🇧🇹→🇸🇪Bhutan→Sweden

Allows foreign nationals from visa-required countries to visit Sweden and the Schengen area for tourism, family visits, or cultural events for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

• Fee is EUR 90 for adults (approx. USD 99), EUR 45 for children 6-11, free for children under 6.
• Standard processing is 15 days; may extend up to 30 days for complex cases.
• Multiple-entry visas valid up to 5 years may be issued to frequent travellers.
• Reduced fee (EUR 35) applies to citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine.
• Must show proof of accommodation, return travel, and financial means of SEK 450 per day.
• Applied through Swedish embassies or VFS Global.

Allows foreign nationals from visa-required countries to enter Sweden for business meetings, conferences, negotiations, or trade activities for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

• Same fee structure and processing times as tourism Schengen visa.
• Requires an invitation letter from the Swedish company or organisation.
• Does not permit gainful employment; only business activities such as meetings and conferences.

Allows nationals of certain countries to transit through Swedish international airport zones without entering the Schengen area.

• Required for nationals of specific high-risk countries transiting through Schengen airports (e.g., Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, and others as listed in EU Regulation 2018/1806 Annex IV).
• Holders of valid Schengen visas, residence permits from Schengen states, or certain other countries' valid travel documents may be exempt.
• Fee is EUR 90 (same as Type C).
• Applied through Swedish embassies.

Allows foreign nationals to visit Sweden for tourism or to visit family/friends for stays exceeding 90 days, up to a maximum of 6 months (or 9 months in exceptional cases).

• Fee is SEK 1,500 for adults (approx. USD 165), SEK 750 for children.
• Standard tourist purpose: up to 6 months; exceptionally up to 9 months.
• Processing: 75% of cases decided within 3 months (outside Sweden) or 4 months (from within Sweden).
• Requires valid passport, medical travel insurance (EUR 30,000 minimum), and financial means of SEK 450/day.
• Must demonstrate genuine intent to leave after the visit.

Allows foreign nationals from visa-required countries to enter Sweden to receive medical treatment for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

• Requires two medical certificates confirming diagnosis and treatment necessity, and proof of a deposit or payment guarantee for treatment costs.
• Same base fee as standard Schengen visa (EUR 90 adults).
• If medical stay exceeds 90 days, a visitor's residence permit must be applied for instead.

Allows foreign nationals to visit a relative, spouse, or close family member residing in Sweden for extended stays exceeding 90 days.

• Parents visiting their children in Sweden may be granted up to 1 year.
• Relatives visiting family members may receive up to 6 months.
• Fee SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 750 children.
• Requires invitation from the host in Sweden along with the host's ID and income documentation.
• Processing: 75% within 3-4 months.

Allows foreign nationals to stay in Sweden for medical treatment for extended periods exceeding 90 days, up to a maximum of 1 year.

• Maximum stay 1 year.
• Requires medical certificates and proof of treatment costs.
• Fee SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 750 children.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals with a job offer from a Swedish employer to live and work in Sweden.

• Fee is SEK 2,000 (approx. USD 220).
• As of 1 June 2026, minimum salary is SEK 34,470/month (90% of median salary).
• Comprehensive health insurance required from 1 June 2026.
• Permit typically issued for up to 2 years, renewable.
• Eligible for permanent residence after 4 years of work permit.
• Processing averages 18 days for fast-tracked complete applications.
• The employer must advertise the position in the EU/EEA before offering to a third-country national (new rule from June 2026).

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to reside in Sweden and run their own business.

• Fee SEK 2,000.
• Must own and actively manage at least 51% of the business.
• Financial self-sufficiency requirement: SEK 200,000 for applicant plus SEK 100,000 per accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 per child.
• Requires good industry experience, language skills, and a credible business plan with established customer contacts.
• Permit up to 2 years, renewable.
• Path to permanent residence after 4 years.

Allows highly qualified non-EU/EEA nationals with a high-salary job offer to live and work in Sweden with facilitated pathways to permanent residence.

