Immigration - Sweden

Immigration to Sweden

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U.S. Citizens: All students studying at Lund University must apply for, and obtain, a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd).

EU/EEA Citizens: EU/EEA citizens, including dual citizens, may not be required to obtain a residence permit (uppehållstillstånd).
Non-US/EU Citizens: You may also need a visa to enter Sweden (which is in the Schengen Area). The application can take up to 2 months.
  • Check to see if you need a visa here: List of Foreign Citizens Who Require Visa for Entry to Sweden.
  • If you need a visa: You will submit the residence permit application as instructed below. However, you must travel to Washington DC to have your biometrics appointment PRIOR to going to Sweden. Please contact the Swedish Embassy for more information.
  • If your flight to Sweden lands in Denmark (ex: Copenhagen): You must also contact the Danish Consulate in New York to determine if you require a transit visa. (Call 212-223-4545 or email nycgkl@um.dk). If needed, plan your timing carefully because both the Swedish Embassy and Danish Consulate will need your passport in order to issue their respective visas.
DACA Students: Should consult an immigration attorney to evaluate the risks of potentially being unable to re-enter the United States and any impact that participation in study abroad might have on any deferred action applications.

When should I apply?

Prepare all of your documents NOW so that you are ready to apply immediately after receiving your acceptance letter from Lund University (very early June). The approval process can take several months and the Fall program starts in mid-August. Students who delay in applying may not receive their residence permit on time. You must have applied for AND been granted a Residence Permit BEFORE you leave for Sweden.

How much money do I need?

See the LU Swedish Residence Permit Guide to determine the exact minimum amount required for your term abroad. As of Feb 2020, LU confirmed students need SEK 41,850 per semester (5 months). This is approximately US $4,600 per semester. (If you are staying for a partial month, you should round up to determine the number of months you will need to use for evidence of funds.)

If you do not have these funds now: The easiest solution for many students is to have their parents transfer money into the student’s bank account (not into a joint/shared account; see below). Then, you can print a statement showing that your bank account holds the required funds. Please let Malin know asap if that is not an option. In that case, you may need to complete your application using a combination of funding sources, or take out a private loan. 

What documentation do I need?

You need the following electronic documents when you apply:

  • Passport scans: Good quality scans of the pages in your passports showing your biographical data and the expiration dates. All Pages with stamps or visas should be scanned. Passports need to be signed and must be valid until 6+ months after the date of departure from Sweden. 
  • Letter of Acceptance from Lund University: You will receive this via email after you are accepted. This letter will show you have been admitted to full-time studies at Lund University.
  • Evidence of Funds: You must attach a letter from your bank, a bank statement, and/or a letter from the Office of Financial Aid to show the Swedish government that you have funds to support yourself during your time in Sweden. We have created samples of these documents, and reminders about their requirements here: Swedish Residence Permit - Funds Documentation Guidelines. Make sure you read these samples carefully and bring them with you when requesting documents from your bank or the Office of Financial Aid. The Swedish Migration Agency is very picky about the documents and wording used within them. 
  • Evidence of Health Insurance: Note that you are required to show proof of health insurance on your residence permit application. This proof is included in your LU acceptance letter; you do not need to provide additional paperwork for this item. Students have Swedish State Insurance for Foreign Students in Sweden (FAS+) coverage, which covers you in Sweden during your program dates. Note: Per DU policies, if you are traveling outside of Sweden or your program dates, you are required to have coverage there, as well. 
  • Letter of Immigration Support from DU: Upload the letter on DU letterhead signed by your OIE advisor. You will find this in the Attached Documents section of your DU Passport account after your regional orientation session has passed. You will attach this letter to prove that DU guarantees your LU housing and tuition costs.

How do I apply?

Instructions for this process created by Lund University can be found here: Immigration - Sweden - LU Guide 2020 Make sure to download the guide and follow all instructions in this guide.

