Visa Information

Overview

Every customer, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online.

For Non-EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out. Please note that holders of UK Travel Documents issued under the directives of United Nations Convention 28 July 1951(blue covered travel document) and Convention 28 Sept 1954( red covered travel document) will need a visa to enter Sweden.

Customer who intend to travel purely for tourist purposes, i.e. visiting for leisure, recreation or sightseeing, and provide for their own accommodation (hotel, hostel, B&B, camping, …) need to apply as Tourist.

Eligibility

Customer must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case applicant holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then customer may apply for a Schengen visa as long as the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country more than 6 months ago
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

Visa Fees

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Applicable visa fee, in Pound Sterling (£), is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to change without notice.

VFS service fee of 20 EURO (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.

All fees can be paid by cash (except in Edinburgh), Credit/Debit card.

Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.

All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents if requested by Sweden Migration Agency.

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and it is mandatory to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

For Minors, please click here. Note, minors must provide documents both for the category they are applying for (sports, family visit etcetera) and for minors category.

A. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Original Passport

   Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.

   Extended passport may still be valid, but a passport older than 10 years, i.e. date of issuance is more than 10 years back, on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable; in that case customer first needs to apply for a new passport.

2. UK Residence permit

   UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is only acceptable, if the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country and resides consecutively more than 6 months in the UK.

B. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Proof of current occupation

a. Employer letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter references from your employer, which must include company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, position and salary of the employment should also be indicated. In addition, you must include your last three payslips

b. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, UK school/college/university letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers enrolment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record)

c. Self- employment letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers self-employment) and obtained from (if applicable): The letter must also state the annual salary drawn from the company.

i. customers accountant: when customers company’s accountancy is done by an external/independent accountant

ii. solicitor: when customers company has been registered by a solicitor.

iii. bank manager: when customers company has a business bank account.

iv. Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering business: if customers name is not mentioned on certificate, then additional proof demonstrating connection customer – company should be provided.

d. Unemployed/retired

1. Receiving Benefits: recent original letter obtained from local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
2. Housewife/man (only applicable to spouses/partners): customers may be sponsored by their spouse/registered partner; in these cases the following needs to be provided:

a. Marriage certificate (original + copy): when this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, then it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.

b. spouse/registered partner’s passport (copy)

c. spouse/registered partner’s proof of occupation (as in B.1.a, b or c)

d. spouse/registered partner’s proof of funds

e. spouse/registered partner’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship

2. Proof of funds

a. Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing applicant’s name, address and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date; balance needs to show a minimum amount of £ 40.00./day of stay in the Schengen Area + outstanding accommodation and travel fees.

b. Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.

c. Credit card(s) and credit card statement showing the cardholder’s name and address. The statement must obtain information of the monthly limit or the sending cap.

3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)

a. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning customers name and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area. Please note: Flight tickets to be issued from airlines company only and not from the travel agencies.

b. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If the customer is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with customer and travel dates need to be provided too.

4. Proof of accommodation

   Confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) reservation mentioning customers name, travel dates and accommodation address details.

   If the customers name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.

   When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket.

5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)

   The travel insurance – clearly showing the customers name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included) must be at least 30.000 €.

To see how your data is processed by the Sweden Migration Agency please click here.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the customer wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and the customer will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every customer can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

Information for applicants with Gambian Passport:

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Information for applicants with Russian Passport:

As per the COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/333 holders of Russian diplomatic passport need a visa to enter the EU. The general procedure time (15 days) applies to holders of Russian diplomatic passport and Russian business people and representatives of business organisations.

General processing information:

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, customers are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Sweden Migration Agency to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the responsible Sweden Migration Agency requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Customers also need to be aware that, especially during the busy season around Easter, the summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, the handling time might be affected.

Furthermore, customers need to consider that VFS/Swedish Migration Agency closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore, VFS recommends all customers:

1. Submit their application at the earliest so that they can get an appointment at VFS centre
2. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Sweden Migration Agency’s requirements
3. to leave enough processing time for the Sweden Migration Agency

Customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh need to calculate 2 extradays to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to Sweden Migration Agency- Stockholm the following day.

