With a Schengen visa in Sweden, you can visit not only Sweden but several other European countries that are part of the Schengen bloc. This visa is one of the most sought-after visas in the world because it gives you access to up to 27 European countries and counting. If you have plans to visit Sweden on a Schengen visa, take your time to read this post to get a fair idea about the visa and what you will need to get it
Sweden In The Schengen Area
Sweden is a Scandinavian country, just like Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, with a rich Viking history.
Its capital Stockholm is the most populated in the region and is one of the most advanced countries in the world. With a population of more than 10 million, Swedish citizens enjoy one of the highest living standards in the world. More than 2/3 of the country is forested by advanced cities and rich natural vegetation.
Sweden joined the EU in 1995, and six years later, in 2001, the Kingdom became a Schengen Area nation. Since then, foreign nationals could apply for a normal Swedish visa or a Schengen Swedish visa.
Does Every Visitor Need To Apply For A Schengen Visa?
The visa is for foreigners who are not citizens of the EU, Schengen countries or from countries on the visa-exempt list. For instance, US, UK, Australian, and Canadian citizens don’t need a visa to enter Sweden if they only want to stay for a few days. If you are not from any of these countries, you need a Schengen visa.
Schengen Visa Sweden
Sweden issues a Swedish Schengen visa as part of the Schengen Area. The visa is valid for 180 days and allows the holder to enter and stay in the country for up to 90 days per visit. With this visa, you can enter and stay in any other country in the Schengen Area, and it’s mostly issued for tourism, business visits, and any other short-term visits.
There are requirements for this type of visa, and only qualified applicants get it eventually.
How To Get A Sweden Schengen Visa?
You must book an appointment with the Swedish embassy to get the visa. At the embassy, the official will examine the original and photocopies of your passport while also asking you questions about your trip, how long you plan to stay, and the places of interest you will visit. After the interview, you will get feedback from the embassy within two weeks about the status of your visa applications; if it is successful, you will be issued the visa.
Documents Required For Sweden Schengen Visa
The documents required for a Schengen visa are as follows.
Visa Application Form: You need a completed visa application form that matches the details in other documents. The form must also be signed by you.
Photograph: Two passport-sized photos of you. Only recent and clear photos were taken no later than six months prior.
Passport: A valid passport with a minimum of three months validity from the time of your departure from Sweden after your visit. The passport must not be more than 10 years old and must contain at least two blank pages for visa stickers.
Previous Visas: If you’ve been issued Schengen visas in the past, attach copies to your documents to boost your chances of getting a new visa.
Travel Insurance: A health Insurance certificate with a minimum of €30,000 covers Medical bills you may incur during your visit. The health policy must cover medical access for the entire Schengen area.
Round Trip Itinerary: A round trip itinerary showing booked flights to and from Sweden, specifying the flight dates and details.
Proof of Accommodation: Hotel reservation showing where you will stay in Sweden. You can reserve the hotel in advance rather than pay for it.
Cover Letter: A signed cover letter explaining your reasons for applying for the visa, the places you will visit, your abode, and your arrival and departure date
These documents must be in original and Photocopies as the embassy will request both. In addition, they may request other supporting documents to verify your identity, such as an account Statement to evaluate your financial capacity to cover your expenses. These documents depend on your nationality and some other factors. Make sure you only provide valid documents.
Sweden Schengen Visa Application Fee
The application fee for the Schengen visa is €80 for 12-80 years old applicants and €40 for those between the ages of 6-11 years. Children under 6 don’t need to pay an application fee.
Schengen Visa Sweden allows you to visit not only Sweden but other countries in the Schengen area totaling 27 in all. The visa takes about 15 days to process after the documents are received.