There are many reasons to go to Sweden and that is why there are different types of Sweden visa. Well, it’s a beautiful country with scenic and well as historical landmarks, it offers a high quality of life, great healthcare and strong infrastructure.
Since 1996, Sweden has been a part of the Schengen area. Thus, to visit the country for any reason, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa. Read on to find out more about all the different types of Sweden visas.
Read: 5 Ways To Get Swedish Citizenship
Types of Sweden Visa- Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)
If you’re planning a short visit to Sweden, you will need the Uniform Schengen Visa. This Sweden visa allows the visa holder to stay in Sweden for up to 90 days in 6 consecutive months. It applies to 2 categories: ‘A’ and ‘C’.
Category A: This is an Airport Transit Visa. This type of visa allows the individual to enter the Swedish airport and transit through it but does not allow them to exit the airport. It is mandatory if you need to pass through Sweden or change flights in the country.
Category C: This is a short-term visa that allows the individual to stay in the country for a specified number of days. This visa can be acquired in the form of:
- Single-entry visa: This allows the visa-holder to enter Sweden once within the visa’s validity period. If he/she leaves the country, they cannot re-enter even if though the visa may still be valid.
- Double-entry visa: As the name suggests, this gives the individual 2 opportunities to enter the country.
- Multiple-entry visa: With this visa, the visa holder can enter and exit the country as many times as they may want. However, they must ensure that they do not spend more than 90 days in Sweden within 180 consecutive days. Based on how frequently you travel to Sweden, you can get a 1/3/5 year multiple-entry visa.
Read: How to Apply for Sweden Tourist Visa
Limited territorial validity visas (LTV)
A Schengen visa allows you to visit not only Sweden but also all the other Schengen nations. If you’re only visiting Sweden, you can apply for a Limited territorial validity visa. This type of visa is issued only in certain cases such as humanitarian reasons.
Read: Applying for a Sweden Student Visa in 5 Steps
National Visas
This type of Sweden visa falls under the category ‘D’. It may be issued to individuals who are working or studying or considering permanent residence in Sweden. It allows the individual to stay in Sweden for a sole purpose and a specified length of time.
Once the visa expires, the individual will need to return to his/her own home country. This may be issued as a single or multiple-entry visa. In case of the latter, the visa holder can enter and exit Sweden as many times as needed as long as the visa is valid.
It may be issued to:
- International students starting a full course of studies in Sweden
- Individuals involved in pedagogical work in a research center or any higher institution
- Professionals traveling to Sweden for their expertise as an artist, sportsman or any other kind of professional
- Individuals in Sweden who have medical conditions because of which they cannot leave the country
Read: Everything You Need to Know About the Sweden Work Permit Visa
Types of Sweden Visa According to the Purpose of Travel
The types of Sweden visa can also be categorized according to the purpose of travel.
- Airport transit: This refers to applying for a visa only if you have to transit through the Swedish airport. You cannot leave the Swedish airport if you have this visa.
- Transit: This is similar to an airport transit visa. It is mostly applicable to seafarers who need to stay in Sweden only for very short periods.
- Tourism: If you want to visit Sweden to see the scenic and historical sights, you will need to apply for a Swedish tourist visa.
- Visiting Family and Friends: If you have friends or relatives living in Sweden, you can apply for a Schengen visa and support your application with a letter of invitation.
- Business: Individuals traveling to Sweden for work can apply for a single, double or multiple-entry Uniform Schengen Visa.
- Official visit: This applies to individuals traveling to Sweden on official duty by themselves or as part of a group with the same purpose and identical travel dates.
- Medical reasons: A Sweden Visa for medical reasons allows the visa-holder to stay in Sweden for 3-months within 180 days and seek medical help.
- Study purposes: Students wanting to attend any course for up to 3 months at a university or educational institution can apply for a study visa. This includes language courses. This type of visa can also be applied for by people who need to give an entrance exam in Sweden.
- Cultural, Sports and Film Crews: Visa applicants can get a visa for this purpose if they want to travel to Sweden to attend a cultural, religious or sporting event as a performer or part of the audience.
Applying for a Sweden Visa
Since Sweden is part of the Schengen region, you do not need to apply for a specific Swedish visa but can apply for a Schengen visa. The application form is available online and can be filled in manually or the responses can be typed in.
Depending on the type of visa being applied for, you will also need to organize supporting documents. A visa processing fee is also payable. You can submit the application and the supporting documents at the Swedish consulate or embassy or third-party office handling visas.
Usually, it takes 2-3 weeks to process this application.
