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Sweden
Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)
✔ Digital-first immigration system run by the Swedish Migration Agency
✔ Fast-track skilled work permits decided in about one month
✔ Students can work up to 15 hours per week during studies
✔ Students may stay 12 months after graduating to find work
✔ Former students get a lower salary requirement for work permits
✔ Permanent residence after working 4 of the last 7 years
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages Swedish (official); English very widely spoken
Visitor visas
Schengen Visa (Entry Visa for visits up to 90 days)
Type C
Short-stay visa for citizens of visa-required countries visiting Sweden for tourism, family visits, business, or events for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Valid for travel throughout the Schengen Area.
Fees
EUR 90 (approx. SEK 1,000) for ages 12+; EUR 45 for ages 6–11; free under 6. Reduced/waived for visa-facilitation countries, students and researchers. VFS Global service fee extra.
Processing
Normally 15 days from when the embassy receives the application; can extend to 45 days in complex cases
Validity
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period; multiple-entry visas can be issued for up to 5 years
Who can apply: You can apply if you are from a country that needs a visa to enter Sweden and you want to visit for up to 90 days. It works for tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, or events, and it lets you travel in the whole Schengen Area.
Key requirements (6)
- Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Schengen, with 2 blank pages
- Travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen countries
- Proof of financial means of SEK 450 for each day of your visit to Sweden (less if accommodation/meals are prepaid or staying with relatives)
- Documents proving the purpose of the visit (invitation, hotel bookings, business correspondence, etc.)
- Proof of intention to return home (employment, family ties, return ticket)
- Apply no more than 6 months before travel, via VFS Global or the Swedish embassy/consulate in your country of residence
How to apply — step by step
- Fill in the Schengen visa application form for Sweden online or on paper.
- Book an appointment with VFS Global or the Swedish embassy or consulate in your country.
- Gather your passport, travel insurance of at least EUR 30,000, and proof of money (about SEK 450 per day).
- Add documents showing why you are visiting, like an invitation letter or hotel booking.
- Go to your appointment, give your fingerprints and photo, and pay the EUR 90 fee.
- Wait for the decision, normally within 15 days.
Path to PR: No — short-stay only; time on a Schengen visa does not count toward settlement
Official Site ↗
Study visas
Residence Permit for Studies in Higher Education
For non-EU/EEA students finally admitted to full-time studies at a Swedish university or university college. For permits granted on or after 11 June 2026, bachelor's and master's students may work a maximum of 15 hours per week alongside studies.
Fees
SEK 1,500 (adults); SEK 750 (children under 18). Japanese citizens, World Maritime University students and certain scholarship holders exempt.
Processing
75% of recent cases decided within 2 months
Validity
Up to 1 year at a time, or up to 2 years at 35 designated institutions (including Lund, Uppsala, Stockholm and Karolinska); never longer than the study program or passport validity
Who can apply: You can apply if a Swedish university has fully accepted you for full-time studies on campus. You must also show you have about SEK 10,656 per month to live on and pay your first tuition instalment before you apply.
Key requirements (6)
- Final admission to full-time studies (30 higher education credits per semester); distance learning does not qualify
- First tuition fee instalment paid before applying (fee-paying students)
- Maintenance funds of at least SEK 10,656 per month (2026 level) for the permit period; reducible if the institution provides free food or housing
- Comprehensive health insurance if the study period is under one year
- Passport valid for the entire permit period
- Plus SEK 4,440/month for an accompanying spouse/partner and SEK 2,664/month per child, if bringing family
How to apply — step by step
- Apply for your program on universityadmissions.se and wait for final admission.
- Pay the first instalment of your tuition fee to the university.
- Create an account and apply online in the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) e-service.
- Upload your passport, admission letter, bank statements, and health insurance if your studies are under one year.
- Pay the SEK 1,500 application fee online by card.
- Visit the Swedish embassy or consulate to be photographed and give fingerprints for your residence permit card.
- Wait for the decision — most cases are decided within 2 months.
Path to PR: Study years (except doctoral studies) do not count toward PR, but graduates can switch to a work permit or a 12-month post-study job-seeker permit; doctoral students can qualify for PR after 4 years
Official Site ↗
Work visas
Sweden's main employer-sponsored work permit for non-EU/EEA citizens with a job offer from a Swedish employer. Rules were significantly tightened on 1 June 2026, including a higher salary floor of 90% of the median salary and a ban on new permits for forest berry pickers and personal assistants.
