Sweden is a lovely place famous for its landscapes, natural beauty, and cities. In addition, the country welcomes hundreds and thousands of travelers from all over the world each year. However, not everyone can enter freely. It requires foreign nationals, including Indians, to apply for a visa to travel to Sweden.
Therefore, the following article on a Sweden visa from India will walk you through all the essentials of the process from types and requirements to the application procedure. So, hold on till the end.
Facts About Sweden
Sweden has so much to offer its visitors, such as a blend of modern and natural beauty with abundant lakes, forests, and coastal areas. Moreover,
- You can travel to Stockholm by booking a flight. This city spans almost 14 islands and is home to the Gamla Stan (Old Town).
- Alternatively known as maritime heritage, the second largest city of Sweden is Gothenburg.
- In addition, Lapland lies in the northern part of Sweden, renowned for the Sami culture and Northern Lights.
Furthermore, you can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping while visiting the Kingdom of Sweden.
Do Indian Citizens Need a Visa to Travel to Sweden?
Sweden is one of the 29 Schengen countries that make up the entire Schengen Area. So, yes, Indian citizens need a visa to travel to Sweden as India is not on the list of visa-free countries.
The most common of all visa types is a Schengen visa that you can use for short-term purposes, valid for almost 180 days. Surprisingly, any type of Schengen visa permits you to travel to other neighboring Schengen countries without needing a separate visa.
Swedish Visa Types for Indians
Indian applicants can choose from the following Sweden visa types according to the purpose of their trip. Broadly, a visa is divided into two types, short-term and long-term visas.
A short-term visa allows you to stay in Sweden for 90 days with a validity period of one hundred and eighty days. Whereas, a long-stay visa can be used if you want to live in the target destination for more than three months.
These categories have other subclasses considering the reason for traveling to Sweden.
| Types of Swedish visa | Purpose | Duration of stay |
| Tourist visa | A tourist visa for Sweden from India allows you to travel to the destination country for sightseeing, visiting friends, and tourism purposes. | Usually, it is issued for a short duration of time, allowing you to stay for almost 90 days. |
| Business visa | If you are planning to travel to Sweden for business-related activities such as attending business meetings or conferences and negotiating contracts, you will need a business visa. | Typically, granted for a specific period, a business visa is valid for six months. |
| Work visa | A work visa for Sweden from India permits you to work in Sweden. Moreover, the employer needs to prove that no native applicant can fulfill the position. | Generally, a work visa is a subcategory of a long-term visa, valid for almost one year. However, you can renew it as per the conditions of your employment contract. |
| Study visa | Indian students can apply for a study visa if they have got an admission to any of the Swedish educational institutes. | Depends on the duration of the program. |
| Transit visa | A transit visa is required if you have to wait for a connecting flight at the transit area of the international airport of Sweden. This is needed if you are flying from one non-Schengen country to another, restricting you from entering Sweden. | Up to 24 to 48 hours. |
| Medical visa | Moreover, if you want to travel to the target destination country for medical treatment, you will need a medical visa. | Allows you a maximum duration of stay for up to six months. |
| Cultural, sports, and religious events visa | Schengen countries including Sweden annually or bi-annually host cultural, sports, and religious events that you can attend after applying for a specific visa. | Depends on the time duration of the event. |
| Seaman visa | Lastly, if you are a seaman and belong to the department of seafarers, who want to join a ship in Sweden, you can do so by applying for a seaman visa. | Applicable for a short duration of stay, i.e., six months. |
How Can Indians Qualify to Get a Sweden Visa from India?
Before starting the visa application process, make sure that you understand the following eligibility criteria to show that you are qualified to get a Sweden visa from India.
- You must have a valid Indian passport
- In addition, you have enough funds to manage your daily expenses
- Your purpose of traveling to Sweden is clear
- You have a place to stay in Sweden either in the form of a hotel or a rental house/apartment
- Furthermore, you are free from any infectious disease that will harm the public’s health
- Lastly, you do not hold any criminal charges against you
What Are the Requirements for Applying for a Sweden Visa from India?
