When applying for a tourist visa to Sweden and Finland you must submit all of the following documents stated below. According to the Visa Code, which is the regulatory framework for visas in the Schengen area, the processing time for any visa application is up to 15 days. Therefore, applicants are requested to submit their complete application at least 15 days before their date of departure. When applying for a Schengen visa you should hand in your application at the Embassy/Consulate of the Member state which you will spend the majority of days in. If you intend to visit several countries an equal amount of days, you should hand in the application at the Embassy/Consulate of the Member state of which country you first will enter the Schengen area.
When you come to the Embassy please come prepared with all documents in order. Applications missing required documents will not be processed until all these documents are submitted.
The visa section is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-12:00. All forms can be downloaded here on the Embassy’s webpage, on the Swedish Migration Board's webpage or be collected at the Embassy during the visa section's opening hours.
The Embassy can only attend to a limited number of applicants per day so remember to apply in good time before your intended departure, but not more than three months ahead.
Kindly submit the required documents in the following order:
• Application form for Schengen Visa (form no. 119031 from the Swedish Migration Board) completed and signed.
• Family details (form no. 239011) completed and signed.
• One passport-sized photo in colour
– recent and of true likeness,
– 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 and
– taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background.
Photographs that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing the application.
• Valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the return to Zambia.
• One copy of original passport data page.
• One copy of NRC (National Registration Card) if you are a Zambian citizen, or copy of your Work Permit and Aliens Registration Card if you are not a Zambian.
• Round-trip travel itinerary or preliminary ticket booking specifying entry and exit dates to the Schengen area. (Do not purchase a ticket until you know your visa application has been granted.)
• Proof of purpose of the visit, evidence of accommodation, e.g. confirmed hotel reservation or confirmation of organised tour.
• Copy of proof of overseas medical travel insurance. It has to be valid from the date of departure until the date of arrival back in Zambia and cover costs for
– emergency treatment by a doctor,
– urgent ambulance transportation and
– transportation back to applicant's home country if required for medical reasons.
It should cover costs of at least 30 000 Euro and be valid in all Schengen countries.
• Letter from your current employer or educational institution stating your occupation in Zambia, the continuing employment after the period of leave and duration of stay in Sweden/Finland (giving both arrival and departure dates).
• Proof of financial resources for the duration of your stay in Sweden/Finland, i.e. SEK 370/day spent in Sweden or equivalent amount in Euros for Finland (bank statement - no cash!).
• Application fee in ZMK (equivalent to 60 Euro, fee may vary depending on exchange rate, kindly ask the Embassy for the current fee).
Please note:
All submitted documents must be in English or in Swedish (not in Finnish or Spanish). If the Embassy receives a document in Finnish you will be asked to get a new one in English or Swedish and this will delay the process.
Original documents must be shown at the Embassy, but only copies should be attached to the application.
The applicant must apply in person.
You may be asked to provide further information.
The processing time for any visa is strictly up to 15 days.
If you are granted a visa
Please note that you should keep copies of the documents that you hand in for your own record and for border controls. You may be asked to show these documents when crossing the external border to the Schengen area. Your visa must be entered into your passport before your departure from Zambia and arrival to Sweden/Finland.
If your application for a visa is turned down
You can appeal against a decision of refusal of a visa. The appeal must be in writing and signed by yourself or your legal guardian. We do not accept appeals through e-mail. The appeal can be dropped at the Embassy during normal opening hours and the envelope should be addressed to the visa section. The address is found on your decision.
You should state the date of the decision, your case number and the reasons for your appeal. The Embassy will go through your case again and we can reconsider or change the decision based on your appeal. If we do not change our decision the appeal will be sent to the Administrative Court in Gothenburg, Sweden.
For further information and to download forms, please log on to: http://www.migrationsverket.se/info/besoka_en.html