• Fee SEK 2,000.
• Minimum salary: SEK 52,000/month (1.25x average Swedish salary, effective 9 July 2025).
• Requires higher education (minimum 180 credits) or 5+ years relevant professional experience.
• Employment contract for minimum 6 months required.
• Comprehensive health insurance required.
• Permit duration: 9 months to 4 years.
• Processing: 75% of complete applications decided within 1 month.
• Path to permanent residence after 4 years.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to perform seasonal agricultural or horticultural work in Sweden for a limited period.

• Sweden implements the EU Seasonal Workers Directive.
• Seasonal work permits are issued for up to 90 days and cover sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, and tourism.
• Must have a job offer meeting Swedish collective agreement or industry-standard wages.
• Specific fee and processing times not published on the main Migrationsverket page.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to be temporarily posted to a Swedish entity of a multinational company as a manager, specialist, or trainee.

• Sweden implements the EU ICT Directive.
• Minimum salary thresholds apply and were updated from 1 June 2026.
• Managers and specialists may be granted up to 3 years; trainees up to 1 year.
• ICT permit holders may move between EU member states under the directive's mobility provisions.
• Specific fee not published on the main listing page.

Allows highly-educated non-EU/EEA nationals to enter Sweden for up to 9 months to search for employment or explore business establishment, without a prior job offer.

• Fee SEK 2,200 (approx. USD 242).
• Requires a second-cycle qualification (60+ credit Master's, professional degree, or PhD).
• Must show financial self-sufficiency of SEK 13,000/month and hold comprehensive health insurance.
• If employment or business is secured during the permit period, holder may apply for a work/self-employment residence permit from within Sweden.
• Processing: 75% decided within 7 months.
• Not a digital nomad visa per se, but functionally similar for job-seeking professionals.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to reside in Sweden to pursue bachelor's or master's degree studies at a Swedish higher education institution.

• Fee SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 750 children under 18.
• Processing: 75% decided within 2 months.
• Maximum 1-2 years per permit depending on institution (designated universities can issue up to 2 years).
• Cannot exceed passport validity.
• Full-time enrollment required (30 credits/semester).
• Tuition fees must be paid before applying.
• Financial requirement: SEK 10,656/month (2026).
• Work limited to 15 hours/week for bachelor's/master's students from June 11, 2026.
• Permit renewable for duration of studies.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to reside in Sweden to pursue doctoral research at a Swedish university.

• Fee SEK 1,500.
• Doctoral students may be eligible to apply for permanent residence directly after completing doctoral studies.
• Accompanying family members can apply simultaneously.
• Processing similar to higher education student permit.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to reside in Sweden to attend upper secondary school or other study programmes lasting more than 90 days.

• Fee SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 750 children.
• Covers exchange programmes, upper secondary studies, contract or specialisation education.
• Full-time study required (minimum 20 teaching hours weekly).
• Health insurance required for studies under one year.
• Financial requirement SEK 10,656/month.

Allows the partner, spouse, children, or other close relatives of a person with a Swedish residence permit or citizenship to join them and live in Sweden.

• Fee SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 750 children.
• Covers partners/spouses, children, parents visiting adult children, and other relatives.
• The sponsor (anchor person) in Sweden must generally have a permanent residence permit, Swedish citizenship, or a valid temporary residence permit of sufficient duration.
• Maintenance requirement: sponsor must demonstrate adequate housing and income.
• Processing times can be lengthy (12+ months for complex family cases).

Grants temporary residence in Sweden to displaced persons from Ukraine under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, allowing right to work and access to social services.

• No application fee.
• Granted to Ukrainian nationals and stateless persons who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022.
• Provides access to employment, housing, social welfare, and healthcare.
• Duration aligned with EU Council decisions on temporary protection extension.

Visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic, service, official, or special passports from designated countries under bilateral agreements or Sweden's national visa list.

Countries whose nationals ordinarily require a Schengen visa but whose diplomatic/service/special passport holders are exempt include: Bolivia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey (including special passport holders), China (diplomatic only), India (diplomatic only), Morocco (diplomatic only), Tunisia (diplomatic only), Armenia (diplomatic only, per EC-Armenia agreement), Azerbaijan (diplomatic only, per EC-Azerbaijan agreement), Belarus (diplomatic only, per EC-Belarus agreement - NOTE: suspended in practice due to EU sanctions since 2021), Cape Verde (diplomatic only). Based on Swedish Government official visa list last updated 01 September 2023.

