Residence Permits

You must apply for a residence permit before you enter Sweden. You must submit your application to a Visa Chancellery of a Swedish Embassy or a Swedish Consulate in the country you are residing or to a Visa Chancellery of a Swedish embassy close to you.

A temporary residence permit gives you the right to enter and stay in Sweden during the period specified on the permit. However, it does not give you the right to work unless the residence permit is combined with a work permit. A permanent residence permit gives you the right to enter, stay and work in Sweden for an unlimited period. Both temporary and permanent residence permits allow you to stay in other Schengen States for a period of not more than three months.

Residence permits may be granted for the purpose of:

• A visit or a permanent stay based on family ties in Sweden
• A work or a study 
• A self-employment

Family ties

A person who has an intention to live in Sweden must apply for a residence permit. It applies for a person who wants to live with his/her partner, a child under 18 years of age who wants to re-unite with his parents or other close relative who lives in Sweden.

The person who is the referent must be a Swedish citizen or have a permanent residence permit in Sweden.

If you want to live with a partner or a relative in Sweden you must apply for a residence permit. The Visa Chancellery will perform an interview with you. Your application and a copy of your interview will be sent to the Migration Board in Sweden for processing. The Migration Board will contact the referent person in Sweden to perform a similar interview or to fill in questionnaires, before a decision is reached. When a decision is taken, it will be sent to the Visa Chancellery where the applicant may receive it together with the permit.

The following documents are required:

Attention! All document should be submitted in two copies.

• Application for residence permit, completed, dated and signed. The applications must be filled in in Swedish or English.
  
  
• Two [2] coloured photographs, size 35 x 40 mm 
   The photograph must be:
  – recent and of true likeness, not more than six months  old
  – showing full face
  – taken without headgear, head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs,  and  even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face
  – taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background.
  
  
• International passport and copies of all pages of the passport.
  
• International passport (for ukrainian citizens)

• If you are married/registered partners, you should bring a marriage certificate/certificate of registered partnership in original and enclose a copy of this. If the marriage was concluded in Ukraine, the marriage certificate must be translated into English and verified by a notary public.
  
  
• If you live together abroad in a common law spouse relationship you should enclose documentation that proves that you are registered at the same address.
  
  
• Personbevis (civic registration certificate) from the reference person in Sweden. It must not be older than 3 months and for married couples the marriage should be evident from the civic registration certificate.
  
  
• Divorce certificate from earlier marriages and translation of it into English or Swedish.
  
  
• If you are not married or live together in a common law spouse relationship you should also enclose other documents which may prove the seriousness of the relationship (photographs, e-mail, telephone bills etc.).
  
  
• Application fee. The fee is 500 SKR for adults and 250 SKR for children under 18. The fee should be paid in Ukrainian hryvnja (UAH), at present 455 UAH for adults and 230 UAH for children. You must pay the fee to Praveks-Bank before you handle in the application. You must handle in the receipt (in original) from the bank to the Visa Chancellery when applying. The payment can be made to all Praveks-Bank offices in Ukraine. Information that must be presented at the bank: account number: 26005001400015 and "Swedish Embassy in Ukraine". The payment is not possible to make through Internet. If the application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded.

Attention! For children under 18 years the original and a copy of a written consent to  settlement in Sweden from the parents/legal custodians and the original and a copy of the birth certificate are required. The written consent must have a stamp of notary public. If there is only one legal custodian, this should be proved by a decision from court, death certificate, or any other document proving this (orginal and copy together with a translation).

Residence permits for studies in Sweden

If you are planning to study in Sweden for a period longer than three months, you are required to have a residence permit. Your application will be sent to the Swedish Migration Board for a decision.
For a stay less than three months, no residence permit is required. However, you must have a visa in order to enter Sweden.

A residence permit for studies in Sweden can be granted for:

• exchange students
• short study courses
• university/college studies (postgraduate students included)
• studies at upper secondary/folk high school

Can I work during the study period?

