🇸🇪Sweden Visa for Chinese Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) – Medical Treatment

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.

Visitor's Residence Permit – Family/Relative Visit

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.

Visitor's Residence Permit – Medical Treatment (Long-Stay)

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.

Work Permit (Employee)

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).

Work Permit (Self-Employed)

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.

EU Blue Card

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.

Seasonal Work Permit

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.

ICT Permit (Intra-Company Transfer)

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.

Residence Permit to Look for Work or Start a Business

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.

Student Residence Permit – Higher Education

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.

Student Residence Permit – Doctoral 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.

Student Residence Permit – Other Studies and Upper Secondary School

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.

Family Reunification Residence Permit

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).

Temporary Protection Permit (Ukraine/EU Directive)

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.

Diplomatic/Official Visa Exemption

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.

Working Holiday Residence Permit

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.

Au Pair Residence Permit

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.

Residence Permit for Research (Guest Researcher)

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.

Residence Permit for Traineeship/Internship

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.