Allows young people (18-30) from partner countries to holiday in Sweden for up to one year and work incidentally to fund their stay and experience Swedish life and culture.

• For citizens aged 18-30 of countries with a youth-exchange agreement with Sweden: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.
• Fee SEK 1,500 (approx. USD 165); Japanese citizens are exempt from the fee.
• Applicant must have at least SEK 15,000 to support themselves on arrival.
• Work is permitted but must not be the main purpose of the stay.
• Maximum one year and cannot be extended.
• Comprehensive health insurance required (Australian citizens exempt).
• Processing: 75% of complete applications decided within 3 months.

Allows a young person (18-29) to live with a Swedish host family for up to one year, helping with childcare and light housework while studying Swedish and experiencing Swedish culture.

• For applicants aged 18-29 (must be under 30 at time of decision) with a written agreement with a host family.
• Childcare and light housework are limited to a maximum of 25 hours per week, and the applicant must spend most non-working time studying Swedish (combined work + study capped at 40 hours/week).
• Fee SEK 1,500 (approx. USD 165).
• Maximum one year; cannot be extended.
• Must apply from outside Sweden and family members cannot accompany.
• Host family must provide work-accident insurance; the applicant needs comprehensive health insurance.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals invited by an approved Swedish research principal to conduct research in Sweden under a hosting agreement.

• Requires a signed hosting agreement with a research principal approved by the Swedish Research Council; at least 50% of working hours must be devoted to research.
• Fee SEK 1,500 adults / SEK 750 children (approx. USD 165); Japanese citizens exempt.
• Financial requirement approximately SEK 9,700/month.
• Permit granted for up to 4 years at a time, not exceeding passport or hosting-agreement validity.
• Processing: 75% of complete applications decided within 1 month.
• From 11 June 2026, doctoral students who hold a hosting agreement receive this same research permit rather than a study permit.

Allows non-EU/EEA nationals to come to Sweden for a traineeship or internship, either connected to their higher education or arranged via an international exchange programme.

• Two routes: a traineeship/internship related to the applicant's higher education, or one offered through an international exchange programme.
• Applied for from outside Sweden before entering.
• Specific fee and maximum duration depend on the route and are set out on the relevant Migration Agency sub-pages.

Allows foreign nationals from visa-required countries to visit Sweden for religious events, pilgrimages, or religious gatherings for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

• Listed as a distinct purpose-of-visit category (alongside tourist, business, and medical visits) on the Swedish Migration Agency's official Schengen short-stay visa application page.
• Same base fee and processing apply as other Type C purposes: EUR 90 for adults 12+ (approx. USD 99), EUR 45 for ages 6-11, free under 6; decision usually within 2 weeks, up to 30 days for complex/embassy-dependent cases.
• Reduced or waived fees may apply to representatives of nonprofit/religious organisations or citizens of countries with an EU visa facilitation agreement (e.g. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Western Balkans states).

Allows non-EU/EEA doctoral students and researchers to make short academic exchange, conference, or research visits to a Swedish university or institution for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without applying for a residence permit.

• Listed as a distinct purpose-of-visit category ('Doctoral Exchange Student') on the Swedish Migration Agency's official Schengen short-stay visa application page, separate from the long-stay Student Residence Permit - Doctoral Studies entry (which is for stays over 90 days requiring a residence permit).
• Base fee EUR 90 (approx. USD 99); the same page notes reduced or waived fees are available for students and researchers.
• Decision usually within 2 weeks, up to 30 days in complex cases.

Allows foreign nationals from visa-required countries to undertake short-term unpaid volunteer work or an internship placement in Sweden for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without applying for a residence permit.

• Listed as a distinct purpose-of-visit category ('Volunteer Work/Internship') on the Swedish Migration Agency's official Schengen short-stay visa application page, separate from the long-stay Residence Permit for Traineeship/Internship entry (which applies to placements exceeding 90 days or tied to higher education requiring a residence permit).
• Base fee EUR 90 (approx. USD 99); reduced/waived fees may apply depending on the sponsoring organisation.
• Decision usually within 2 weeks, up to 30 days in complex cases.
• Does not constitute a Swedish work permit and does not permit paid employment.