Fees
SEK 2,200 (employee); SEK 1,500 per adult family member; SEK 750 per child. Japanese citizens exempt.
Processing
75% within 1 month for highly qualified workers (complete applications); 75% within 4 months for other employment
Validity
Up to 2 years at a time, never longer than the employment contract or passport; extendable
Who can apply: You can apply if a Swedish employer has offered you a job that pays at least SEK 34,470 per month (or about SEK 28,725 for shortage jobs like some engineers, IT technicians, and healthcare assistants). Your pay and working conditions must be as good as Swedish union agreements.
Key requirements (6)
- Signed employment contract with a Swedish employer
- Monthly salary of at least SEK 34,470 (90% of the SEK 38,300 median salary, applying as of 16 June 2026; updated each June from Statistics Sweden data)
- Reduced threshold of 75% of the median salary (around SEK 28,725) for exempt shortage occupations such as certain engineers, IT technicians, nursing/healthcare assistants, agricultural and forestry workers and welders — and for people holding a Swedish student or researcher permit at first application (exemption lasts two years)
- Salary and working conditions at least on par with Swedish collective agreements
- Employer-provided health, life, industrial injury, and occupational pension insurance; comprehensive personal health insurance for contracts of one year or less
- Passport valid for the permit period; since 1 June 2026 forest berry pickers and personal assistants can no longer be granted work permits
How to apply — step by step
- Your employer starts the application by filling in an offer of employment in the Migrationsverket e-service.
- You get an email with a link to complete your part of the application online.
- Create an account on the Migrationsverket website and fill in your details.
- Upload your passport and the employment contract signed by you and your employer.
- Pay the SEK 2,200 fee online.
- Visit the Swedish embassy or consulate for your photo and fingerprints.
- Wait for the decision — highly qualified workers usually hear back within about 1 month.
Path to PR: Yes — permanent residence permit possible after holding work permits and working in Sweden for 4 of the past 7 years, applied for together with an extension
Official Site ↗
EU Blue Card (Highly Qualified Employment)
Residence and work permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a university degree or five years of professional experience and a high-salary job offer. A 2026 reform doubled the maximum permit period from two to four years.
Fees
SEK 2,000 (applicant); SEK 1,500 per adult family member; SEK 750 per child. Japanese citizens exempt.
Processing
75% of complete applications decided within 1 month; incomplete within 2 months
Validity
First card: minimum 9 months, maximum 4 years (extended from 2 years by the 2026 reform)
Who can apply: You can apply if you have a university degree (or at least 5 years of professional experience) and a Swedish job offer for at least 6 months that pays at least SEK 53,625 per month. The contract must already be signed by you and the employer.
Key requirements (5)
- Offer of highly qualified employment in Sweden for at least 6 months, with a contract signed by both parties
- Monthly salary of at least SEK 53,625 (1.25x the average gross salary; threshold applying since 15 July 2026, recalculated annually)
- Higher education corresponding to at least 180 higher education credits, OR at least 5 years of relevant professional experience
- Valid passport
- Comprehensive health insurance (until covered by Swedish social insurance)
How to apply — step by step
- Sign your employment contract with the Swedish employer.
- Your employer starts the application in the Migrationsverket e-service and enters your details.
- You get an email with a link to complete your part of the application online.
- Upload your passport, signed contract, and your degree certificate or proof of 5 years of experience.
- Add proof of health insurance that covers you until Swedish social insurance starts.
- Pay the SEK 2,000 fee online.
- Give your photo and fingerprints at the Swedish embassy or consulate — decisions usually come within 1 month.
Path to PR: Yes — Blue Card time in Sweden counts toward the 4-of-7-years work-based permanent residence route, and long-term Blue Card holders can qualify for EU long-term resident status
Official Site ↗
Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Persons to Look for Work or Start a Business (Job Seeker Permit)
Lets holders of an advanced (second-cycle) degree live in Sweden for 3–9 months to look for a job or explore starting a business — no job offer needed. Sweden's answer to the German job-seeker visa.
Processing
75% of recent cases decided within 6 months — apply well in advance
Validity
3 to 9 months (maximum 9), never longer than passport validity; cannot be extended
Who can apply: You can apply if you have finished a master's degree, a professional degree, or a PhD, and you want to spend 3 to 9 months in Sweden looking for a job or planning a business. You do not need a job offer, but you must have at least SEK 13,000 in the bank for each month and be outside Sweden when you apply.
