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Sweden Schengen Visa: Swedish Visa Requirements And Visa Application Process

Written By: Armando Du Preez

Fact Checked By: Richard Nathan

18 Oct 2022

12 min read

Sweden is a renowned tourist destination for many reasons: its jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes, unique and idyllic small towns, and rich history and culture. Visitors to Sweden often start their trip in the capital city of Stockholm. This cosmopolitan city offers world-class museums, galleries, restaurants, and bars, as well as a lively nightlife scene.

I can only imagine how excited you must be about your trip to Sweden, but there are a few things you should know first. The first and most important thing is a Sweden Schengen Visa. Don't worry just yet, because you will find all the essential information about the Swedish Schengen Visa in this post. I will help you understand what the Sweden Tourist Visa is, who needs it, the required documents, the application process, and more.

Just sit tight and let me explain everything you need to know:

How You Can Get Your Sweden Schengen Visa In Minutes

Before you start emailing the Swedish Embassy in your country, I suggest you apply through Atlys. Getting your Schengen Visa approved can't be easier.

Applying for your visa through Atlys is as easy as providing some personal and travel information. Once you have done that, leave the rest to them.

The Sweden Schengen Tourist Visa Explained

Now that you know how to get your Sweden Tourist Visa in minutes, let me explain everything you need to know about the Sweden Tourist Visa. In this section, I will explain important information about what is the Sweden Schengen Visa, visa requirements for foreign nationals, visa fees, etc.

Later in this post, I will explain the Sweden Schengen Visa required documents and application process.

What Is The Sweden Schengen Visa?

The Sweden Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa that allows foreign nationals to travel in the Schengen Area for 90 days.

First, let me explain if you do not know what the Schengen Area is. The Schengen Area consists of European Union Countries that signed the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen Agreement allows visitors to travel visa-free to all the Schengen states for 90 days.

Remember that you can only travel in the Schengen Area for 90 days in 180 days. This is known as the 90/180-day Schengen Rule. If you have questions about how long you can stay in the Schengen Area, please check out our 90/180-day Schengen Rule guide.

The Sweden Schengen Visa is also known as the following:

The Sweden Tourist Visa
The Short-Stay Visa
The Short-Term Visa
The 90-day Visa

For the purpose of this post, I will refer to it as the Sweden Schengen Visa.

One of the most exciting benefits of the Sweden Schengen Visa is that you can visit any of the other Schengen Countries. Here's a list of countries that falls within the Schengen Area:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Who Needs A Sweden Schengen Visa?

As I previously mentioned, you must first find out if you require a Sweden Schengen Visa. Therefore, I will explain the Sweden Schengen Visa requirements for citizens and nationals.

US citizens

US citizens do not have to do a Sweden Visa application. If you have a US passport, you do not need to apply for a Schengen visa. What a fantastic thing! However, in November 2023, everyone who wishes to enter the Schengen Area without a visa must submit an ETIAS application. I will explain the ETIAS later in this post.

US Green Card Holders

You might be able to visit Malta without a visa if you have a permanent residence permit for the US. But it all depends on your country of origin. Let me give you an illustration of this. Perhaps your country of origin is India. In that case, you do not enjoy the visa-free exemption and must apply for the Sweden Schengen Visa.

Third World Nationals (non-EU country citizens)

As I mentioned, not all countries enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. Therefore, you must apply for a Schengen Visa if your country does not enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. Please check out the list of countries that must apply for the Sweden Schengen Visa.

Citizens such as EU nationals, European Economic Area (EEA) nationals, and Schengen Area nationals do not need a Sweden Schengen Visa

What Is The Sweden Schengen Visa Processing Time?

Depending on where you apply, the processing period for a Sweden Schengen Visa can change. For example, a Schengen Visa for Sweden typically takes 15 days to process. It might take longer if you're applying from a nation with many applicants.

Ensuring all necessary paperwork is correctly filled out is the best way to guarantee a quick processing time for your Swedish Schengen Visa. The Sweden Embassy or Consulate-General will examine your application after receiving it. Once your Malta tourist visa has been finalized, the Maltese embassy will let you know.

When Do I Need To Apply For The Sweden Schengen Visa?

You can start your application up to six months in advance of your trip to Malta. But I suggest starting your application at least two months before your trip.

Most likely, you're wondering why now. You will have sufficient time to complete your visa application, wait for your visa to be processed, and correct any errors (like missing documents or an incomplete application).

What Is The Sweden Schengen Visa Fee?

You've guessed it; you must pay a Schengen Visa application fee when you apply for the Sweden Schengen Visa. Please see the list of different Sweden Schengen Visa fees:

Sweden Schengen Visa Fee (adults): 80 EUR
Sweden Schengen Visa Fee (children between 6-12): 40 EUR
Sweden Schengen Visa Fee (minors): Free
Sweden Schengen Visa Fee (family members): Free

What Are The Sweden Schengen Visa Financial Requirements?

