Visa for visiting friends or relatives

The main rule is that a visa application must be lodged in person at the Embassy of Sweden.

Exemptions from this rule can be found under general information.

Please note that all supporting documents are to be submitted to the Embassy at the time of lodging the application.

As a principal rule, documentation shall be submitted in originals. When documents are to be presented for inspection a photocopy of the document must be submitted to the Embassy.

N.B.! Documentation submitted merely constitutes a basis for the examining of the visa application and thus does not imply that a complete application brings about a granted visa.

Basic requirements for the admissibility of a visa application

For the Embassy to examine an application, the following requirements must be fulfilled;

• The main purpose of the trip is to visit Sweden 

• The planned trip is to start at the latest three months after lodging the application

• The applicant is to present a duly filled out and signed application form. A minor’s application must be signed by his or hers permanent or temporary legal guardian

• The applicant’s passport must be valid for at least another three months after the planned departure from the Schengen territory. The passport must contain at least two blank pages and it must be signed by the holder. The passport must not be more than ten years. The Embassy only accept passports which have been signed by the holder of the passports.

• An applicant aged 16 and over must hold his or her own passport. Spouses who are entered into husband’s passport are exempted from this requirement. 

• The applicant must bring two non-retouched photographs (60 x 40 mm) fulfilling the following requirements 

• The visa fee must be paid and the original receipt of the payment is to be attached to the application and submitted to the Embassy at the time of lodging the application.

The embassy does not accept payments to the Iranian bank via internet.

If any of the above stated basic requirements is not fulfilled, the Embassy will not admit the application and hence the application will not be processed.

Supporting documents that are to be submitted at the time of lodging an application

• Passport
  The applicant’s passport (or any other valid travel document) is to be submitted as well as a photocopy of all its pages containing any information (e.g. individual information, all previous visas, residence permits, entry and departure stamps, all other stamps).
  
  The passport will, as a rule, be submitted to the Embassy by the applicant, who will be given a receipt. Please note that this receipt must be kept for the pick-up of the passport.

• Shenasnameh
  The applicant’s shenasnemeh must be presented at the time of lodging the application, but will be given back to the applicant.
  
  A translation of the shenasnameh into English must be submitted to the Embassy.
  
  Photocopies of all pages of the shenasnameh must be submitted to the Embassy.
  
  An applicant claiming close family ties to a person residing in Sweden (applying especially to siblings), the kinship should be supported by showing the shenasnameh of the parents or other documentation. This is particularly important if the applicant has not previously visited Sweden.

• Travel medical insurance
  A valid travel medical insurance is to be presented at the time of lodging the application. A photocopy of the insurance certificate is to be submitted to the Embassy.
  
  The minimum insurance coverage must be 30.000 EUR and the insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen area and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay.
  
  The insurance must cover possible expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during the stay on the Schengen territory.
  
  The Embassy does not accept travel medical insurances from the Iranian insurance company Bimeh Iran.
  
  The following Iranian insurance companies are approved by the Schengen member states:
  - Asia Insurance
  - Dana Insurance
  - Passargad Insurance
  - Parsian Insurance
  - Alborz Insurance
  - Saman Insurance
  - Tose-eh Insurance
  - Moein Insurance
  - Raazi Insurance
  - Novin Insurance
  - Karafarin Insurance

• Family details – appendix to your application
  The form “family appendix” must be completely filled out and signed by they applicant. The form should be in original.

• Certificate of employment / SSO
  A legally employed person, who has been employed for at least six months, should present a valid certificate (Registration document) in original or a validated copy of the latest payment document (Not older than two months) from the Iranian Social Security Organization (SSO), in which his name is stated as recipient of SSO benefits in Iran. Photocopies are to be submitted to the Embassy.
  
  The applicant should also present the booklet from the SSO in original and submit photocopies of the first pages with personal information and information regarding the validity of the booklet.
  
  In addition to the SSO registration, the applicant should submit a certificate of employment (in original) from his employer. In case if the certificate is not in English or Swedish, it must be officially translated. The certificate should state the duration of employment as well as the salary of the employed. It must also be clear who signed the certificate and it should contain contact information (telephone number, address and company registration number).  The certificate of employment should not be older than one month.
  
  If the applicant states that he or she is self-employed, a similar certificate – in original -  from SSO regarding his or hers self-employment insurance payment must be presented to the Embassy. Photocopies of all relevant pages are to be submitted to the Embassy.

• Certificate of studies
  An applicant studying in Iran should submit an original certificate of studies (with a translation if the certificate is not in English) from the university.

• Bank account statement
  The applicant shall submit a statement – in original - from the bank showing all depositions and withdrawals during the last six months. The statement must not be issued more than two weeks before the lodging of the application. It should be an original statement, in English, and stamped by the bank.
  
  In case the statement is obtainable in Farsi only, it must be translated. 
  
  The printout must be on paper in A4 format.
  
  The applicant’s bank account statement referring to the last six months must always be submitted regardless of who will bear the expenses during the visit to Sweden.

• Proof of property
  Ownership documents may be presented but will be given back to the applicant. The applicant should submit a photocopy of the documents. For the applicant to adduce any ownership documents, these should be translated to English by an official interpreter.

• Consent for minors travelling without parents
  Minors (children under the age of 18) travelling without any legal guardian/parent must have be accompanied to the Embassy by a legal guardian/parent to sign a consent at the embassy.
  
  The legal guardian/parent must bring:
  - Shenasnameh and other documents supporting parenthood and/or a legal guardianship.
  - Passport and/or Karte Melli (in original and photocopy)
  
  The consent should mention the duration and time period for the intended stay in Sweden.

• Invitation and other documentation from the person residing in Sweden
  i) The invitation by the reference person shall be submitted to the Embassy in original. The invitation form must not be older than three months. It should be duly filled out and signed by the person residing in Sweden. Furthermore, it should contain information about the planned dates of the visit. Please note that the Embassy may refuse the application if the invitation has not been signed or if the stated dates of visit do not correspond with the dates stated in the application form.
  
  Each applicant (even minors) must submit his or her own invitation in original.
  
  If the reference person is ill or pregnant and this condition is adduced as a reason for the visit, it should be supported by a doctor’s certificate in original.
  
  A personbevis of the reference person shall be submitted in original. (To support the authenticity of the personbevis, it should be stamped by the Swedish Tax authority or by the Notarius Publicus in Sweden). The purpose of the personbevis should be invitation (inbjudan) and it must not be older than three months.
  
  ii) The reference person’s passport or Swedish identity card
  A photocopy of the reference person’s passport or Swedish identity card shall be submitted. The photocopy should be dated and signed by the reference person and state the name(s) of the person(s) invited.
  
  iii) Sponsor commitment
  If the person residing in Sweden commits to undertake the expenses for the travel and living for the applicant, the reference person’s economic status and living conditions should be made clear (e.g. bank account statements, lease contract, bill of sale, salary statements, income tax notice of assessment).
  
  The applicant’s bank account statement referring to the last six months must always be submitted regardless of who will bear the expenses during the visit to Sweden.

• Personbevis for other relatives living in Sweden
  In addition to the reference person’s personbevis, the application should contain personbevis for all other relatives residing in Sweden. These can be obtained from the local tax authority or through the Tax Authority’s webpage. These personbevis does not need to be stamped by the Swedish Tax authority or Notarius Publicus.

• Other documents
  The Embassy of Sweden in Teheran reserves the right to request other documents in addition to the above listed documents.