance sheet covering the following information: relevant insurance covering the journey in the Schengen area, valid for the entire duration of the stay, covering at least €30,000 and covering the cost of any emergency medical treatment and repatriation for medical reasons. Any insurance company may issue such insurance.

4. Must I apply personally?
For a visa application, the holder of an ordinary passport is required to come to the Embassy personally. For a residence permit, the applicant can authorize somebody else to hand in their application. Observe that this does not apply to student cases, who must apply in person.

5. When can I get my visa?
A short term visa normally takes about 15 calendar days to process and an application. Residence permit due to studies normally takes about 8 weeks to process. Visa applicants can come to the Embassy after 15 calendar days from the day they lodged their application to get the decision. If further inquires they can e-mail the visa office:
visa.beijing@foreign.ministry.se or call the visa office. Telephone number: 010-6532 9791. Enquiry time: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 15:00--17:00.  Applicants who applied for residence permit for studies, work or family ties please DO NOT call the Embassy. When a decision has been made, Embassy staff will contact you by telephone or e-mail according to the contact information you have written on your application form. It's very important that the specified phone numbers are correct and that you are available on those numbers. If you have given power of attorney to someone in Sweden, that person will inform you about the decision, not the Embassy.

6. Am I supposed to make an appointment with you before I come to the Embassy to apply?
No appointment is required if you want to lodge an application. The opening hours for the visa section of the Embassy of Sweden in Beijing are: Monday-Friday 09.00-12.00 a.m. The Embassy is closed on some Swedish and Chinese public holidays.

7. How do I get to the Embassy?
You can take buses 300/830/730 on Beijing's third ring road. Get off at the stop called Landmark Bridge (LiangMaQiao) and then go straight toward NongZhanGuan. The street opposite NongZhanGuan(Agriculture Exhibition Center) is Dongzhimenwai Dajie. The second Embassy on the north side of the street is the Embassy of Sweden, on 3 Dongzhimenwai dajie, Sanlitun.

8. What kind of documents do I need to prepare when I come to pick up my passport?
You should show your ID card when you pick up your own passport. If you are unable to come personally you can authorize somebody else to pick it up for you. The trustee should show us his ID card as well as a power of attorney when picking up your passport. The power of attorney can be written in either English or Chinese, and it should be signed by the applicant and have his or her contact information.

9. Where can I get an application form? What kind of documents do I need to prepare when I apply?
You can download the forms from the Migration Board's website: www.migrationsverket.se or you can pick them up at the Embassy. Please go to the Embassy website: www.swedenabroad.com/beijing for enquiries on which documents are required for each application.

10. Can I get my visa fee back if my application is rejected?
If your application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded.

11. Do I have the right to appeal in case my application is rejected?
Yes, it is possible to appeal a decision on a Schengen visa. This does not apply to National visas. 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.