According to the European Commission, you must prove financial support for a visitor visa of 48.26 EUR (450 SEK) per day if you apply for a Sweden Schengen Visa. To clarify, you must have at least 48.26 EUR per day. Please check out our guide on financial requirements for EU countries in the Schengen Area.

Can I Extend My Sweden Schengen Visa?

The answer is yes, but only in extraordinary circumstances, such as when new information or unique circumstances emerge upon admission into Sweden. Here's a list of reasons you can use to extend your Sweden Schengen Visa:

Late entry (only if you have a single-entry visa)
Humanitarian reasons (if you need extra medical treatment, for a funeral, or to give support to a family member in hardship)
Force Majeure (in the case of a natural disaster, violent protests, or extreme weather conditions)
Important personal reasons (unplanned weddings of a family member, etc.)

What Are The Required Documents For The Sweden Schengen Visa?

Okay, so now we've covered the basics of the Sweden Schengen Visa. Next, I will give a list of travel documents that must accompany your Schengen Visa application. Please remember that the documents will differ if you apply for a business or student visa. Here's the list of documents you need for your Schengen Visa application:

Valid passport (must be valid for at least 3 months on the day of departure and have 2 blank visa pages)
Completed visa application form
2 passport-sized photos
Hotel itinerary
Flight itinerary
A visa covering letter
Medical insurance/Travel insurance (must cover the length of your stay with a minimum of 30,000 EUR)
Means of subsistence (proof can be bank statements, traveler's cheque, or proof of employment)

If you are visiting a family member or friend, you must submit additional documents such as:

Invitation letter (from your host inviting you to Malta)
Declaration of proof (proof that your host will support your trip to Malta)

How Do I Apply For The Sweden Schengen Visa?

The last thing we must discuss for your Sweden Schengen Visa is the application process. As I mentioned earlier, this process can be long and tiresome. Therefore, I suggest you use Atlys as your visa guide.

If you choose to apply for your Sweden Schengen Visa the traditional way, I'll outline the exact steps you need to take.

Step 1: Gather The Required Documents

Getting your needed documentation together is the first and most important step. You can do it later, but I advise doing it right away. Gathering your paperwork can take some time, so ensure you have it all before your visa interview.

Step 2: Complete The Tourist Visa Application Form

You will see the visa application form is on the list of required documents. After you have all the other documents, you must print out the visa application form and complete it. Once your visa application form is complete, remember that you must sign it at the bottom.

Step 3: Schedule A Visa Appointment

Okay, you have your required documents and your visa application form signed. The next step is to schedule a visa interview at a [Swedish Embassy or Consulate in your country. Unfortunately, some countries do not have a Sweden Embassy or Consulate. If that is the case, you must use visa services such as VFS.

There are a few ways you can schedule your visa interview, namely:

Using Atlys' visa appointment tool
Contact the Consular or Embassy of Sweden or visa application center via email or a phone call
Use the online appointment tool on a visa application center's website

Step 4: Attend Your Visa Appointment

As stated in the title, you must appear for your visa appointment. When you arrive for your appointment, an embassy or consulate employee will conduct a quick in-person interview with you.

You must bring your Schengen Visa Application and other required documentation to the interview. The staff person will also inquire briefly about the goal of your journey. However, nothing should cause you to worry. I know you will ace your Schengen Visa interview.

The employee will collect your biometric information after the interview. You won't need to do this if you recently visited the Schengen area within the last 59 months. However, you must pay your visa application cost once your biometric information has been entered into the system.

Step 5: Wait For Your Visa To Be Processed

The tricky part is over. Waiting for your visa to be processed is the only thing to do. This could take 15 to 30 business days, as was previously mentioned. How long you will wait depends on if you entered your information correctly. So skip the stress of visa processing, and use Atlys to compile your documentation.

Once your visa has been finalized, authorities will get in touch with you by phone, email, or SMS (depending on your preferred contact method).

Step 6: Collect Your Approved Sweden Tourist Visa

Once your Sweden Schengen Visa is issued, you can begin to rejoice. Your application for a tourist visa to Sweden is now complete.

You can pick up your approved Sweden Schengen Visa at the Embassy or Consulate.

What Is ETIAS And Do I Need It?

You've probably heard of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). If you haven't, then let me explain.

The ETIAS was proposed 5 years ago as a new travel authorization system to enhance security in the Schengen Area. The system's goal is to collect information on visa-free tourists to the European Union and ensure that people who pose a security risk are identified before traveling to the Schengen Area.

Although the ETIAS is not yet active, you must apply for your ETIAS starting November 2023. This is because you are exempt from completing the ETIAS visa application in 2022. However, in November 2023 all visa-free travelers must apply for the ETIAS before traveling to any Schengen country.

Now You Are Ready To Travel

I hope that this information was helpful to you and that you are now feeling more prepared to apply for the Sweden Tourist Visa. Remember, an essential part is to start your application process as early as possible. Hence, you have plenty of time to gather all the required documents. After reading through this post, I'm sure you'll be able to successfully apply for your visa and enjoy all that Sweden has to offer!