General Schengen Visa Information

Visas can be granted for such purposes as:

1) Business and conference visits

2) Visiting relatives and friends

3) Tourism

4) Participation in cultural, sports, religious event, film crew

5) Airport transit visa

6) Medical visa

 The Schengen Cooperation

Sweden is a member of the Schengen Cooperation. The Schengen Cooperation allows those who have a visa to travel to Sweden also to travel to the other member countries. The countries that form part of the Schengen Cooperation are often referred to as Schengen countries.

An entry visa is normally valid in all the Schengen countries. In some cases a visa may be granted solely for entry into the country that issued it. For more information on the Schengen area and cooperation, click here.

If you apply for a Swedish Schengen visa, as a general rule, Sweden should be the main destination of your trip in terms of length or purpose of stay. If your main destination is any other Member State than Sweden, please apply for visa from the relevant Member State.

Schengen visa does not guarantee entry to the Schengen area.

A Schengen visa allows you to travel to Sweden and usually to other Schengen countries, but it does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area.

You may have to provide certain information at the border or in other controls. You may for instance have to provide information on your means of support, how long you intend to stay in Sweden and why you are visiting Sweden.

In some cases, such checks may result in a refusal for the visa holder to enter Sweden or the Schengen area. It is therefore recommended that you carry copies of the documents which you presented when you applied for the visa (e.g. letters of invitation, travel confirmations, other documents stating the purpose of your stay). This will help to make the border control procedure easier and to avoid delays at the border controls.

Please note that all travellers are responsible for verifying the travel restrictions in place before departure. 

When to apply

Applications can be lodged earliest 6 (six) months in prior to the start of the intended visit, and for Seafarers in the performance of their duties, no more than 9 (nine) months before the intended date of departure. 

Prior consultation

Some nationals are required to go through a mandatory prior consultation procedure during the assessment of the visa application. This is to check whether any Member States has any objection for issuing a uniform Schengen visa. The procedure will take approximately 7-9 days to finalize.

A comprehensive list of citizens subject to consultation is found in annex 16 of the Visa Code, kindly refer to the link below:

Annex 16_Prior consultation_en.pdf (europa.eu)

How long does it take?

The processing time at the Embassy varies, but decisions are generally made within 15 days from receipt of the application at the Embassy. This period may be extended up to a maximum 45 calendar days in individual cases, when further scrutiny of the application is needed.

Make sure to submit all required and supporting documents to avoid unnecessary delays.

What if I'm granted a visa?

When you receive your Schengen visa, make sure that all the information it contains is correct. Check the following:

• Your passport has a passport number. This number is also indicated on the visa sticker. Make sure that these numbers are the same.
• Check the validity time of the visa. Information on how to read a visa sticker is available here.
• Check that your name is spelt correctly
• Check how many entries to the Schengen area you have been granted (1,2 or Multiple Entries)

Do this yourself to avoid any problems or extra costs arising when you travel with the visa. If you think that the information on the visa is incorrect, contact the Embassy so that any potential errors can be corrected.

How to read the visa sticker

Information on how to read the visa sticker is available here

What if my application is refused?

If your application has been refused, you may appeal the decision. You get information in the decision as to why your application was rejected.

If you received a decision, you are not satisfied with, you can submit a written appeal no later than 3 weeks from the day you received the decision. For more information on how to appeal, click here.

Misuse and overstay of Schengen visas

You must leave the Schengen area before the period of stay that is allowed by your Schengen visa expires. Misuse and overstay may result in deportation, getting banned from entering the Schengen area for a specific amount of time and difficulties in obtaining a new visa in the future.