Exchange and short study courses students may not work during the study period in Sweden.

Students at upper secondary/folk high school may work if the course involves a practical training at a workplace, but in that case they have to apply for and be granted a work permit for the trainee period. You are not allowed to perform any other kind of work during your study period.

University/college students (postgraduate students included) may work and does not need a work permit for that during their stay in Sweden as a student or a postgraduate student.

The following documents are required:

Attention! All documents should be submitted in two copies.

• Application form, completed, filled in in Swedish or English, dated and signed.
  
  
• An admission to an upper secondary school / folk high school / university in Sweden. You must study full-time.
  
  
• Proof of sufficient financial means. You must be able to show that you have enough money to support yourself throughout the planned study period. Proof that you can support yourself must be provided, e g in the form of some kind of documentation certifying your own bank assets, or documentation certifying that you have received either a scholarship or student benefit from your country of origin/domicile. A sponsor may no longer guarantee your financial support. You are required to show that you will have SEK 7,300/month at your disposal for 10 months/year. Certificates should be officially translated into Swedish or English. Funding/bank certificate in the national currency must also be stated either in SEK, Euro, USD or GBP.
  
  
• International passport and copies of all pages in the passport.
  
  
• Two [2] coloured photographs, size 35 x 40 mm 
  The photograph must be:
  – recent and of true likeness, not more than six months  old
  – showing full face
  – taken without headgear, head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs,  and  even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face
  – taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background.
  
  
• Application fee. The fee is 1000 SKR, which should be paid in Ukrainian hryvnja (UAH), at present 910 UAH. You must pay the fee to Praveks-Bank before you handle in the application. You must handle in the receipt (in original) from the bank to the Visa Chancellery when applying. The payment can be made to all Praveks-Bank offices in Ukraine. Information that must be presented at the bank: account number: 26005001400015 and "Swedish Embassy in Ukraine". The payment is not possible to make through Internet. If the application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded.(No fee is charged for applications from students at the World Maritime University in Malmö or students who have received scholarships for studies in Sweden from SIDA, the Swedish Institute or other Swedish international organizations).
  
  
• For advanced studies (college or university level) that are estimated to be pursued for a period of less than one year a full-coverage health insurance is required.

You must fully intend to leave Sweden on completion of your studies.

Co-applicants
(Only for university/college students, including postgraduate)

Spouses/cohabitants and unmarried children under 18 years old accompanying a visiting university/college student or a postgraduate student may be granted a residence permits for the same period as the principal applicant, providing they can show that their upkeep is assured. Your family is not allowed to work for their living. Children under 18 years old pay half the application fee (500 SEK, at present 455 UAH).

Visiting researchers

In order to be granted a residence permit as a visiting researcher in Sweden you must show that you have a hosting agreement with an approved research organisation.

A hosting agreement shows that the visiting researcher has undertaken to conduct a research assignment and that the research organisation hosts the visiting researcher. It must be signed by both parties. You will find forms for Hosting agreement in Swedish (form no. 230011) and english (231011) at the home page www.migrationsverket.se .

The hosting agreement must also contain details of:

• Purpose, duration and funding of the research project

• The visiting researcher’s qualifications to complete the assignment

• The visiting researcher’s terms and conditions of engagement

• Comprehensive health insurance if the researcher will stay for less than one year in Sweden

• Sufficient funds for maintenance of the visiting researcher during the stay in Sweden and for the return journey. For more information about the amounts applicable, see the website of the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education at www.hsv.se

The following documents are required in two copies:

• Application form (126011 in Swedish or 127011 in English), completed, filled in in Swedish or English, dated and signed.

• International passport and copies of all pages in the passport.

• Two [2] coloured photographs, size 35 x 40 mm
  The photograph must be:
  – recent and of true likeness, not more than six months  old
  – showing full face
  – taken without headgear, head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs,  and  even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face
  – taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background.

• A hosting agreement in original or a certified copy (signed by both the research organisation and the visiting reseracher).

