Sweden Student Visa

Sweden is one of the top countries in the world that offer quality education. It’s no surprise that most international students apply to study in the country’s universities in their droves.

Their teaching method gears toward “Freedom with Responsibility”. The schools are anchored towards group studies rather than regular lectures.

Do you have plans of studying in Sweden? Then you should keep in mind that students whose countries are not members of the EU and EEA would have to apply for a student visa and a residence permit.

In this article, I would go into detail on everything you need to know about Sweden’s Student Visa.

Some Things You Need to Know About the Sweden Student Visa

  • The student visa or resident permit applies to only non-EU/EEA citizens who have plans of studying in the country.
  • Citizens of EU/EEA countries don’t have to apply for Student visas or residence permits. However, after living in Sweden for more than a year, they would have to apply with the Swedish Population Register and they would get a personal Identity number.

Sweden Visa Study Fee

To pay for your Sweden Visa Study, you would have to make the payment online through MasterCard or Visa (you can use either a debit or credit card for the online payment). The Sweden visa study fee is SEK 1,500 at the current exchange price.

Student Visa Processing Time

The student visa processing time usually takes around 90 days because all the application details are forwarded to Sweden. Keep in mind that it might take a longer period for your visa processing time to be finalized.

The fastest way to apply for a student visa is through online means, the paper method takes a longer period to be processed. So, your best bet is to apply through the online method to hasten the process. However, to be on the right track, you should apply as soon as you can.

READ ALSO: How to Legalize Unpermitted Work in 3 simple ways

Documents Required for Students’ Visas

While applying for your student visas, there are necessary documents you would have to submit to be considered eligible. The documents include:

 

  • You must present a credible passport and the passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months, from the time of application. Equally, the issuing date of the passport must have not exceeded 10 years.
  • You have to submit a registration letter from a recognized university in Sweden. The time frame of the course and evidence that you have completed your payment for the first installment of the fees.
  • The study duration must not be lower than 30 credits. If your first semester isn’t up to 30 credits, then you would have to pay a fee for 2 semesters. This rarely happens in most situations.
  • You must show proof of being financially able to pay for the programs you are applying for. Also, you would show proof of funds that you can cater for yourself all through your stay in the country. You should show a fund of SEK 8,190 for every month you live in the country. The fund could be in the form of private property, a scholarship, or a loan.
  • You have to submit evidence of health insurance for your stay in the country that won’t be up to 10 months. If you are staying for a longer period, you would be given compulsory health insurance whenever you arrive in the country.
  • You would have to show your prior educational level and a certification displaying the year you finalized the program.
  • You would also be required to present a 1000-character (around 150 words) essay. In the essay, you would relay your reasons for choosing to study in Sweden. You don’t have to go through a one-way format while writing this, just make sure you give specific and valid reasons why you chose Sweden over studying in your home country.
  • If you are applying via paper, you would require two sets of documents – the original and the signed copies.
  • If you are applying through online means, you would have to upload scanned copies of the original document. It’s important you upload the original copy and not the duplicates.
  • Equally, while applying online, the included documents should not exceed 2MB. The acceptable forms are JPEG and PDF.

How to Apply for a Swedish Student Visa

To apply for a Swedish student visa, there are processes you would have to undergo. They include:

 

  • To begin with, you have to verify your admission with a university or university college in Sweden and then get ready the required documents.
  • The next step is to confirm your health insurance, that is if deemed necessary.
  • You have to apply online for the residence permit by logging into the Migrationsverket website.
  • You have to upload your documents, then submit your application online.
  • Using your Visa or Mastercard, you would have to pay your visa fee of SEK 1,500 online.
  • You would receive a message from the embassy.
  • If approved, you would have to present your biometric data and photograph at the Sweden embassy office closest to you.

Can You Work in Sweden As a Student Visa Holder?

Yes, as a foreign student, you can work while studying in Sweden. However, as a student, every week, you are mandated to complete at least 40 hours of study. Asides from that, there is no limited time you can work in Sweden as a student.

Working in Sweden After Your Studies

After studying in Sweden, you can apply for a 6-month extension of your visa in the country, so you do have time to search for a suitable job in the country. Once you get the job of your choice, you would have to apply for a work permit.

You can also start up any business of your choice in the country after your graduation.

Final Thoughts

Getting a Sweden student visa is quite easy, you only have to obey the rules set by the authority. Studying in Sweden is quite beneficial since the country is one of the world’s leading figureheads when it comes to academic excellence. Aside from the high cost of living for students in Sweden, studying in Sweden is a huge win.

Categorized in:

student visa