Sweden student visa: Complete guide 2026

What Is the Sweden Student Visa?

The Sweden Student Visa is a residence permit for studies issued by Migrationsverket, the Swedish Migration Agency. It allows non-EU/EEA nationals to live in Sweden and study full-time for more than three months. The application is submitted online and processed by Migrationsverket before you travel.

If your nationality requires a visa to enter Sweden, you must visit a Swedish embassy or consulate after your permit is approved to provide biometrics and collect your residence permit card before traveling. If your nationality does not require a visa, you may travel to Sweden once your permit is approved, using your approval decision at the border, and complete biometrics at a Migration Agency service center after arrival.

Who Is It For?

• Nationality: Non-EU/EEA nationals.

  
  

• Study program: You must be finally admitted to full-time, on-site studies at a recognized Swedish institution. Distance learning does not qualify. For universities and university colleges, full-time means 30 credits per semester. For other institutions, it means at least 20 teaching hours per week.

  
  

• Tuition fees: You must have paid the first installment of your tuition fees before applying. Your place is considered conditional until payment is confirmed; your institution will notify Migrationsverket once the fee has been paid. Exchange students and those at tuition-free institutions are exempt, but must provide confirmation from the institution.

  
  

• Financial means: You must demonstrate access to at least SEK 10,656 per month for the full duration of your permit period. This covers living expenses only and is separate from tuition fees. If your institution provides free housing, the required amount is reduced by SEK 4,736 per month. If your institution provides free food, it is reduced by a further SEK 2,960 per month.

What the Visa Allows

• Residency: The permit allows you to live in Sweden for the duration stated on your permit decision. Depending on your institution, you can be granted a permit for a maximum of one or two years at a time. If your studies last longer, you must apply for an extension before your current permit expires. You must apply for the extension no more than four months before your permit expires.

  
  

• Work: Currently, there are no restrictions on working hours for students holding a residence permit in Sweden. From 11 June 2026, bachelor's and master's students will be restricted to 15 hours per week during academic terms, with no limit during official summer breaks. Doctoral students are not subject to the hour restriction.

  
  

• Family: Your spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner, and children under 18 may apply for accompanying family permits at the same time as your application. Adult family members and children turning 16 in the year of arrival are permitted to work without restrictions on hours.

  
  

• After graduation: After completing your full program with passing grades, you may apply for a 12-month residence permit to look for work or start a business. You must demonstrate access to at least SEK 10,314 per month in funds. The permit cannot be extended, but if you find qualifying employment, you can apply for a work permit.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

All documents not in Swedish or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

• Passport: Must be valid for at least the full duration of your permit period. Present the original in person at the embassy. Submit copies of all pages showing personal data, photo, validity, and any previous visas or entry stamps.

  
  

• Admission decision: Official letter from your institution confirming that you are finally admitted to full-time, on-site studies, stating the program name and duration.

  
  

• Proof of financial means: A bank statement issued no more than four months before your intended permit start date, showing the account holder's name, bank name, date of issue, balance, and currency. Alternatively, a scholarship letter confirming the provider, recipient, period, and amount; a student loan or grant confirmation; or a sponsor's declaration with supporting financial documents. If you are under 18, your parent's or guardian's account may be used directly. If you are 18 or over and are supported by parents, the funds must be in an account in your own name. Parents may transfer money to your account, but the statement must show your name as the account holder. Credit, shares, locked or fixed-term assets, and assets held at microfinance banks are not accepted.

  
  

• Proof of health insurance: Required only if your studies will last less than one year and your institution does not provide FAS+ insurance through Kammarkollegiet. If your institution provides FAS+, a confirmation letter or your admission notification is sufficient as proof. If your studies will last at least one year, you do not need to submit health insurance documents. After arriving in Sweden, you register with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) to receive a personnummer, then separately with the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) to gain access to the public healthcare system.

Step-by-Step Application Process

If your nationality is visa-exempt, you may travel to Sweden once your permit is approved, using the approval decision at the border. Complete biometrics at a Migration Agency service center after arrival.

Step 1: Secure admission and pay your tuition deposit

Apply to and receive a final admission letter from your Swedish institution. Pay your first tuition fee installment as soon as your institution sends payment instructions. Your application cannot be submitted until Migrationsverket has been notified that payment has been made.

