We all know this country as the capital of infamous start-ups such as Spotify, beautiful nature, powerful music industry. Yes, you got it right! Today we are taking a trip to a Scandinavian paradise, to Sweden! The country shares borders with Norway to the west and north, with Finland on the eastern side and Denmark to the southwest through a strait bridge-tunnel very close to Malmo city. Surprisingly enough, Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe and the European Union's third-largest country. Sweden is a dream destination for every traveller, with its rich history and diverse scenery. From magnificent castles and historical cities to colourful northern lights, Sweden's diverse tourism attractions never fail to impress its visitors.
Now that we made it hundred per cent sure that there is no way you might miss visiting Sweden on your next trip, there is one more detail that we should take care of, visa. We all know that sometimes the whole visa process can be a little bit too overwhelming especially considering the time and energy the whole trip planning consumes. But you do not have to worry about it at all, as, in this blog, we will try to guide you through this complex process, and our main focus will be long-term residence in Sweden. The questions like “What is a residency status?” and “how much is Sweden visa fee?” will be answered and we will also break down the Sweden visa application process.
A residency permit is required if you wish to migrate to Sweden. Immigration, visas, permits, and citizenship applications are all handled by Sweden's Migration Agency. In case you did not know, you have the right to work in Sweden without permission if you are an EU citizen. However, you also have the right to seek employment in Sweden as a non-EU citizen. As long as you have a right of residence in Sweden, your family is welcome to join you. And in this part of our article, we will mainly focus on the long-term visas and types of residency programs. But what is a residency status? Usually, if you spend more than six months in any given year in a country, you are considered a resident. However, this is not always the case, and if you have any concerns about your residence status, you should always seek professional counsel. To be awarded long-term resident status, you must have lived in an EU nation with a valid residence visa for at least five years.
There are in general three types of residence types, permanent residence permit, locally also known as permanent uppehallstillstand, temporary residence permit, which in Swedish is uppehallstillstand and last but not least, permanent residence card for family member of a European Union citizen, locally also known as uppehallskort.
As previously mentioned, EU nationals will be given permanent residency after five years of continuous residence in Sweden. However, it also worth mentioning the fact that there are some conditions that people who want to get permanent residency must meet. Firstly, they had to have resided in Sweden for at least five years as the most important rule. They needed to hold a valid residency permit for at least five years. And also, these non-EU citizens have to be able to provide basic life needs for themselves and their family members.
In order to be eligible for a permanent uppehallstillstand, you must have been granted a residence visa with the intention of living and working in Sweden for a short period of time. Unfortunately, you will not be eligible for permanent residency if you came to Sweden as a student or as a temporary worker. Alongside the application form that needs to be filled out in Swedish, a copy of a valid travel document, as well as documentation demonstrating how you have supported yourself and your family over the last five years, such as certificates of work, are required. It is important to remember that permanent residency does not imply citizenship. Your permanent residency will be cancelled if you leave Sweden for an extended length of time. Depending on your permission, this period might last anywhere from two to six years.
Meanwhile, the temporary residence permit is the second residence type in Sweden, which is also known as uppehallstillstand. When you have a permanent residence permit, you can travel in and out of the country, but you must have a valid passport to leave Sweden and your resident permit card in order to be able to return. If you hold a permanent residence permit, you can leave Sweden for up to a year without losing your residency. A temporary residency permit, also known as a tidsbegränsat uppehllstillstnd, enables you to live and work in Sweden for a specific amount of time which in most cases is up to two years. However, if you wish to stay in Sweden for a longer amount of time, you will need to submit a second application before your existing permission expires. If you have left Sweden and your residence permit is no longer valid, you will need to apply for a new one before returning. You must apply from your home country and have your permission in place before travelling to Sweden.
The quickest and most convenient method to apply for a residence permit is to do it online. Through the online submission, the Swedish Migration Agency will receive your application directly. However, if you are unable to apply online, please have your Swedish relatives or family members residing in Sweden fill out the electronic application form, attach copies of papers, and pay any application fees on your behalf.
However, before applying for a residence permit, you need to have a visa designed specifically for your visit's purpose. The whole Sweden visa application starts with your Swedish employer beginning the work permit application by submitting a job offer in the first place. Your company will require information such as your name, date of birth, citizenship, education, and e-mail address, which will be used by the Swedish Migration Agency to contact you during the application process. You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to apply for a work visa after your employer has finalized an offer of employment.
But what are the requirements for Sweden visa when you are travelling for employment purposes? The applicant must complete the application form in English or Swedish and sign and date it. It is also necessary to have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the return date. An original Letter of Employment from the Applicant's Swedish Employer and Work Permit Letter from Swedish Authorities, which should be valid for no more than 60 days from the date of issue, are two of the other very important documents for a Sweden visa for employment.
How to get Sweden visa? Usually, a Sweden Employment visa takes 10-60 days to complete on average. Even though processing time might vary slightly, and it is solely dependent on the homeland from which you are applying for a visa. But how much is the Sweden visa fee? For foreign nationals, the fee for a Swedish Employment Visa, also known as a residence permit, costs 2000 Swedish crones. The charge may differ based on your nationality or the country where you submit your application.
The second most commonly applied long-term visa, which you need to enter Sweden and then obtain a residence permit, is a Swedish study visa. But before you apply for a visa, you must be accepted into a full-time approved Swedish university program and have paid your first tuition price. If you want to stay in Sweden for longer than a year, you must usually register with the Swedish Population Register. Ascertain that your residency permit is valid for at least a year.
And finally, the third type of residence is a permanent residence for a family member of a European Union citizen. If your family members want to stay in Sweden for longer than three months and your family members are not EU/EEA citizens, they should apply for residence cards at the Swedish Migration Agency. Your family members must have valid passports and be able to prove that you are a family in order to acquire a residency card. If your family need Swedish visas in order to travel here, they have a right to apply for them. They can apply for residency cards after they have landed in Sweden. Visa applications are sent to the Swedish embassy or consulate general in their home country. Each family member, including children, who is not an EU/EEA citizen, must submit their own application. If you meet the residency criteria, your immediate family members have the right to work or study in Sweden immediately after arriving. They are not required to wait until they have applied for and received a residence card before they begin working or studying. Close family members are defined as a spouse, wife, cohabiting partner, and children under the age of 21.