Create an SMA Account
Apply Online
  • To open the electronic application, go to Residence Permit for Studies in Sweden. Use the username and temporary password sent to your email.
  • Update your password.
  • Complete the application (including your online payment).
Sample Answers
Note that the sample answers below will not apply to all students and are merely here to serve as a guide. The OIE cannot provide legal advice; the Swedish Migration Agency is the ultimate authority on this topic and is quite responsive. It is your responsibility to ensure you complete your immigration paperwork properly and obtain the proper immigration status. Baiba is a great resource if you have specific questions about your immigration application.
  • Is this a new application or do you want to extend an existing permit? New Application
  • Personal Information: Enter your personal information.
    • Surname is your last/family name.
    • Your nationality should match the passport you will travel on.
  • Contact Information: Enter your contact information (in Denver).
  • Contact with Swedish Mission Abroad: I wish to have contact with/collect my decision from the Swedish mission abroad in: Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC
  • Travel Document: Enter information about the passport you will travel on.
  • Residence permit and visits in other countries: 
    • Note whether you have a residence permit in a country other than your country of origin. 
    • Note whether you have traveled to any Schengen state during the last year.
  • Application Period: Enter the start and end dates listed on your letter of acceptance from LU.
  • Planned Studies in Sweden: 
    • I am applying as: University/college student
    • Add admission
      • Application Number: Leave this field blank
      • No, not distance education
      • No, you have not paid your tuition fee
        • Reason: Exchange student
      • 30 ECTS credits
      • University: Lund University
      • Postal Code: SE-22100
  • Reason for Studies in Sweden: "I will study at Lund University for the period above through the exchange program offered by my home university, the University of Denver (USA) in partnership with Lund University." All students, including those on the Foundational, 3+1+1, Exchange, and Malmo programs can use this wording.
  • Scholarship: None
  • Further Information: NA
  • Present employment or studies: "I am currently a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Denver, USA."
  • Previous education & work experience: Leave blank
  • Co-applicant: Usually, you not have a co-applicant
  • Documentation of available financial assets: 
    • Under Own Bank Assets, list the amount (usually in USD) on your bank statement.
    • Exchange Rate: You will need to enter the current exchange rate in your online residence permit application form. You can find this by going to the site referenced in the form: xe.com/ucc/full. There, convert USD to SEK; the number does not matter. Look for the "1 USD = XXXXX SEK" text that appears -- this is the number you will need to copy and paste into your residence permit application under Rate. Once you do this, the residence permit application will auto-convert your USD (US dollars) to SEK (Swedish krona).
    • Free Accommodation: Be sure you mark this box. You will upload your letter of support from DU to show that your housing in Sweden is guaranteed.
  • Specify the validity of health insurance: Use the dates listed on your letter of acceptance from LU.
  • Check your information and save the PDF. (This PDF is very helpful if your application gets rejected, as it gives your original answers and application data.)
  • Attach documents (see list above).
    • Proof of admittance to a university: Letter of acceptance from LU
    • Proof of health insurance: Letter of acceptance from LU
    • Proof of free accommodation: Letter of support from DU
    • Proof of funds: Bank statement, bank letter, and/or financial aid letter
    • Passport scans: Scan of passport info page (signed) and any pages with stamps (all in one document)
  • Submit Payment.

Request Decision by Mail

You will receive an email notifying you that your application has been processed and a decision has been made. There are additional steps after you receive an email from the Swedish Migration Agency. 
  • Contact the Swedish Embassy: You will need to contact the Swedish Embassy in DC to get the actual results of the decision mailed to you once you receive the email stating a decision has been made.
    • See the Embassy's Contact Us page.
    • We recommend you send an email (ambassaden.washington-visum@gov.se) AND call. Just emailing is allowed, but be sure to call if you do not hear back within a week or so.
    • When you call, make sure you are dialing the Washington DC Embassy at their visa line (202-467-2694) during their visa hours (subject to change, but currently Mondays and Thursdays between 11 am - 12 pm Eastern time—that’s 9-10 am Denver time).
    • If you dial the Embassy's general line (202- 467-2600), you will hear a recorded message telling you to call the visa line if you have visa questions.
    • The visa line is very busy so it can take many calls to get through. It takes some perseverance but we've never had a student not be able to eventually get through.
  • Request your decision via mail: When you reach the Embassy, request that they send the decision to you via mail. They will likely send it via email.
If your decision notes that your application was rejected, please contact Baiba AND Malin immediately. You will need additional paperwork from them for your appeal.

Bring Decision Letter in Your Carry-On

  • Print the decision email and bring it with you in your carry-on when you travel to Sweden.
  • You will show this letter to the Swedish immigration officials when you enter the country.

Get the Residence Permit Card (in Sweden)

  • Get Fingerprints: After you arrive in Sweden, you'll meet with Baiba during orientation. She'll provide instructions on how to visit the local immigration office in nearby Malmö to have your fingerprints taken as the final step of your application. You'll need to schedule this appointment as soon as possible. Appointments can fill up quickly. 
  • Get your Residence Permit Card: Your residence card will then be mailed to your local address in Lund. You won't be allowed to travel outside Sweden until you have your official residence permit card.