Step 2: Submit your application online

Create an account and submit your application at migrationsverket.se. Upload your documents and pay the application fee of SEK 1,500 online. Family members can submit their applications at the same time.

Step 3: Present your passport and provide biometrics

After submitting your application, Migrationsverket will either ask you to complete a digital passport check via an app, or ask you to book an appointment at a Swedish embassy or consulate to present your passport in person. If you require a visa to travel to Sweden, your biometrics will also be taken at this embassy appointment. Your residence permit card will then be produced and delivered to the embassy, which can take up to four weeks.

Step 4: Travel to Sweden

If you require a visa, wait for your residence permit card to be ready and collect it from the embassy before traveling. If you are visa-exempt, you may travel to Sweden once your permit is approved, using your approval decision at the border. Make sure to enter Sweden within the period of validity stated on your permit decision.

Step 5: Complete biometrics if visa-exempt

If you did not provide biometrics at an embassy, visit a Migrationsverket service center in Sweden to be photographed and fingerprinted. Your residence permit card will then be sent to your registered address in Sweden.

Step 6: Register in Sweden

If your studies will last at least one year, notify the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) of your arrival within one week to register in the population register and receive a personnummer. Then register separately with the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) to gain access to the public healthcare system. Both registrations are free of charge and must be done in person at a Skatteverket service office.

Costs and Fees

The application fee is SEK 1,500 for adults and SEK 750 for applicants under 18. The fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Extensions cost the same as a first-time application. Population registration with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) is free of charge.

Tuition fees are set by each institution and vary widely. There is no national cap. Most Swedish universities automatically provide all fee-paying students with FAS+ insurance through Kammarkollegiet at no cost to the student, which covers emergency medical and dental care and satisfies the health insurance requirement for the residence permit. Check with your institution whether this is in place. If your studies will last less than one year, FAS+ is your primary health coverage throughout your stay. If your studies will last at least one year, FAS+ covers the transition period before you receive your personnummer and register with Försäkringskassan for full public healthcare access.

Good to Know

When to submit your application: Do not submit earlier than four months before your intended course start date. Your bank statement must also be issued no more than four months before your course start date.

Tuition fees if your permit is refused: If you are not granted a residence permit, you are entitled to a full refund of tuition fees paid, excluding bank charges. This is a standard obligation for Swedish institutions. The application fee paid to Migrationsverket is non-refundable in all cases.

Healthcare: Students staying at least one year can access Sweden's public healthcare system through two registrations after arrival: first with Skatteverket to receive a personnummer, then with Försäkringskassan to confirm social insurance coverage. You must notify Skatteverket within one week of arriving. There are no monthly premiums; the system is tax-funded. You pay only when you use it, with patient fees of approximately SEK 200 to 400 per visit and an annual cap of SEK 1,450, after which all visits are free for the rest of the year.

Academic progress for renewal: To extend your permit, you must show acceptable academic progress. At universities, the requirement is at least 15 credits in your first year, 22.5 in your second year, and 30 credits in each subsequent year.

Permanent residence: Time spent in Sweden on a student residence permit does not count toward the residency requirement for a permanent residence permit.

No conversion from tourist stay: As a general rule, you must be outside Sweden when you apply. You cannot arrive as a tourist and then apply for a student permit from within Sweden.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay my full tuition before applying?

Only the first installment is required before applying. You must pay it before submitting your application, as your institution must confirm payment to Migrationsverket before your application can be processed. Your institution will tell you how and when to pay.

Is there a limit on how many hours I can work?

Currently no. Students holding a Swedish residence permit may work without restrictions on hours. From 11 June 2026, bachelor's and master's students will be restricted to 15 hours per week during academic terms, with no limit during summer breaks. Doctoral students are not subject to the restriction.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Your spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner, and children under 18 can apply for accompanying permits at the same time as you. They must show they can support themselves financially, at least SEK 4,297.50 per month for each adult and SEK 2,578.50 per month for each child.

What if my application is refused?

You will receive a written decision explaining the grounds for refusal. You may appeal the decision to the Migration Court within three weeks of receiving it.

Can I extend my permit if my studies take longer than expected?

Yes, but you must meet the academic progress requirement. If your studies are significantly delayed without an acceptable reason, your extension may be refused.