If you are going to study at a university, college, polytechnic education or folk high school at a post-secondary level in Sweden for longer than three months, you can apply for a residence permit for higher education. This also applies to you who are going to study at a mobility program within the EU and start your studies in Sweden. The permit must be ready before you travel to Sweden.
The following requirements apply for residence permits for studies in higher education:
To get a permit, you must
- have a valid passport
- have been admitted to full-time studies in a program or courses that require your attendance at a higher education
- be able to support you during the time for which you are applying for a residence permit
- have paid any tuition fees before submitting the application
- have or have applied for, comprehensive health insurance.
STAGE 1. THE APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT
We tried to thoroughly analyze the application for a resident permit for you to understand the scope of information and documents needed for the registration.
Go to this link in order to apply for a residence permit for studies in higher education.
The application process consists of 6 steps which include: type of application; applicant; co-applicant; co-applying children; other information; review/overview.
We mostly focus on technical issues that may create a hindrance while applying. Please keep in mind that after finishing filling in each page of the application press to save in the section named “Continue at another time”, otherwise all the information filled in may be deleted in case of any technical errors.
1. Type of Application section includes only one question as to whether you want to apply for a first permit for studies in Sweden or you want to extend an existing permit.
2. Personal information
3. Contact information
As you already started this application, your email was registered with the Swedish Migration Agency. They will contact you using your email address in case of any questions regarding the application.
It is advisable to fill in optional sections as well.
4. Travel Document
Do not forget to attach a copy of your valid passport. It is important that the copy is clear and that it contains all the information that is needed to process your case.
5. Contact with Swedish mission abroad
You may choose the relevant Swedish mission abroad for the collection of a decision and/or a residence permit card. Before collecting a decision and/or a residence permit card, your biometrics should be captured in the relevant Embassy or Consulate.
For more information about capturing biometrics please read “STAGE 2” below.
6. Previous visa, resident permit and visiting any Schengen country
| 1 | Have you previously applied for a visa, residence permit or work permit in Sweden? | No |
Yes --->
If possible, enter a previous reference number from the Swedish Migration Agency. |
| 2 | Do you have a residence permit in any country other than your home country? | No |
Yes --->
Add valid residence permits in other countries. |
| 3 | Have you visited any country in Schengen other than Sweden in the past year? | No |
Yes --->
Add information about visits to Sweden or to other Schengen countries in the past year. |
| 4 | Are you in Sweden? | No | Yes |
7. Application period
In this section, you should enter the period that you want to apply for a residence permit for studies for.
The period of a residence permit for studies varies depending on the education. Read more about the residence permit validity period on the Swedish Migration Agency’s website.
You may also clarify the period of a residence permit for your studies with the university where you are admitted.
8. Planned studies in Sweden / Educations
The following questions should be answered in this section:
– Have you paid the tuition fee for your education in Sweden?
– How many higher education credits are in your course or program?
Unpaid tuition fees affect the decision on a residence permit
To be considered finally admitted to studies, you must have paid at least the fee for the entire first semester. If you are not finally accepted, you do not meet the requirements for a residence permit for studies in Sweden.
Do not forget to attach an acceptance letter.
9. Contact Person
Contact information for the educational institution will be reflected automatically. It is advisable to fill in optional sections as a contact person at the educational institution as well.
10. Intention to study and current position
| 1 | Describe why you have chosen these studies (state the benefit you expect to gain from the studies) | write a short letter of intent of 1000 characters |
| 2 | Enter your current employment or current studies | write a short description of 1000 characters |
11. Previous education
Add any information about your previous education. As a type of education state the name of the course/programme, field of study, if applicable, the number of credits (ECTS) that it corresponds to.
12. Scholarship
Do you have a scholarship?
If you are employed as a PhD student with a salary funded by a scholarship, you should choose the option “No”, since your compensation will then be paid through salary and not scholarship.
Is the scholarship intended for your living expenses, your tuition fees or both?
Choose the relevant scholarship from the list in the application.
13. Documentation of financial assets
Read the instruction in the screenshot thoroughly.
