Whether you are looking for an undergraduate degree, master’s degree, or for doing research, Sweden can be a great option for Indian students. Sweden has 39 different universities that accept international students. Read on to learn more about how to go about a Swedish student visa and what you can expect for the process as an Indian student.
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When you are ready to start your immigration journey to Sweden, it is best to get advice from a professional for your unique situation. While this article can shed light on the student visa process, it is not to replace professional advice or directives by the Embassy of Sweden in India.
The Swedish study visa system operates differently from the normal European Union system. For Sweden, there are 2 different paths to legally study:
The study visa can be for short term study, research or an internship but has to complete in less than 90 days.
Residence Permits are for undergraduate or postgraduate education, post-secondary levels, or higher vocational education that requires being in Sweden for longer than 3 months.
For the Residence Permit, you can complete the process the quick and easy way by completing and submitting the application online. For the short term study visa, you can download the form online and then submit an in-person paper application if to a Swedish embassy in India when the embassy allows drop-offs, or at a VFS Global visa application centre (VAC).
If you want more information on Swedish Residence Permit or study visa, you can contact the Swedish Embassy in India or Swedish consulates in India:
| 🎒 But the first place to start in the process of studying in Sweden, is first to apply and get enrollment in a Swedish educational institution. You are required to show evidence of enrollment in Sweden when you submit your visa application. |
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Want to learn more about educational opportunities in Sweden? Study in Swedenhelps provide easy to read guidance on where you can apply in the country and what programs exist.
The last and final action to take is to make sure you get your fingerprints and photo taken in person at the nearest Embassy of Sweden or Consulate in India. After which your visa or residence permit can be issued.¹
But at every stage, you have to receive approval before moving to the next step. Check out the next section on how the permit application process works.
| Study Visa | Residence Permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Time you can stay in Sweden | Less than 90 days | More than 90 days |
| Type of program | Short term study, research and internships | Full time higher education program |
| Employment | No, unless a work permit is granted | Yes, in most cases |
| Need to meet financial requirements for your stay? | Yes | Yes |
| Required for Indian nationals? | Yes | Yes |
| Approved for travel in Europe | Mostly allowed for other Schengen countries | Yes, but not beyond the permit expiry date |
| How early to apply | 6 months before arrival date | 2-4 months before arrival date |
Let’s dive deeper into the process of studying in Sweden. There is a separate process for a Residence permit application and a study visa application:
Here is a quick step by step guide to applying for a residence permit:
You can also check to see if you can get your residence permit delivered to your home in India for an additional charge by the consulate or embassy.
The study visa application is a Schengen visa application and mirrors the Schengen visa process. Additionally for a Study Visa you can work directly with the Swedish Visa Application Centre, VFS Global in India.
Indian students applying for a Residence permit or student visa will need to show evidence of a key few things:
🎒 Acceptance into a Swedish program
🏦 Financial means to support yourself in Sweden
🏥 Have travel medical insurance
🛂 Have a valid passport that is less than 10 years old, has 2 blank pages and is valid for 3 months after you intend to leave Sweden
🖇️ Have the correct documents to support your application
✈️ Have a return ticket or enough money now to purchase in the future
Travel medical insurance is a requirement if your program is less than 1 year in Sweden. Often the health insurance may be provided through your university or educational institution. You will have to attach a copy of the provided insurance with your application.⁴
For a Residence permit, you are required to show you have paid your first year tuition fees and that you have at least SEK 8,568/ ₹75,503
| Length of program | Swedish Krona | Indian Rupee* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month program | SEK 8,568 | ₹75,503 |
| 6 month program | SEK 51,408 | ₹4,53,018 |
| 9 month program | SEK 77,112 | ₹6,79,527 |
| 12 month program | SEK 102,816 | ₹9,06,036 |
For a Study Visa, you will be required to show a total daily amount that equates to SEK 450/₹3,965 per day
| Length of program | Swedish Krona | Indian Rupee* |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days | SEK 6,300 | ₹55,517 |
| 4 week program | SEK 12,600 | ₹1,11,034 |
| 6 week program | SEK 18,900 | ₹1,66,550 |
| 11 week program | SEK 34,650 | ₹3,05,342 |
You will need to show evidence of meeting the financial requirement amount through:
If you don’t have proof of return travel back to India, you can add the cost of the ticket back home into the financial requirements to meet.
*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of SEK 1 = ₹8.81 as of June 7, 2021
Here is a quick rundown of the documents you will need to provide alongside your application:
Residence Permit⁷
Study Visa⁸
The processing time can depend on whether you are applying for a Residence Permit or a Study Visa.
Residence permits can normally take 2-4 months to be processed.⁹
Study visas can typically be processed in 10-12 business days per VFS Global.¹⁰
This is assuming all documents are complete and no additional documents or information is required.
Let’s ensure that you have everything you need to complete your application to study in Sweden.
A Residence Permit application costs SEK 1500. It is non-refundable and it can be paid by:¹¹
If you are applying for a study visa, you can pay the Schengen Visa application fee of €80 at the VFS Global Centre.
| Type of visa | Swedish Krona | Indian Rupee* |
|---|---|---|
| Residence Permit fee | SEK 1500 | ₹13,218 |
| Type of visa | Indian Rupee* |
|---|---|
| Study Visa Fee | ₹6.900 |
| VFS Global Fee | ₹1,639 |
| Total | ₹8,539 |
*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of SEK 1 = ₹8.81 as of June 7, 2021
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Sources:
All sources checked as of 7 June 2021
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