How to apply

If you are applying online, are granted a residence permit and do not need a visa to enter Sweden, you do not normally have to visit the embassy. Regardless of how you apply, your residence permit must have been granted before you leave for Sweden.

Applying online

How to proceed (for applications on paper form, see further down):

1. Prepare the documentation
Check which documents and personal data you need. The Swedish Migration Agency gives priority to applications that are completed in full, and you get a decision sooner.

Read more under "Required documents" and on the Swedish Migration Agency website:
The Swedish Migration Agency

2. Applying
Follow the Swedish Migration Agency’s instructions. You attach documents electronically and pay the application fee using a VISA-card or a MasterCard. Family members use the same online application if they apply at the same time as you. The online application goes directly to the Swedish Migration Agency for processing followed by a decision.
Online application on the Swedish Migration Agency website

3. Wait for the decision
When the Swedish Migration Agency has reached its decision, they will inform you of this by e-mail. You get a copy of your decision by contacting the embassy by e-mail migration.berlin@gov.se. Please state your case number or control number.

4. Arrange for a residence permit card
If you are granted a residence permit for more than three months, you will be issued with a residence permit card.

If you do not need a Swedish residence permit card to enter Sweden
If you have been granted a residence permit and do not require a visa, you travel to Sweden and arrange for the card there. Contact the Swedish Migration Agency for photographing and fingerprinting.

If you need a Swedish residence permit card to enter Sweden
Visit the embassy to have your biometric photo and fingerprints taken for the residence permit card. You can do so either while waiting for a decision or after you have been granted a residence permit. You can visit the embassy without making an appointment on Thursdays 9 am-12 noon. Bring the valid passport that you used when applying for a residence permit as well as proof of your legal residence status in Schengen.

You can find the embassy address under "Contact" in the menu on the left.

It can take up to four weeks for the residence permit card to be prepared and delivered to the embassy. Once the card has arrived here, the embassy will send it to your home address in a Schengen-country. If you want to know if your card has reached the embassy, you can contact us by sending an e-mail to migration.berlin@gov.se.

Applying on a paper form

If you are unable to apply online, you can fill in a paper form that you submit by post to the embassy. How to proceed:

1. Prepare the documentation
Check which documents and personal data you need. The Swedish Migration Agency gives priority to applications that are completed in full, and you get a decision sooner.

Read more under "Required documents" and on the Swedish Migration Agency website.
The Swedish Migration Agency

2. Pay the application fee
Please transfer the fee to the embassy bank account and send a copy of the receipt together with your application form. The embassy account:

Beneficiary: Schwedische Botschaft (Embassy of Sweden)
Account Number: 266 216 101
Bank: Commerzbank BLZ: 100 400 00
IBAN: DE82 1004 0000 0266 2161 01
BIC/SWIFT: COBADEFFXXX

Read more under "Fees".

3. Present the application at the embassy
If you cannot send your application by post to the embassy, you can also submit the completed application directly in person at the embassy without making an appointment on Thursdays 9 am-12 noon. Bring the completed application form with you together with all the required documents.

You can find the embassy address under "Contact" in the menu on the left.

Your application will be forwarded to the Swedish Migration Agency. As soon as we receive their decision we will contact you.

4. Wait for the decision
The Swedish Migration Agency informs the embassy of its decision. The embassy then contacts you. Bring your passport when collecting the decision.

5. Arrange for a residence permit card
If you are granted a permit for more than three months, you will receive a residence permit card. You arrange for the card in the same way as described above under "Applying online".