Key requirements (5)
- Completed studies corresponding to a second-cycle qualification: 60- or 120-credit Master's degree, professional degree (60–330 credits), or PhD-level qualification
- Bank assets of at least SEK 13,000 for each month of the permit period, plus funds for a return ticket
- Comprehensive health insurance valid in Sweden (urgent care, hospitalization, dental emergencies, medical repatriation)
- Valid passport
- Must be outside Sweden when applying, via the e-service or a Swedish embassy or consulate-general
How to apply — step by step
- Make sure you are outside Sweden before you apply.
- Apply online in the Migrationsverket e-service, or on paper at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general.
- Upload your passport and your degree certificate showing a master's level or higher qualification.
- Add bank statements showing SEK 13,000 for each month you want to stay, plus money for a ticket home.
- Upload proof of full health insurance that is valid in Sweden.
- Pay the SEK 2,200 fee, then give your biometrics at the Swedish embassy or consulate.
- Wait for the decision — it can take up to 6 months, so apply early.
Path to PR: Not directly — but if you find a job you can apply for a work permit from inside Sweden and may work for that employer while the application is processed
Official Site ↗
Permanent residency & settlement
Permanent Residence Permit
Indefinite right to live and work in Sweden, normally applied for together with an extension of your current permit. Major 2026 change: under Prop. 2025/26:262, from 12 July 2026 asylum-track migrants can no longer be granted PR (they receive 5-year permits instead) as Sweden aligns with the EU Migration Pact — the work-based and family routes remain open as of July 2026, with citizenship framed as the main route to fully settled status.
Fees
No separate PR fee in most cases — paid as part of the extension application (e.g. SEK 2,200 for work permit holders; SEK 2,000 per adult for family-route applicants)
Processing
Decided together with the underlying extension application — roughly 1–4 months for work-permit extensions, up to 14+ months for family-route cases
Validity
Indefinite — valid as long as you remain resident in Sweden (revocable if you move away or provided false information)
Who can apply: You can apply if you have lived in Sweden long enough on your current permits — for example, working 4 of the past 7 years on work permits, or 4 years as a doctoral student. You must be able to support yourself with lasting income and have lived an honest, law-abiding life.
Key requirements (5)
- Held a Swedish residence permit for the qualifying period — e.g. work permits (including EU Blue Card time) with 4 years of work in the past 7 years, or 4 years as a doctoral student
- Able to support yourself financially: after tax and housing costs, at least SEK 6,243 per month left for a single adult (2026 level)
- Income must come from current employment or business — future job prospects do not count — and must be lasting (typically permanent employment or a contract of at least 18 months ahead)
- Good conduct (vandel) requirement — serious criminality or security concerns bar approval
- Hold a valid residence permit at the time of application and apply before it expires
How to apply — step by step
- Apply for permanent residence together with the extension of your current permit in the Migrationsverket e-service.
- Upload proof of your years in Sweden, like past permits and employer certificates.
- Add proof of lasting income, such as a permanent employment contract and recent payslips.
- Pay the normal extension fee (for example SEK 2,200 for work permit holders).
- Give your photo and fingerprints at a Migrationsverket service centre for the new card.
- Wait for the decision — it comes together with your extension decision.
Path to PR: This is PR itself; it is also the main stepping stone to Swedish citizenship — under rules effective 6 June 2026, normally 8 years of residence (less for Nordic citizens and certain groups) plus self-sufficiency, Swedish language and civics knowledge, and a law-abiding life
Official Site ↗
Family visas
Residence Permit to Live with a Partner in Sweden
Family reunification permit for spouses, registered partners, and cohabiting (sambo) partners of Swedish citizens, Nordic citizens, or permanent residents — including couples who plan to marry or cohabit. Certain well-established couples qualify for an accelerated 90-day decision track.
Fees
SEK 2,000 (adults); SEK 1,000 (children under 18). No fee for family members of EU/EEA citizens.
Processing
75% of recent cases decided within 14 months; well-established relationships with a Swedish-citizen sponsor and 12+ months of cohabitation abroad can be decided within 90 days
Validity
Up to 2 years at a time, never longer than passport validity; extendable
Who can apply: You can apply if you are married to, in a registered partnership with, or living with (or planning to live with) someone who is a Swedish or Nordic citizen or has permanent residence in Sweden. Both of you normally need to be over 21, and your partner must usually earn enough and have a home for you both.