The Sweden Migration Agency may always request additional information/documents or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which customers accept the responsibility for, this is in accordance to the Visa code.

Download Forms

For Sweden every customer needs to

1. Your Sweden application should be submitted using the Sweden e-application portal.
2. Please ensure that you upload all mandatory supporting documents on your visa application.
3. You will be requested to download, sign, and re-upload the visa application form after successful verification of your application on the Sweden E-application portal.
4. Please note that the responsibility to upload the correct, and a good-quality scan for the requested document is on the customer.
5. You will have to arrive at the centre on your date of appointment with your passport/travel document to submit your biometrics.

Invitation form if staying with someone in Sweden:

If you are hosted by a person in Sweden, the inviter must fill in the Invitation form and sign in section 9 of the form.

The inviting person’s passport copy or Swedish ID, to be provided. If the host is a non-EU citizen, then this information must also be provided with the form.

If the host is supporting the customer while in Sweden, then 3 months wage slips and 3 months bank statement are required from the host.

Please click here to download the form.

Overview

Every customer, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online.

For Non-EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out. Please note that holders of UK Travel Documents issued under the directives of United Nations Convention 28 July 1951(blue covered travel document) and Convention 28 Sept 1954( red covered travel document) will need a visa to enter Sweden.

Customer who intend to travel purely for tourist purposes, i.e. visiting for leisure, recreation or sightseeing, and provide for their own accommodation (hotel, hostel, B&B, camping, …) need to apply as Tourist.

Eligibility

Customer must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case applicant holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then customer may apply for a Schengen visa as long as the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country more than 6 months ago
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

Visa Fees

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Applicable visa fee, in Pound Sterling (£), is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to change without notice.

VFS service fee of 20 EURO (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.

All fees can be paid by cash (except in Edinburgh), Credit/Debit card.

Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.

All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents if requested by Sweden Migration Agency.

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and it is mandatory to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

For Minors, please click here. Note, minors must provide documents both for the category they are applying for (sports, family visit etcetera) and for minors category.

A. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Original Passport

   Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.

   Extended passport may still be valid, but a passport older than 10 years, i.e. date of issuance is more than 10 years back, on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable; in that case customer first needs to apply for a new passport.

2. UK Residence permit

   UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is only acceptable, if the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country and resides consecutively more than 6 months in the UK.

B. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Proof of current occupation

a. Employer letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter references from your employer, which must include company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, position and salary of the employment should also be indicated. In addition, you must include your last three payslips

b. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, UK school/college/university letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers enrolment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record)

c. Self- employment letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers self-employment) and obtained from (if applicable): The letter must also state the annual salary drawn from the company.

i. customers accountant: when customers company’s accountancy is done by an external/independent accountant

ii. solicitor: when customers company has been registered by a solicitor.

iii. bank manager: when customers company has a business bank account.

iv. Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering business: if customers name is not mentioned on certificate, then additional proof demonstrating connection customer – company should be provided.

d. Unemployed/retired

1. Receiving Benefits: recent original letter obtained from local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
2. Housewife/man (only applicable to spouses/partners): customers may be sponsored by their spouse/registered partner; in these cases the following needs to be provided:

a. Marriage certificate (original + copy): when this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, then it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.

b. spouse/registered partner’s passport (copy)

c. spouse/registered partner’s proof of occupation (as in B.1.a, b or c)

d. spouse/registered partner’s proof of funds

e. spouse/registered partner’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship

2. Proof of funds

a. Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing applicant’s name, address and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date; balance needs to show a minimum amount of £ 40.00./day of stay in the Schengen Area + outstanding accommodation and travel fees.

b. Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.

c. Credit card(s) and credit card statement showing the cardholder’s name and address. The statement must obtain information of the monthly limit or the sending cap.

3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)

a. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning customers name and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area. Please note: Flight tickets to be issued from airlines company only and not from the travel agencies.

b. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If the customer is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with customer and travel dates need to be provided too.

4. Proof of accommodation

   Confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) reservation mentioning customers name, travel dates and accommodation address details.

   If the customers name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.

   When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket.

