Visa for Visiting Sweden

• visit friends or family
• tourist visit
• business visit
• take part in a conference
• or simply when passing through in transit

A Schengen visa can be granted for a maximum of 90 days within a 6 month period. An application may be submitted at the Embassy at the earliest three months before the intended travel date.

If you are planning to stay longer than 90 days you must apply for the required Residence permit (Visit, Student or Work). For more information, please refer to Visit Sweden for More Than 90 Days or Study in Sweden or Work & Live in Sweden.

Step-by-step guide to acquire your visa
1) Fill out all necessary forms for your visa application
Find your relevant form to the right on this page. Make sure to acquire all necessary documents and to fill out the visa application form.

2) Submit your visa application to the Embassy
Application for visa must be submitted personally. See the Embassy Opening Hours for information on when the Embassy take in Visa applications. The Migration and Consular Officer will issue a deposit slip with the right amount to the Addis Ababa Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. For more information on the Visa application fee please see the link in the right hand margin. The application will be registered and a check made that all necessary supporting documentation has been provided.

The Embassy does not accept documents being mailed/faxed/e-mailed DIRECTLY to the Embassy if not required. Invitations in original should be sent directly to the applicants who will bring them to the embassy when applying.

If the application is incomplete, or if necessary supporting documentation has not been provided, the application can be rejected in which case the application fee is not refundable.

3) Pick up your passport and visa
The time it takes to process an application at the Embassy varies but if your application has been granted you (or person appointed by you) can usually pick up your passport after about 7 days. The applicant is informed by the Embassy of when passport and visa can be collected.

If your application is turned down
You cannot appeal against a decision to refuse an application for a visa. You can however re-apply or request that the original application be reconsidered. In that case you write a request for a review of the decision, this only if something new has been added to your application. You send the letter to the Embassy.

Remember!
Make sure you are properly insured so that you are covered for any costs associated with an illness, accident, etc. According to Schengen regulations a person needs to show a medical travel insurance valid in all Schengen states for the whole duration of stay. The travel insurance must cover medical costs of at least EUR 30,000.