Sweden student visa for Indian students: Your full guide

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.

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.

🎓 Sweden student visa application

The Swedish study visa system operates differently from the normal European Union system. For Sweden, there are 2 different paths to legally study:

• Receive a Study Visa to study for less than 3 months (90 days)
• Receive a Residence Permit for studying more than 3 months or 90 days

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:

• Embassy of Sweden in India, New Delhi
• Consulate General of Sweden, Mumbai
• Swedish Consulate, Chennai
• Swedish Consulate, Kolkata

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.

📜Residence Permits in Sweden

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.

📃 Sweden student visa process

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:

Residence Permit Application (>90 days in Sweden)²

Here is a quick step by step guide to applying for a residence permit:

1. Apply and be accepted into a full time higher education program in Sweden
2. Pay the first instalment of your tuition fee
3. Ensure your passport is valid
4. Gather together your documents in India
5. Apply for health insurance if you are staying less than one year in Sweden
6. Submit the online application
7. Await approval from the Swedish Migration Authorities
8. Once approved, set an appointment for biometric information at a Swedish consulate or Embassy near you
9. Attend your appointment and drop off the documents as needed
10. Pay the application or services fee
11. Await notification for when to pick up your 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.

Study Visa Application (< 90 days in Sweden)³

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.

• Apply and be accepted into a study program or approval for a research or internship program with official documentation and an invitation letter
• Gather all documents necessary
• Have evidence you will leave Sweden at the end of your visa stay
• Complete the application
• Sign off on the document checklist
• Submit all information to the Swedish embassy or consulate or visa application centre, VFS Global
• Track your application online
• Await the decision

📝 Sweden student visa requirements for Indian students

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

🏦 Sweden student visa financial requirements

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

For a Study Visa, you will be required to show a total daily amount that equates to SEK 450/₹3,965 per day

You will need to show evidence of meeting the financial requirement amount through:

• A recent bank statement in your name (within the past 3 months), or
• 2 years of income tax statements, or
• Proof of sponsorship for the required amount

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

🖇️ Documents required for Sweden student visa

Here is a quick rundown of the documents you will need to provide alongside your application:
Residence Permit⁷

• A valid passport
• Recent photo from within the last 6 months
• Copy of your passport and passport data page that show your personal information, signature, and period of validity
• Acceptance letter into the Swedish higher education program
• Evidence of travel medical insurance, if you are staying less than a year
• Evidence of meeting the financial requirements

Study Visa⁸

• Application for a Schengen Visa
• Recent photo from within the last 6 months
• Copy of your passport and passport data page
• Flight reservation back to India
• Official letter stating invitation or acceptance into a Swedish program
• Proof of accommodation during your stay in Sweden
• Evidence of travel medical insurance
• Evidence of current employment or current enrollment in India
• Proof of meeting the financial requirements
• Document checklist

⌛ Sweden student visa processing time

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.

✔️ Sweden student visa checklist

Let’s ensure that you have everything you need to complete your application to study in Sweden.

• A completed application form for student visa
• A completed online application form for a residence permit
• A valid passport
• Copies of your passport data page
• Tuition or program fees paid, if applicable
• Official letter of invitation or acceptance letter from a Swedish program
• A recent photo
• Evidence of travel medical insurance if you are staying less than a year
• Evidence of meeting the financial requirements
• Ensure you can make international payments with your bank in India or have a method for international transactions
• Payment of application fee
• Payment of VFS Global fee, if necessary

Sweden student visa fees

A Residence Permit application costs SEK 1500. It is non-refundable and it can be paid by:¹¹

• Debit card
• Credit card
• Bank transfer

If you are applying for a study visa, you can pay the Schengen Visa application fee of €80 at the VFS Global Centre.

Sweden student visa fees in Indian Rupees

*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of SEK 1 = ₹8.81 as of June 7, 2021

💸 Save when you send money abroad with Wise

You can now send money abroad from India the fast and easy way with Wise Android/ iOS app or website. With a free account you can open online, you can send money directly to local bank accounts abroad right from the comfort of your home.

And if you are already studying abroad, check our the Wise multi-currency account and card. So whether you are traveling home and back, or heading out for a European holiday, you can use your Wise card to swipe like a local.
Join the 10 million people around the world that use Wise for their global money transfers today.

All sources checked as of 7 June 2021