Indians need a set of certain documents that should be submitted to the embassy when applying for a Sweden visa. Go through this section to learn the information in detail.
Standard documents
Regardless of the visa type, these are the standard supporting documents that you will need in each case.
Visa application form
A visa application form is the most important document of all. It asks you for information about yourself, your flight details, and your accommodation plans, thus giving access to embassy officials to analyze the requested facts.
Passport
Moreover, you need to submit your Indian passport that has a,
- Validity of at least three months beyond your stay in Sweden
- Two blank pages to affix visa stamps
- Should not be older than the last 10 years
Photograph
In addition, your Sweden visa from India requires you to attach two passport-size pictures to the application form. These photographs should be according to the Schengen photo guidelines.
Air ticket reservation
Another requirement is to submit a document known as an air ticket reservation. This will show the embassy that you will travel to Sweden to fulfill your trip purpose. Moreover, this document discloses information such as your first and last name, travel dates and times, airport terminals, destination country, IATA codes, etc.
Proof of accommodation
Furthermore, you also need to show that you have submitted your accommodation details as proof that you have a place to stay in Sweden. This can be done either through a hotel booking or signing a rental contract for an apartment or house.
Cover letter
An additional supporting document that will ace the visa application process is a cover letter. You can write it to discuss your trip from a subjective lens. Therefore, you can include details such as the destination country, the length of your stay, your travel itinerary, etc.
You can get this document from coverletterforvisa.com.
Travel health insurance
Moreover, traveling to a Schengen country makes it compulsory for you to purchase travel health insurance to manage uninvited travel and medical emergencies such as repatriation, evacuation, etc. Therefore, it must have a coverage amount of 30,000 to 45,000 euros.
Financial means
Another vital document is proof of financial means to bear the daily expenses including food, transportation, accommodation, etc. You can submit documents such as your bank statement, salary slip, or income tax return. On average, you must have at least 75-100 euros per day.
Civil status documents
Lastly, the authorities want to know about your civil status. For this purpose, you can submit documents including your marriage certificate, a birth certificate of your children, or a death certificate of the spouse (if applicable).
Important: Before submitting the documents to the respective authorities, make sure that they are translated into either Swedish or English language. If not, you can get help from a certified translator.
Documents based on your employment status
- If employed:
- Employment letter
- Salary slip
- Bank statement
- If self-employed:
- Company registration certificate
- Bank statement
- Income tax return
- If retired:
- Pension slips from the last six months
Documents for a tourist visa
- Travel itinerary (including a flight reservation, proof of accommodation, etc)
- Invitation letter or letter of sponsorship if you are invited by a Swedish host
Documents for a business visa
- Invitation letter from the Swedish company
- Proof of business relationship
- Any previous business dealings/contracts in Sweden
Documents for a work visa
- Job offer letter from a Swedish employer
- Work and residence permit
- Proof of qualifications
- Experience letter
Documents for a study visa
- Letter of admission from a Swedish educational institute
- No objection certificate from the current institute
- Academic transcripts
Where Should I Submit My Swedish Visa Application in India?
Indian applicants have two ways through which they can submit their Swedish visa application in India.
The first one is through the Embassy of Sweden in India. You can find the details of the embassy below by clicking on the map below.
Secondly, Indian nationals can apply for a Swedish visa by visiting the VFS Global application centers in India or Nepal. Centers outside of this jurisdiction will not entertain Swedish visa applications from Indian applicants.
There are numerous centers in different Indian cities, so visit the one nearest to your residence.
How Can I Get a Sweden Visa from India: Step-by-Step Guide
The application process for a Sweden visa from India involves several steps. Moreover, the process is slightly different depending on the visa type you choose. However, follow the steps mentioned below.
Step 1: Visit the official website
You can either choose the Swedish embassy or the visa application center to start the process. This guide focuses on the second method. So, make sure to visit the official website of VFS Global and enter the home and destination countries.
Step 2: Select a specific visa type
After that, choose a specific visa type, keeping in mind the purpose of your trip to Sweden. For instance, tourism, business, or other reasons.