5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)

   The travel insurance – clearly showing the customers name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included) must be at least 30.000 €.

To see how your data is processed by the Sweden Migration Agency please click here.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the customer wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and the customer will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every customer can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

Information for applicants with Gambian Passport:

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Information for applicants with Russian Passport:

As per the COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/333 holders of Russian diplomatic passport need a visa to enter the EU. The general procedure time (15 days) applies to holders of Russian diplomatic passport and Russian business people and representatives of business organisations.

General processing information:

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, customers are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Sweden Migration Agency to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the responsible Sweden Migration Agency requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Customers also need to be aware that, especially during the busy season around Easter, the summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, the handling time might be affected.

Furthermore, customers need to consider that VFS/Swedish Migration Agency closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore, VFS recommends all customers:

1. Submit their application at the earliest so that they can get an appointment at VFS centre
2. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Sweden Migration Agency’s requirements
3. to leave enough processing time for the Sweden Migration Agency

Customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh need to calculate 2 extradays to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to Sweden Migration Agency- Stockholm the following day.

The Sweden Migration Agency may always request additional information/documents or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which customers accept the responsibility for, this is in accordance to the Visa code.

Download Forms

For Sweden every customer needs to

1. Your Sweden application should be submitted using the Sweden e-application portal.
2. Please ensure that you upload all mandatory supporting documents on your visa application.
3. You will be requested to download, sign, and re-upload the visa application form after successful verification of your application on the Sweden E-application portal.
4. Please note that the responsibility to upload the correct, and a good-quality scan for the requested document is on the customer.
5. You will have to arrive at the centre on your date of appointment with your passport/travel document to submit your biometrics.

Invitation form if staying with someone in Sweden:

If you are hosted by a person in Sweden, the inviter must fill in the Invitation form and sign in section 9 of the form.

The inviting person’s passport copy or Swedish ID, to be provided. If the host is a non-EU citizen, then this information must also be provided with the form.

If the host is supporting the customer while in Sweden, then 3 months wage slips and 3 months bank statement are required from the host.

Please click here to download the form.

Overview

Every Customer, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the Customer.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out. Please note that holders of UK Travel Documents issued under the directives of United Nations Convention 28 July 1951(blue covered travel document) and Convention 28 Sept 1954( red covered travel document) will need a visa to enter Sweden.

Customers, who intend to travel for business purposes, i.e. visiting a business/company to have meetings, to make business deals, to recruit, to train or other work related activities can apply as Business.

Every Business visa application has to be confirmed by an invitation letter from a business/company based in Sweden, if not, Customer will need to apply as Tourist.

In regards to conference/seminar/workshop the following Customers can also apply for a Business visa:

1. Customers-employees going to attend a conference/seminar/workshop organised by their company or another company directly related to their company
2. Customers-employees going to be actively involved in a conference/seminar/workshop
3. Students going to attend a conference/seminar/workshop related to their studies

Employer letter needs to confirm clearly the purpose of attending the conference/seminar/workshop, if not, Customer will need to apply as Tourist.

Eligibility

Customer must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case Customer holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then Customer may apply for a Schengen visa as long as the Customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country more than 6 months ago
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

Visa Fees

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Applicable visa fee, in Pound Sterling (£), is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to change without notice.

VFS service fee of 20 EURO (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.

All fees can be paid by cash (except in Edinburgh), Credit/Debit card.

Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.

All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents if requested by Sweden Migration Agency.

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and it is mandatory to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

For Minors, please click here. Note, minors must provide documents both for the category they are applying for (sports, family visit etcetera) and for minors category.

A. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Original Passport

   Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.

   Extended passport may still be valid, but a passport older than 10 years, i.e. date of issuance is more than 10 years back, on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable; in that case customer first needs to apply for a new passport.

2. UK Residence permit

   UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is only acceptable, if the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country and resides consecutively more than 6 months in the UK.

B. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Proof of current occupation

a. Employer letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter references from your employer, which must include company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, position and salary of the employment should also be indicated. In addition, you must include your last three payslips

b. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, UK school/college/university letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers enrolment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record)

c. Self- employment letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers self-employment) and obtained from (if applicable): The letter must also state the annual salary drawn from the company.

i. customers accountant: when customers company’s accountancy is done by an external/independent accountant

ii. solicitor: when customers company has been registered by a solicitor.

iii. bank manager: when customers company has a business bank account.

iv. Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering business: if customers name is not mentioned on certificate, then additional proof demonstrating connection customer – company should be provided.

d. Unemployed/retired

1. Receiving Benefits: recent original letter obtained from local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
2. Housewife/man (only applicable to spouses/partners): customers may be sponsored by their spouse/registered partner; in these cases the following needs to be provided:

a. Marriage certificate (original + copy): when this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, then it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.

b. spouse/registered partner’s passport (copy)

c. spouse/registered partner’s proof of occupation (as in B.1.a, b or c)

d. spouse/registered partner’s proof of funds

e. spouse/registered partner’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship

2. Proof of funds

a. Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing applicant’s name, address and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date; balance needs to show a minimum amount of £ 40.00./day of stay in the Schengen Area + outstanding accommodation and travel fees.

b. Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.

c. Credit card(s) and credit card statement showing the cardholder’s name and address. The statement must obtain information of the monthly limit or the sending cap.

3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)

a. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning customers name and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area. Please note: Flight tickets to be issued from airlines company only and not from the travel agencies.

b. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If the customer is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with customer and travel dates need to be provided too.

4. Proof of accommodation

   Confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) reservation mentioning customers name, travel dates and accommodation address details.

   If the customers name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.

   When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket.

5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)

   The travel insurance – clearly showing the customers name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included) must be at least 30.000 €.

To see how your data is processed by the Sweden Migration Agency please click here.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the customer wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and the customer will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every customer can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

Information for applicants with Gambian Passport:

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Information for applicants with Russian Passport:

As per the COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/333 holders of Russian diplomatic passport need a visa to enter the EU. The general procedure time (15 days) applies to holders of Russian diplomatic passport and Russian business people and representatives of business organisations.

General processing information:

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, customers are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Sweden Migration Agency to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the responsible Sweden Migration Agency requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Customers also need to be aware that, especially during the busy season around Easter, the summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, the handling time might be affected.

Furthermore, customers need to consider that VFS/Swedish Migration Agency closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore, VFS recommends all customers:

1. Submit their application at the earliest so that they can get an appointment at VFS centre
2. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Sweden Migration Agency’s requirements
3. to leave enough processing time for the Sweden Migration Agency

Customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh need to calculate 2 extradays to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to Sweden Migration Agency- Stockholm the following day.

The Sweden Migration Agency may always request additional information/documents or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which customers accept the responsibility for, this is in accordance to the Visa code.

Download Forms

For Sweden every customer needs to

1. Your Sweden application should be submitted using the Sweden e-application portal.
2. Please ensure that you upload all mandatory supporting documents on your visa application.
3. You will be requested to download, sign, and re-upload the visa application form after successful verification of your application on the Sweden E-application portal.
4. Please note that the responsibility to upload the correct, and a good-quality scan for the requested document is on the customer.
5. You will have to arrive at the centre on your date of appointment with your passport/travel document to submit your biometrics.

Invitation form if staying with someone in Sweden:

If you are hosted by a person in Sweden, the inviter must fill in the Invitation form and sign in section 9 of the form.

The inviting person’s passport copy or Swedish ID, to be provided. If the host is a non-EU citizen, then this information must also be provided with the form.

If the host is supporting the customer while in Sweden, then 3 months wage slips and 3 months bank statement are required from the host.

Please click here to download the form.

Overview

Every Customer, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the Customer.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out. Please note that holders of UK Travel Documents issued under the directives of United Nations Convention 28 July 1951(blue covered travel document) and Convention 28 Sept 1954( red covered travel document) will need a visa to enter Sweden.

Important Notice: Non-EU family members of EU citizens living in UK:

1. Holders of a Residence Permit based on a UK, EU/EEA national nad travelling with the UK, EU/EEA national or alone needs a visa. Full documentations according to the Visa Code required. Visa fee required. Please have a look under the Tourist or Visitor Family/Friends for the required documents.

