A comprehensive guide to procuring a Swedish student visa

Sweden is a beautiful country that ranks high in transparency and everything good and noble in the world around us. It is also an excellent place to gain an education. A Swedish student visa is relatively easy to procure if you already have acceptance to a college or university in Sweden. Take care to complete these steps. For nothing hits harder than enrolling and then having bureaucracy throw a spanner in your plans for education. But have no fear, help is here! This article will take you through all that you need to know about procuring a Swedish student visa. 

Let’s start with understanding the difference between a student visa and a residence permit!

Student visa and residence permit

Quite simply if you are not from the EU/EEA and you wish to travel to Sweden for your higher studies for a period of up to 90 days then you require a student Visa. However, if your study period exceeds 90 days then you would need to apply for a residence permit.

In this article, we will be referring exclusively to a student visa. Though it is important to know that this very important distinction exists.

The first step is acceptance

To procure a student visa, you must need to be accepted to a college or university in Sweden. The Swedish Student Visa is processed only after the university application is successfully submitted. 

 In addition, the following are the conditions to be eligible for a Swedish student visa –

• Acceptance letter from the your prospective university.
• The program you have applied for must be a full-time program.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you are to begin your study program in Sweden.
• If your program is of a duration less than a year, then it is mandatory for you to have a comprehensive health insurance policy. (Though this is mandatory only for programs of less than a year’s duration, but you should get comprehensive health insurance either way).
• Paying the first fee installment for your program greatly enhances your Swedish student visa prospects as it shows your seriousness as well as your commitment to the program.

Documents you need

If you fulfill the above criteria, then you can apply for your Swedish visa. Here are the documents you need for your application –

• Letter of acceptance – You must procure the letter of acceptance from your university. This must specify the program and the duration of the entire course. This is a requirement for Ph.D. candidates as well with specific mention to their timelines.
• Health Insurance – This is a mandatory document if your study program is under a year. You must always carry your health insurance documentation with you, even if the insurer is your university or college.
• Financial Support Documentation – This is usually your bank statement that shows that you can cover your living expenses in Sweden FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR ENTIRE STAY. If your bank statement is in a language other than English or Swedish, you will have to have it translated (and then attested) to English. Scholarship or student aid documents (in the case of Ph.D. students, the educational grants, or employment in research documentation) also need to be attached. In case you have availed of food and accommodation services, then you will need to possess at least 165 EUR for each month you are in Sweden. Else, need to show a proof of minimum of 840 EUR per month for the duration of your stay.
• Passport Photocopy – This is relevant only for the pages which state your permanent residence, the validity of the passport, and other personal information about yourself.
• Residence permit application fee – Last, but not least, you need to produce the 145 EUR residence application fee receipt copy.

How to apply for a Swedish student visa?

Now that you have all the necessary documents required to procure your Sweden Student Visa, it is time to book the actual appointment. There are two ways to do this:

• Apply online – You can apply on the ‘Swedish Migration Agency Website’ with the added benefit of a shorter waiting time and your application starts to process instantly.
• Apply at the Swedish embassy or consulate – An old-school tried and tested method, though longer, feels more comprehensive to first-time applicants.

In either case, your application’s processing time depends solely on the amount of information that your application contains. If you have followed this blog and have attached all the information mentioned previously, you are all set! Regardless, the average waiting time is 2-3 months. So prepare accordingly to prevent anything from overlapping with the timeline of your program.

Last thoughts

The status of your visa application will be sent to you in your email. You will also need to submit your photographs and get fingerprinted (this time at the embassy or consulate irrespective of how you applied for the Student Visa)

One final appointment and your visa are good to go. The authorities will also forward your Student Visa to your university.

Bon Voyage!

Liked this blog? Read 7 things to know before studying in Sweden | Top colleges, fees & more!

FAQs

Q1. Is the Swedish language a requirement for the Student Visa application?

Answer – Though most courses in Sweden are both in English and Swedish, there is no compulsion for you to know either for your Student Visa application. However, without proficiency in either language, there is very little chance that you will be able to enroll in any university program in Sweden.

Q2. How difficult is the student visa application?

Answer – Once you have already an acceptance letter from your university, the only criteria that you need to worry about are how to prove to the Swedish authorities that you can financially support yourself for the duration of your stay in Sweden.

Q3. How important is it to pay the fee for the study program before my student visa application?

Answer – Well, it is not mandatory at all. However, it does prove your intentions of studying to the Swedish authorities. It also informs them of your financial capabilities, both of which are important factors when deciding whether to grant you a student visa.