Sweden’s international student population is steadily growing, and universities have been going heavy on international student recruitment in the last few years.
Despite the fact that the nation introduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students in 2011, making it one of the more expensive study abroad destinations, the country has recently seen an increase in international students.
International students are attracted to Swedish universities for their world-class academic standards that allow students to enjoy exciting career opportunities after graduation.
Universities in Sweden are also progressive and the country has been ranked one of the world’s most innovative nations. As such, curricula here are centered around helping students develop soft skills like critical and creative thinking.
Chinese students make up the majority of the international student population here. According to UniversityWorldNews, “Currently, 826 Chinese students are enrolled in programmes across [Stockholm], which is an increase of 18% compared with the previous year.”
Are you keen to study in this beautiful Nordic country? Here’s how you can apply for a Swedish student visa:
Uppsala University in Sweden – one of Europe’s oldest universities. Source: Shutterstock
Your first step in applying for a Swedish student visa is to receive your acceptance letter from a Swedish university, as you’ll need it to complete the visa application.
You can only apply for a student visa if your programme is full-time.
The student visa in Sweden is called “resident permit for studies”. If your programme is less than three months long, you’ll need to apply for the Short stay visa.
If your programme is longer than six months, the visa you’re eligible for is the Long stay visa type D.
To receive approval for your Swedish student visa, you must pay for the first semester’s tuition fees and provide proof of payment.
You must also show proof of your financial ability to pay the cost of the whole course, such as a bank statement or scholarship letter.
To get approved for your student visa, ensure your passport has a minimum of six months validity at the time of your visa application.
If the duration of your study programme is less than a year, you are required to have comprehensive health insurance coverage.
You can apply for a Swedish student visa online. Source: Shutterstock
Once you have your documentation in order, you can apply online via the Swedish Migration Agency website for your student visa application. You can also upload and submit the necessary documents along with your application.
If you’re unable to apply online, you must fill out the ‘First-Time application for a residence permit’ form and submit it to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence, along with supporting documents.
You are required to submit your application no less than three months before your study programme begins.
When D-day arrives, you will typically be notified whether the embassy has decided to grant you a student visa via email.
To collect your approval, you must bring your passport to the embassy or consulate-general. However, the website states that some embassies or consulate-generals will send the decision and residence permit card by post. Contact your local embassy to find out if this applies to you.
Once you’ve been granted your student visa, you will need an entry visa that will allow you to travel to Sweden.
This depends on which country you’re from. Click here for a list of countries that require an entry visa for Sweden.
