Where do I apply?Your application should be submitted to the Visa Chancellery of the Embassy of Sweden or the Honorary Consulate of Sweden, if your main destination is Sweden. If no country is to be considered your main destination, you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate that represents the country in which you will stay the longest period of time. If you will stay equal period of time in several countries you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate that represents the country through which you first entry the Schengen territory.
When can I apply for a visa?In most cases the time from the issuance of the visa and the journey may not exceed three months. You are therefore adviced not to apply earlier than three months before you plan to start your journey. The Embassy however recommend that you submit your application well in advance before your journey for example in case further inquiry or document is needed. For information about the open hours of the Visa Chancellery – Click here.
For how long time is a visa valid?A visa is valid for a limited period of time. It is indicated on the visa in your passport for which period of time the visa is valid, for how many days and how many times you are allowed to enter the Schengen states during the period of validity. A visa that allows an foreign national to enter Sweden and other Schengen States may be issued for a stay of maximum 90 days per half year, starting from the first date of entry .Your visa application should clearly state the number of days and entries that you need. The length of the stay and the purpose of the trip must correspond.
If you want to stay in Sweden for a longer period you have to apply for a residence permit and some individuals may also have a possibility of being granted a national visa, valid only for stay in Sweden and for a longer period of time, a D-visa.
In what countries is a visa valid?An entry visa is normally valid in all Schengen countries unless otherwise indicated on the visa. In exceptional cases a visa may be granted solely for entry into the country that issued it. Click here for more information about the Schengen Agreement and which countries are a part of it.
Can I send all documents directly to the Visa Chancellery?The Visa Chancellery accepts invitations, proof of identity (personbevis) and registration certificate (registreringsbevis) by post, fax or e-mail (only scanned documents). For contact information, click here.The Visa Chancellery advises that the documents also is sent directly to the applicant.
Does the invitation have to be stamped by a notary public?No, the invitation must not be stamped by a notary public.
Do I need to submit a separate application for my child?Every person who applies for a visa have to submit an application (and appendixes, if applicable).
Can I apply for a visa after I have applied for residence permit?According to the main rule a person who has applied for residence permit must have been granted the residence permit before the entry to Sweden. According to the same rule, a decision of residence permit must not be taken while the applicant is in Sweden. A person may however apply for a short stay visa at the same time as or after the application for residence permit is submitted. The case will be assessed on an individual basis. Of decisive importance is the circumstances and the applicants motivation to return to the home country to await the decision.
Please not that a person that has been granted a visa may not stay in Sweden and await the decision but have to return before the visa expires. The processing of a visa may be delayed if the Migration Board discovers that the applicant is in Sweden and therefore must wait for the applicant to leave Sweden before deciding. If the applicant is still in Sweden at the time of the decision, there is a risk that the application for residence permit will be refused and the applicant may even be expelled.
Can I appeal if the Embassy/Migration Board rejects my visa application?You cannot appeal against a negative decision of your visa application. You can however re-apply or request that the Embassy/Migration Board reviews the original application. The request has to be submitted in writing to the authority that took the decision. A condition for reviewing a decision is that it is obviously incorrect.
If my application for a visa have been rejected, may I submit a new application whenever I like?Yes. However, if the Embassy finds that it cannot grant you a visa your application will be forwarded to the Migration Board so they take a decision.
Do I have to submit all the documents again if I apply again? Yes, as a general rule each application has to have all the relevant documents.
There is no Swedish Embassy where I live. How do I apply for a visa?In countries where Sweden does not have an Embassy, there is often another EU member state or a Nordic country that represents Sweden and where an application can be submitted. In Georgia the Embassy of Latvia represents Sweden. In Moldova an application may be submitted at the Hungarian EU-Visa Chancellery in Chisinau, see homepage http://www.cac.md.
I want to move to my family in Sweden. How do I do?If you have close relatives in Sweden and you want to move to them you should apply for a residence permit at the Embassy. The application is then sent to the Swedish Migration board for decision. You cannot move to Sweden before you have been granted a residence permit. For more information click here.
Do I have to pay anything to apply for a visa?The Embassies, Consulates and the Swedish Migration Board charge a fee for the processing of an application for a visa. For some categories of applicants the visa fee is waived. For more information about waived fees click here and for fees click here. If you have paid a fee for the handling of your application this fee will not be refunded if the application is rejected.