Eligibility

Customer must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case Customer holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then Customer may apply for a Schengen visa as long as the Customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country more than 6 months ago
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

Visa Fees

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Applicable visa fee, in Pound Sterling (£), is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to change without notice.

VFS service fee of 20 EURO (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.

All fees can be paid by cash (except in Edinburgh), Credit/Debit card.

Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.

All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents if requested by Sweden Migration Agency

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and it is mandatory to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

For Minors, please click here. Note, minors must provide documents both for the category they are applying for (sports, family visit etcetera) and for minors category.

A. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Original Passport

   Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.

   Extended passport may still be valid, but a passport older than 10 years, i.e. date of issuance is more than 10 years back, on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable; in that case customer first needs to apply for a new passport.

2. UK Residence permit

   UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is only acceptable, if the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country and resides consecutively more than 6 months in the UK.

B. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Proof of current occupation

a. Employer letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter references from your employer, which must include company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, position and salary of the employment should also be indicated. In addition, you must include your last three payslips

b. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, UK school/college/university letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers enrolment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record)

c. Self- employment letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers self-employment) and obtained from (if applicable): The letter must also state the annual salary drawn from the company.

i. customers accountant: when customers company’s accountancy is done by an external/independent accountant

ii. solicitor: when customers company has been registered by a solicitor.

iii. bank manager: when customers company has a business bank account.

iv. Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering business: if customers name is not mentioned on certificate, then additional proof demonstrating connection customer – company should be provided.

d. Unemployed/retired

1. Receiving Benefits: recent original letter obtained from local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
2. Housewife/man (only applicable to spouses/partners): customers may be sponsored by their spouse/registered partner; in these cases the following needs to be provided:

a. Marriage certificate (original + copy): when this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, then it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.

b. spouse/registered partner’s passport (copy)

c. spouse/registered partner’s proof of occupation (as in B.1.a, b or c)

d. spouse/registered partner’s proof of funds

e. spouse/registered partner’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship

2. Proof of funds

a. Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing applicant’s name, address and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date; balance needs to show a minimum amount of £ 40.00./day of stay in the Schengen Area + outstanding accommodation and travel fees.

b. Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.

c. Credit card(s) and credit card statement showing the cardholder’s name and address. The statement must obtain information of the monthly limit or the sending cap.

3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)

a. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning customers name and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area. Please note: Flight tickets to be issued from airlines company only and not from the travel agencies.

b. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If the customer is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with customer and travel dates need to be provided too.

4. Proof of accommodation

   Confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) reservation mentioning customers name, travel dates and accommodation address details.

   If the customers name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.

   When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket.

5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)

   The travel insurance – clearly showing the customers name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included) must be at least 30.000 €.

To see how your data is processed by the Sweden Migration Agency please click here.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the customer wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and the customer will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every customer can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

Information for applicants with Gambian Passport:

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Information for applicants with Russian Passport:

As per the COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/333 holders of Russian diplomatic passport need a visa to enter the EU. The general procedure time (15 days) applies to holders of Russian diplomatic passport and Russian business people and representatives of business organisations.

General processing information:

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, customers are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Sweden Migration Agency to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the responsible Sweden Migration Agency requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Customers also need to be aware that, especially during the busy season around Easter, the summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, the handling time might be affected.

Furthermore, customers need to consider that VFS/Swedish Migration Agency closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore, VFS recommends all customers:

1. Submit their application at the earliest so that they can get an appointment at VFS centre
2. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Sweden Migration Agency’s requirements
3. to leave enough processing time for the Sweden Migration Agency

Customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh need to calculate 2 extradays to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to Sweden Migration Agency- Stockholm the following day.

The Sweden Migration Agency may always request additional information/documents or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which customers accept the responsibility for, this is in accordance to the Visa code.