Key requirements (5)
- Both partners must generally be over 21 years old (exceptions only on special grounds, e.g. children together)
- Married, registered partners, cohabiting partners, or planning to enter such a relationship
- Sponsor in Sweden must be a Swedish/Nordic citizen or hold permanent residence
- Sponsor must meet the maintenance requirement — income leaving at least SEK 10,314/month after housing costs for a cohabiting couple (2026 level) — and have adequate housing; Swedish/EEA citizens in well-established relationships are exempt
- Valid passport; applicant generally applies from outside Sweden
How to apply — step by step
- Your partner in Sweden checks that they meet the income and housing requirement.
- Apply online in the Migrationsverket e-service under 'live with a partner'.
- Upload your passport and documents that prove your relationship, like a marriage certificate or proof you lived together.
- Pay the SEK 2,000 fee online.
- Your partner in Sweden answers a questionnaire from Migrationsverket.
- Go to the Swedish embassy or consulate for an interview and to give your biometrics.
- Wait for the decision — most cases take up to 14 months, but well-established couples can get an answer in 90 days.
Path to PR: Yes — typically eligible for a permanent residence permit at extension after at least 3 years living together in Sweden, subject to self-sufficiency and good-conduct requirements
Official Site ↗
Other pathways
Residence Permit to Look for Work After Completing Studies
Post-study permit allowing international graduates of Swedish universities to stay up to 12 months (up to 18 months after a PhD) to seek employment or explore starting a business.
Fees
SEK 1,500 (adults); SEK 750 (children under 18). Non-refundable if rejected.
Processing
Varies (several months is common); you may remain in Sweden while awaiting the decision if you applied before your study permit expired
Validity
Up to 12 months after bachelor's/master's studies; up to 18 months after doctoral studies; never longer than passport validity
Who can apply: You can apply if you finished a full study program of at least two semesters at a Swedish university and passed your courses. It lets you stay 12 months (up to 18 months after a PhD) to find a job or start a business. You must apply from inside Sweden before your student permit runs out.
Key requirements (5)
- Completed an entire higher education program (at least two semesters) at university/college level in Sweden with passing grades
- Maintenance funds of at least SEK 10,656 per month (2026 level) for the permit period
- Comprehensive health insurance if the stay is under one year
- Valid passport
- Apply from inside Sweden before your current study permit expires
How to apply — step by step
- Apply online in the Migrationsverket e-service while you are still in Sweden and your study permit is valid.
- Upload your passport and your degree certificate or transcript showing you completed the program.
- Add bank statements showing at least SEK 10,656 per month for the time you want to stay.
- Upload proof of health insurance if your stay will be under one year.
- Pay the SEK 1,500 fee online.
- Book a time at a Migrationsverket service centre for your photo and fingerprints.
- Wait for the decision — you may stay in Sweden while you wait.
Path to PR: Indirect — graduates who find qualifying work switch to a work permit (former students benefit from the reduced 75% salary requirement for two years) and can reach PR after 4 years of work permits
Official Site ↗
Popular universities & fees
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Stockholm · University · Engineering & computer science
~SEK 180k/yr most master's
Lund University
Lund · University · Top-ranked comprehensive research
~SEK 100k-205k/yr
Uppsala University
Uppsala · University · Oldest Nordic university, research
~SEK 100k-180k/yr
Stockholm University
Stockholm · University · Sciences, humanities & law
SEK 90k-140k/yr
Chalmers University of Technology
Gothenburg · University · Engineering & architecture
SEK 160k/yr (SEK 190k architecture)
Karolinska Institutet
Stockholm · Institute · Medicine & health sciences
~SEK 165k-200k/yr
Malmo University
Malmo · University · Affordable, design & IT
~SEK 110k-195k/yr by program
Linnaeus University
Vaxjo/Kalmar · University · Budget-friendly, business & IT
SEK 80k-140k/yr
Jonkoping University
Jonkoping · University · International business school
SEK 99k-190k/yr
Scholarships to know: Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) (Full tuition + SEK 12,000/month) · KTH Scholarship (Full tuition waiver) · Chalmers IPOET Scholarship (75% tuition reduction) · Lund University Global Scholarship (Partial to full tuition (25-100%))
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