Residence permit for other studies

If you intend to take a course of study in Sweden that is not higher education, you will need a residence permit if the course is longer than three months. This permit must have been granted before leaving for Sweden.

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Requi­re­ments for resi­dence permits

For a permit, you must

  • have a valid passport
  • be accepted for full-time studies
  • be covered by fully-comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden
  • have enough money to be able to support yourself during the period for which you are applying
  • have a consent from your parents/legal guardians if you are under 18 years of age. If so you must also enclose a certificate showing who is or are your parents/legal guardians and how you are related, and a copy of an ID document for your parents/legal guardians. If the accommodation is arranged privately, you must also enclose a certificate from the host family.

Requi­re­ments to use the e-service

In order to use the e-service, you need

  • copies of the pages in your passport which show your personal information, photograph, signature, passport number, passport issuing country, the period of the passport's validity and whether you have permission to live in countries other than your country of origin
  • an admission decision stating that you have been admitted to full-time study
  • copy of the document that proves that you have, or have applied for, a comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden (not required if you are registered in the Swedish Population Register or if your total stay in Sweden will exceed one year)
  • a bank statement showing that you have funds to support yourself. This bank statement should be dated in connection with the time of application and be translated into English (if permission is required from a central bank or equivalent to move money out of your country, you also need to enclose the relevant certificate), or
    documents issued in your name to verify that you have been granted a scholarship or equivalent (e.g. student financial support) with details of the monthly or total amount payable and the period during which you will receive the money
  • a written consent from your parents/legal guardians that you are allowed to study in Sweden if you are under 18 years of age (Consent for a child to settle in Sweden, form 123011 Pdf, 726.1 kB, opens in new window.).
  • In most cases you need to pay a fee (application fees for residence permits)

If your family wishes to visit you in Sweden they can apply for a visitors permit. Read more about the requirements for a visitors permit under the heading Visit Sweden for more than 90 days.

Depending on the type of studies you are to conduct, additional requirements may apply.

Read more about the requirements for an online application

If you are to support yourself with your own funds, you must submit your application at the earliest four months before the date you are applying for a residence permit from. This is because you must be able to show that you can support yourself close to the beginning of the study time and your documents must not be too old. This does not apply if you will receive a scholarship to cover your means of support.

Other studies may, for example, be studies at the World Maritime University in Malmö (WMU) which does not lead to a degree and preparatory studies for qualification to higher education. Studies at the WMU which can lead to a degree is counted as higher education. Students of higher education at the WMU may apply for residence permit through the e-service for other studies found on this page.

Exchange studies at an upper secondary school (high school) also count as other studies, but have their own page for the application.

Read more about studies as an upper secondary (high school) exchange student in international exchanges

Normally, you cannot be granted a residence permit for studies that require you to be permanently resident in Sweden, such as studies at municipal adult education (Komvux) or Swedish for immigrants (SFI). A residence permit cannot be granted for studies at the compulsory school level.

You can only be granted a residence permit for upper secondary (high school) studies if an international exchange or IB-studies (international baccalaureate) at upper secondary level is involved.

Read more about and apply for a residence permit for upper secondary (high school) exchange studies

A permit for other studies does not give you the right to work in Sweden.

If you have been granted a temporary residence permit after an asylum application and you study at upper secondary level, you can apply for an extended residence permit if you need more time to complete your studies, or because you wish to look for work upon completion of your studies. If you are able to financially support yourself after studies at upper secondary level, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Read more about the Swedish Upper Secon­dary School Act

For applications submitted to the Migration Agency on 1 January 2024 or later the support requirement is a minimum of SEK 10 314 per month. For applications submitted to the Migration Agency during 2023 the support requirement is a minimum of SEK 9 450 per month.

If you can show that you receive free housing and/or food through the higher education organiser or an organisation that works for international exchange, the amount per month can be reduced. For applications received by the Swedish Migration Agency on or after 1 January 2024, the monthly amount is reduced by SEK 2 865 per month for free food and SEK 4 584 per month for free housing. For applications that have been received in 2023, the monthly amount is reduced by SEK 2 625 per month for free food and SEK 4 200 per month for free housing.

You must show that you have funds for the period for which you are applying for. You must show that you have your support secured by means of verification of your own bank assets, a scholarship or similar means of support, such as a study grant from your home country.