Download Forms

For Sweden every customer needs to

1. Your Sweden application should be submitted using the Sweden e-application portal.
2. Please ensure that you upload all mandatory supporting documents on your visa application.
3. You will be requested to download, sign, and re-upload the visa application form after successful verification of your application on the Sweden E-application portal.
4. Please note that the responsibility to upload the correct, and a good-quality scan for the requested document is on the customer.
5. You will have to arrive at the centre on your date of appointment with your passport/travel document to submit your biometrics.

Invitation form if staying with someone in Sweden:

If you are hosted by a person in Sweden, the inviter must fill in the Invitation form and sign in section 9 of the form.

The inviting person’s passport copy or Swedish ID, to be provided. If the host is a non-EU citizen, then this information must also be provided with the form.

If the host is supporting the customer while in Sweden, then 3 months wage slips and 3 months bank statement are required from the host.

Please click here to download the form.

Overview

Every Customer, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the Customer.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out. Please note that holders of UK Travel Documents issued under the directives of United Nations Convention 28 July 1951(blue covered travel document) and Convention 28 Sept 1954( red covered travel document) will need a visa to enter Sweden.

Minors are Customers who haven’t reached the age of 18 years when submitting a Schengen visa application (Tourist, Visitor Family/Friends, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit).

Therefore each minor MUST provide the following additional documents:

1. Child’s unabridged/full birth certificate showing both biological parents their names
2. Written consent (signed and dated) of mother and father mentioned on the child’s birth certificate
3. Copy of both parents their passports’ Bio page and signature page, if signature is not on Bio page
4. In case the parents are divorced or one of the parents has deceased, then respectively the court order confirming one parent’s sole custody or the deceased parent’s death certificate.
5. In case a guardian has been appointed by the parents, then the guardianship letter and the guardian’s passport’s Bio page and signature page, if signature is not on Bio page

Due to European legislation regarding protection of children/minors, it has to be emphasised that Minors, who are not providing all the required documents, may not be granted a Schengen visa.

Applicable visa fee for minors varies in 3 age groups:

1. Minors under 6 years old: Gratis
2. Minors 6 years old but just not 12 years old: Reduced visa fee
3. Minors 12 years old and more: Full visa fee

Eligibility

Customer must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case Customer holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then Customer may apply for a Schengen visa as long as the Customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country more than 6 months ago
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

Visa Fees

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Applicable visa fee, in Pound Sterling (£), is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to change without notice.

VFS service fee of 20 EURO (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.

All fees can be paid by cash (except in Edinburgh), Credit/Debit card.

Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.

All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents if requested by Sweden Migration Agency

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and it is mandatory to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

For Minors, please click here. Note, minors must provide documents both for the category they are applying for (sports, family visit etcetera) and for minors category.

A. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Original Passport

   Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.

   Extended passport may still be valid, but a passport older than 10 years, i.e. date of issuance is more than 10 years back, on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable; in that case customer first needs to apply for a new passport.

2. UK Residence permit

   UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is only acceptable, if the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country and resides consecutively more than 6 months in the UK.

B. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Proof of current occupation

a. Employer letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter references from your employer, which must include company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, position and salary of the employment should also be indicated. In addition, you must include your last three payslips

b. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, UK school/college/university letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers enrolment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record)

c. Self- employment letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers self-employment) and obtained from (if applicable): The letter must also state the annual salary drawn from the company.

i. customers accountant: when customers company’s accountancy is done by an external/independent accountant

ii. solicitor: when customers company has been registered by a solicitor.

iii. bank manager: when customers company has a business bank account.

iv. Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering business: if customers name is not mentioned on certificate, then additional proof demonstrating connection customer – company should be provided.

d. Unemployed/retired

1. Receiving Benefits: recent original letter obtained from local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
2. Housewife/man (only applicable to spouses/partners): customers may be sponsored by their spouse/registered partner; in these cases the following needs to be provided:

a. Marriage certificate (original + copy): when this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, then it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.

b. spouse/registered partner’s passport (copy)

c. spouse/registered partner’s proof of occupation (as in B.1.a, b or c)

d. spouse/registered partner’s proof of funds

e. spouse/registered partner’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship

2. Proof of funds

a. Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing applicant’s name, address and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date; balance needs to show a minimum amount of £ 40.00./day of stay in the Schengen Area + outstanding accommodation and travel fees.

b. Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.

c. Credit card(s) and credit card statement showing the cardholder’s name and address. The statement must obtain information of the monthly limit or the sending cap.