Do not forget to attach the proof of financial assets after selecting the relevant access.
Enter the currency that applies to the document you are attaching.
The Migration Agency uses the xe.com service for currency conversion when handling the case.
| Own bank assets |
Documentation of bank assets
The assets must be in an account that belongs only to you or that is common to you and your spouse that is applying at the same time as you. Locked assets, i.e. bank funds deposited into an account for a specified period of time, cannot be a basis for supply if they will be frozen during the requested period. Credits, funds or shares cannot be included in the supply base. |
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Bank Certificate Requirements:
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| Income from employment |
Enter the income you will as from your salary each month.
Attach a certificate of employment. Please note that a certificate of employment is required. An employment offer does not suffice as a basis for your livelihood. |
| Sponsor |
You should clarify whether the money is paid monthly or at one time.
An education institute and other educational organizers can be sponsors. It can also be well-established companies and organizations. The sponsor should host your stay in Sweden. The sponsor letter must show that your sponsor undertakes to provide for your livelihood. |
| Scholarship | Scholarship donors can be government, educational institutions, organizations, a foundation or a company. |
You should clarify whether the money is paid monthly or at one time. The scholarship should state:
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| Study grant from your own home country | Here you can provide information on state- or state-guaranteed student support from your own country. If the money has already been transferred to your account, you should register the amount under the category "own bank assets". |
14. Financial assets
| 1 | Will the organiser of your education or an organisation working for international exchange be responsible for the cost of your food during your stay in Sweden? | No |
Yes --->
Attach a certificate of free food. |
| 2 | Will the organiser of your education or an organisation working for international exchange be responsible for the cost of your accommodation during your stay in Sweden? | No |
Yes --->
Attach a certificate of free accommodation. |
15. Co-applicant and co-applying children
| Do you have a spouse, cohabiting partner or registered partner who is applying at the same time as you? | No |
Yes --->
The co-applicant is my:
|
16. Review/overview
You can download the application in PDF format. Before sending the application check all the information thoroughly and do not forget to attach the relevant documents.
After processing your application the Swedish Migration Agency may need additional information from you. Check your email regularly in order to be able to provide additional information at the relevant time.
STAGE 2. TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND FINGERPRINTS
If you have not attended the Swedish embassy (mission abroad) to have your photograph and fingerprints taken, your card needs to be produced. You are kindly asked to attend the Swedish embassy that you have noted in your application as soon as possible to have your photograph and fingerprints taken. If you are registered at an address in Sweden your card will be sent to that address.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
For Azerbaijani students residing in Azerbaijan, it is advisable to note the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul as a Swedish mission abroad.
It is not necessary to book an appointment in order to pick up your residence permit card or give biometrics. You may visit the Consulate between 09.00 – 10.00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Make sure to bring your valid passport with you.
We strongly advise you to check this information with the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul via email at generalkonsulat.istanbul-visum-ebooking@gov.se.
Migration & Visa Section of the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul
İstiklal Caddesi, No: 247, Beyoğlu / Istanbul
Telephone: +90-212-3340606 (14.00-16.00)
STAGE 3. PICKING UP THE RESIDENCE PERMIT CARD
As soon as the residence permit card is ready and sent to the Swedish embassy (mission abroad) noted by you in the application, you will be emailed by the embassy to pick up the residence permit card.
If there is no news in 3 weeks after having photographs and fingerprints, we advise you to contact the Swedish embassy (mission abroad) noted by you in the application.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Azerbaijani students (applicant) residing in Azerbaijan may refer the pick up of the residence permit card to another person by giving him/her the power of attorney while being in the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul or it may be picked up by any person on the basis of applicant’s passport.
If you have submitted an online application on the Swedish Migration Agency website for a residence permit, you may schedule an appointment after the Swedish Migration Agency has asked you to do so. To book an appointment to submit a residence permit application or for interviews; please fill the form in full “Book an appointment”.
We strongly advise you to check this information with the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul via email at generalkonsulat.istanbul-visum-ebooking@gov.se or physically during taking photographs and fingerprints.