Step 3: Gather the required documents
Once done, check the requirements of the specific visa type and start gathering the needed documents. Also, ensure to keep them in a logical sequence.
Step 4: Complete the visa application form
The next step is to fill out the Sweden visa application form online. Another method is to download it from the given link, print it, and then complete the form by including the requested information.
Step 5: Book an appointment
After that, schedule a Sweden visa appointment India as it is necessary to submit your documents. Besides, it is also vital to provide your biometric data such as fingerprints and retina scans to the embassy to store them in the VIS for future applications.
Step 6: Visit the center
After your appointment is done, you will receive a confirmation email. On a specific day and time, visit the application center to submit your documents along with the application form.
Moreover, you are also required to pay the visa application fee in local currency.
In addition, the visa officials may also ask you for a short and quick visa interview to know your trip plans in detail.
Step 7: Wait for an answer
Once all the above steps are completed, wait for an answer. Meanwhile, the embassy is processing your application, you can track the status of your application online by entering the reference number and your last name.
Step 8: Collect your passport
Lastly, if your application is approved, you can collect your passport from the center. You can also get your passport delivered through a courier service. Applying through VFS Global requires you to pay additional service charges other than the visa fee.
Application Fee for a Sweden Visa from India
The visa fee for Sweden from India differs concerning several factors such as the age of the applicant, the visa type, and the nationality of the applicant.
For instance, the citizens of the EU and EEA are not required to deposit any amount when traveling to Sweden for short-stay purposes.
However, the standard fee structure is shown below in the table.
| Visa type | Fee in Euro/Swedish Krona | Fee in Indian Rupees |
| Schengen visa | 90 euros for adults45 euros for children under 18 | 7,951 INR3,975 INR |
| National visa | 60 euros | 5300 INR |
| Visitor’s permit | 1,500 SEK for adults750 SEK for children under 18 | 11,504 INR5,752 INR |
How can I pay the fee?
The following payment methods are available for Indian citizens to deposit their fees.
- Debit card
- Credit card
- UPI
- Bank transfer
Who is exempted from a Swedish visa fee?
Applicants who belong to the following categories are exempted from paying the Swedish visa fee.
- Children below the age of six
- Official passport holders
- Students, researchers, and teachers traveling to Sweden on a study or training trip
- Members of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) who are below the age of 25
- Family members of the citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and the EU
Sweden Visa from India Processing Time
The Sweden visa processing time India varies considering the channel through which you have applied, i.e., the embassy or the application center. However, the standard processing time is almost 15 days (two weeks) from the date of submission.
But, keep in mind that the period gets extended to up to 45 or 60 days in rare cases if further scrutiny of your documents is required.
When should I apply?
Taking into consideration the processing time for a Swedish visa application, you are advised to submit your application at least four to six months before your intended departure date.
In case you are a seaman, you can lodge your application nine months before your exit from India to perform your duties.
FAQs
- Do I need a separate Swedish visa if I have another Schengen visa?
If Sweden is your main target destination, then you will need a Swedish visa. However, if you have a visa for another Schengen country and want to travel to Sweden during your trip, you can do so without applying for a separate Swedish visa.
- Is providing a travel itinerary mandatory for a Sweden visa?
Yes, traveling to any Schengen country requires you to provide a detailed travel itinerary with the rest of the visa documents. For instance, this includes a flight reservation, hotel booking, and a planned set of activities.
- Can I submit my Swedish visa application without booking an appointment?
No. Before submitting your visa application, you need to schedule an appointment either with the Swedish embassy in India or through the VFS Global application center.
- Is it possible to extend my visa to Sweden?
Generally, you cannot extend your Swedish visa. Applying for an extension requires you to provide a valid reason such as political upheaval in your country or personal reasons. If you want to stay longer, return to your home state and apply for a new visa.
- Can I start working in Sweden on a tourist visa?
No. You cannot work in Sweden on a tourist visa, as it is strictly prohibited. A tourist visa is meant to be used for sightseeing and tourism purposes. Violating this rule will impose fines and imprisonment. If you want to work, you need to apply for a Swedish work visa from India.
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