• Application fee. The fee is 1000 SKR, which should be paid in Ukrainian hryvnja (UAH), at present 910 UAH. You must pay the fee to Praveks-Bank before you handle in the application. You must handle in the receipt (in original) from the bank to the Visa Chancellery when applying. The payment can be made to all Praveks-Bank offices in Ukraine. Information that must be presented at the bank: account number: 26005001400015 and "Swedish Embassy in Ukraine". The payment is not possible to make through Internet. If the application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded.(No fee is charged for applications from students at the World Maritime University in Malmö or students who have received scholarships for studies in Sweden from SIDA, the Swedish Institute or other Swedish international organizations).

Self-employed persons

If you stay in Sweden for more than three months in order to start a company or enter into a company partnership you must have a residence permit. As a self-employed person, however, you do not require a work permit.

The following documents are required:

• A commercial evaluation is needed in order to establish that your business plans are realistic. In addition, we must determine whether your business is expected to achieve satis factory profitability.
  
  
• There must be a documentary evidence that you have an access to the capital needed to establish or purchase a company.
  
  
• You must be able to support yourself and your family for at least one year in Sweden.
  
  
• You must supply a detailed documentation of your business plans. You must submit a market forecast, a profit and a liquidity budget, and a properly budgeted balance sheet. You must also give the details of your customer references, banking connections, experience in the field concerned, and any training or education you may have received. If you have purchased an existing company, you must enclose the two most recent annual reports with your application.
  
  
• You must also enclose a report/statement of opinion from an approved/authorized accountant in Sweden concerning your company plans. This should make clear whether the plans are realistic and whether a company is expected to make a reasonable profit. You have to pay the accountant’s costs in this respect yourself.
  
  
• Application form, completed, dated and signed.
  
  
• International passport and copies of all pages in the passport.
  
  
• Two [2] coloured photographs, size 35 x 40 mm 
   The photograph must be:
  – recent and of true likeness, not more than six months  old
  – showing full face
  – taken without headgear, head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs,  and  even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face
  – taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background.
  
  
• Application fee. The fee is 1000 SKR, which should be paid in Ukrainian hryvnja (UAH), at present 910 UAH. You must pay the fee to Praveks-Bank before you handle in the application. You must handle in the receipt (in original) from the bank to the Visa Chancellery when applying for a visa. The payment can be made to all Praveks-Bank offices in Ukraine. Information that must be presented at the bank: account number: 26005001400015 and "Swedish Embassy in Ukraine". The payment is not possible to make through Internet. If the application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded.

You must also book a time for interview. In order to book a time for an interview at the Visa Chancellery you must contact us by telephone on +380 44 494 4290 Monday – Friday 14.00-16.00 or visit us on Ivana Franka str. 36, 2nd floor in Kiev.

For further information please contact the Visa Chancellery (see open hours below). You may also contact the
Swedish Migration Board
601 70 Norrköping
Sweden
Phone: +46-11-15 60 00
Fax: +46-11-10 81 55
> The Swedish Migration Board

Open hours Visa Chancellery

The Visa Chancellery in Kyiv is located on Ivana Franka str 36, 2nd floor.

The Visa Chancellery is receiving applications:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30-12.30. 

On Wednesdays the Visa Chancellery is closed to the public.

Holidays when the Embassy is closed:

2008: 7/1, 21/3, 24/3, 1/5, 2/5, 9/5, 6/6, 20/6, 24/12, 25/12, 26/12, 31/12

2009: 1/1, 6/1, 7/1, 10/4, 13/4, 1/5, 21/5, 22/5, 19/6, 24/8, 24/12, 25/12, 31/12

Questions on residence permit in Sweden can be posed to the Visa Chancellery via e-mail: ambassaden.kiev-visum@foreign.ministry.se or by phone +380 44 494 4290 during Monday to Friday 14.00-16.00 or by fax +380 44 494 4292, +380 44 494 4272.