3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)

a. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning customers name and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area. Please note: Flight tickets to be issued from airlines company only and not from the travel agencies.

b. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If the customer is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with customer and travel dates need to be provided too.

4. Proof of accommodation

   Confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) reservation mentioning customers name, travel dates and accommodation address details.

   If the customers name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.

   When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket.

5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)

   The travel insurance – clearly showing the customers name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included) must be at least 30.000 €.

To see how your data is processed by the Sweden Migration Agency please click here.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the customer wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and the customer will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every customer can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

Information for applicants with Gambian Passport:

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Information for applicants with Russian Passport:

As per the COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/333 holders of Russian diplomatic passport need a visa to enter the EU. The general procedure time (15 days) applies to holders of Russian diplomatic passport and Russian business people and representatives of business organisations.

General processing information:

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, customers are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Sweden Migration Agency to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the responsible Sweden Migration Agency requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Customers also need to be aware that, especially during the busy season around Easter, the summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, the handling time might be affected.

Furthermore, customers need to consider that VFS/Swedish Migration Agency closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore, VFS recommends all customers:

1. Submit their application at the earliest so that they can get an appointment at VFS centre
2. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Sweden Migration Agency’s requirements
3. to leave enough processing time for the Sweden Migration Agency

Customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh need to calculate 2 extradays to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to Sweden Migration Agency- Stockholm the following day.

The Sweden Migration Agency may always request additional information/documents or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which customers accept the responsibility for, this is in accordance to the Visa code.

Download Forms

For Sweden every customer needs to

1. Your Sweden application should be submitted using the Sweden e-application portal.
2. Please ensure that you upload all mandatory supporting documents on your visa application.
3. You will be requested to download, sign, and re-upload the visa application form after successful verification of your application on the Sweden E-application portal.
4. Please note that the responsibility to upload the correct, and a good-quality scan for the requested document is on the customer.
5. You will have to arrive at the centre on your date of appointment with your passport/travel document to submit your biometrics.

Invitation form if staying with someone in Sweden:

If you are hosted by a person in Sweden, the inviter must fill in the Invitation form and sign in section 9 of the form.

The inviting person’s passport copy or Swedish ID, to be provided. If the host is a non-EU citizen, then this information must also be provided with the form.

If the host is supporting the customer while in Sweden, then 3 months wage slips and 3 months bank statement are required from the host.

Please click here to download the form.

Overview

Every Customer has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the Customer.

Customers, travelling by plane to a destination outside the Schengen Area, may make a stopover in the Schengen Area. During the stopover they may disembark the aircraft and then stay for a certain time in the airport’s transit zone (without going through Immigration Control).

Certain nationalities (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka) have to apply for an airport transit visa in order to be allowed to make such an airport transit.

However there are some exemptions from this type of visa requirement; the most frequent exemption is for:

1. Holders of a valid uniform visa, national long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a Member State

Eligibility

Customer must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case Customer holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then Customer may apply for a Schengen visa as long as the Customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country more than 6 months ago
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

Visa Fees

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Applicable visa fee, in Pound Sterling (£), is as per the current exchange rate and may be subject to change without notice.

VFS service fee of 20 EURO (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.

All fees can be paid by cash (except in Edinburgh), Credit/Debit card.

Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.

All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents if requested by Sweden Migration Agency

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and it is mandatory to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

For Minors, please click here. Note, minors must provide documents both for the category they are applying for (sports, family visit etcetera) and for minors category.

A. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Original Passport

   Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.

   Extended passport may still be valid, but a passport older than 10 years, i.e. date of issuance is more than 10 years back, on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable; in that case customer first needs to apply for a new passport.

2. UK Residence permit

   UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is only acceptable, if the customer couldn’t apply from the country of residence since he/she has already left the residence country and resides consecutively more than 6 months in the UK.

B. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Proof of current occupation

a. Employer letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter references from your employer, which must include company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, position and salary of the employment should also be indicated. In addition, you must include your last three payslips

b. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, UK school/college/university letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers enrolment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record)

c. Self- employment letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old), signed, headed letter (addressed to the Mission, name and position of the signee and confirming customers self-employment) and obtained from (if applicable): The letter must also state the annual salary drawn from the company.

i. customers accountant: when customers company’s accountancy is done by an external/independent accountant

ii. solicitor: when customers company has been registered by a solicitor.

iii. bank manager: when customers company has a business bank account.

iv. Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering business: if customers name is not mentioned on certificate, then additional proof demonstrating connection customer – company should be provided.

d. Unemployed/retired

1. Receiving Benefits: recent original letter obtained from local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
2. Housewife/man (only applicable to spouses/partners): customers may be sponsored by their spouse/registered partner; in these cases the following needs to be provided:

a. Marriage certificate (original + copy): when this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, then it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.

b. spouse/registered partner’s passport (copy)

c. spouse/registered partner’s proof of occupation (as in B.1.a, b or c)

d. spouse/registered partner’s proof of funds

e. spouse/registered partner’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship

2. Proof of funds

a. Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing applicant’s name, address and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date; balance needs to show a minimum amount of £ 40.00./day of stay in the Schengen Area + outstanding accommodation and travel fees.

b. Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.

c. Credit card(s) and credit card statement showing the cardholder’s name and address. The statement must obtain information of the monthly limit or the sending cap.

3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)

a. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning customers name and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area. Please note: Flight tickets to be issued from airlines company only and not from the travel agencies.

b. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If the customer is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with customer and travel dates need to be provided too.

4. Proof of accommodation

   Confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) reservation mentioning customers name, travel dates and accommodation address details.

   If the customers name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.

   When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket.

5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)

   The travel insurance – clearly showing the customers name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included) must be at least 30.000 €.

To see how your data is processed by the Sweden Migration Agency please click here.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the customer wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and the customer will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every customer can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

Information for applicants with Gambian Passport:

On October 7, 2021 the European Commission decided to temporarily suspend some of the provision of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. As of November 1, citizens of Gambia will not be able to be exempted of any of the document requirements. The application process will take 45 days instead of 15 days. Will not be able to receive multiple entry visas, diplomats or holders of service passport will not be exempted of the application fee.

Information for applicants with Russian Passport:

As per the COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/333 holders of Russian diplomatic passport need a visa to enter the EU. The general procedure time (15 days) applies to holders of Russian diplomatic passport and Russian business people and representatives of business organisations.

General processing information:

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, customers are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Sweden Migration Agency to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the responsible Sweden Migration Agency requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Customers also need to be aware that, especially during the busy season around Easter, the summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, the handling time might be affected.

Furthermore, customers need to consider that VFS/Swedish Migration Agency closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore, VFS recommends all customers:

1. Submit their application at the earliest so that they can get an appointment at VFS centre
2. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Sweden Migration Agency’s requirements
3. to leave enough processing time for the Sweden Migration Agency

Customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh need to calculate 2 extradays to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to Sweden Migration Agency- Stockholm the following day.

The Sweden Migration Agency may always request additional information/documents or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which customers accept the responsibility for, this is in accordance to the Visa code.

Download Forms

For Sweden every customer needs to

1. Your Sweden application should be submitted using the Sweden e-application portal.
2. Please ensure that you upload all mandatory supporting documents on your visa application.
3. You will be requested to download, sign, and re-upload the visa application form after successful verification of your application on the Sweden E-application portal.
4. Please note that the responsibility to upload the correct, and a good-quality scan for the requested document is on the customer.
5. You will have to arrive at the centre on your date of appointment with your passport/travel document to submit your biometrics.

Invitation form if staying with someone in Sweden:

If you are hosted by a person in Sweden, the inviter must fill in the Invitation form and sign in section 9 of the form.

The inviting person’s passport copy or Swedish ID, to be provided. If the host is a non-EU citizen, then this information must also be provided with the form.

If the host is supporting the customer while in Sweden, then 3 months wage slips and 3 months bank statement are required from the host.

Please click here to download the form.