Your own bank assets are money in an account that belongs to you and from which only you and your husband or wife, if you have one, can withdraw money. If you are under the age of 18, your guardians’ accounts may also apply as a basis for your living expense support. Credit, funds or shares are not counted as your own bank assets. Assets in a microfinance bank are also not approved.

If you refer to your own bank assets in Iranian rials (IRR), the Swedish Migration Agency uses the same exchange rate as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs uses in visa matters.

If you will be receiving a grant or similar, you must enclose a recently prepared document in your name with the details of the monthly or total amount. The document must indicate the period you will be receiving the grant for, and the total amount of money that you will receive to freely use for your living expenses during the study period in Sweden. 

The Swedish Migration Agency must check your passport before a decision can be made. You may therefore need to show your passport at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general if you are outside Sweden, or one of the Migration Agency's service centres if you are in Sweden.

Find out which embassy or consulate-general you should contact on the page Embassies responsible for migration matters

In some cases, you can have your passport checked digitally, instead of showing it in person.

Read more about the digital passport check e-service

In some cases, you will not be required to show your passport, for example, if we have already checked your passport during a previous visit.

If you need to show your passport, we will contact you with information on how and when to do so.

If you need an entry visa or residence permit card to travel to Sweden, you will in most cases have your fingerprints taken and be photographed when you show your passport at an embassy or consulate-general.

If your family also applies for a residence permit, the Swedish Migration Agency must check their passports as well. The requirement to show your passport in person does not apply to children under the age of five, it is sufficient that the parent brings the child's passport to the visit. However, if the child needs a residence permit card, they must come along to be photographed for it.

For studies that are shorter than three months, citizens in certain countries must have an entry visa. Special rules apply if you are an EU/EEA citizen or a long-term resident.

Countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Sweden External link, opens in new window.

Read more about applying for a visa

Read more about the rules for EU/EEA citizens and long-term residents

A first-time application for a residence permit must be made while you are outside Sweden, otherwise your application may be rejected. In some cases, you may be able to apply for a residence permit while you are in Sweden with another valid Swedish residence permit. In the test, you can find out what applies to you.

If you are not able to apply online, you must fill out the form Application for a residence permit for students – First-time applicants, 113011, if you apply for the first time. If you are applying for an extension of your permit you must fill out form Application for a residence permit for students – Application to extend, 115011. 

Submit your application to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence. The application form specifies which documents to enclose. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit your application.

Application for a residence permit for students – First-time applicants, form 113011 Pdf, 858.2 kB, opens in new window.

Application for a residence permit for students – Application to extend, form 115011 Pdf, 842.1 kB, opens in new window.

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.

If there is no possibility to submit an application in your country, you must apply at the embassy or consulate-general closest to your country of residence. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit your application for further information.

Find out which embassy or consulate-general you should contact on the page Embassies responsible for migration matters

If you are applying at an embassy or consulate-general, you pay the fee when you hand in your application. For more information about the fee, contact the embassy or consulate-general where you are applying, as they do not have the same fees and terms of payment as the Migration Agency.

Check what the embassy or consu­late-general requires

Please note that the embassy or consulate-general where you submit your application may require additional documents. Contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information.

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.

You cannot enter Sweden until the permit has been granted. If you are under the age of 18, your guardian must apply for you.

Check that the information given on the documents you enclose is clear. Important details, such as your name, must be given in the documents. The information in the documents should be as recent as possible. The documents should also be translated into Swedish or English by certified translators, if the contents are in another language. Copies of the original document must always be enclosed with translations of documents.

If we need additional documents from you

Once your case officer has started working on your case, they may request additional information from you if we need it to be able to make a decision about your case. In that case, you will be contacted by mail or e-mail, depending on whether you applied via a paper form or made an online application.

Please read the request carefully and send your response as soon as possible, within the requested deadline. Even if we have not received the required information within the requested time, we will make a final decision in your case by that date, based on the information we have.

If your case officer has requested copies of documents, you will receive a link in the request via which you can upload the required documentation. Make sure that the document you attach contains everything requested. Please note that copies of documents already included in your application should not be resubmitted, as we have already checked these and found that they are insufficient.

Time to a deci­sion

In order to obtain an impression how long you need to wait for your decision, you can visit the page Time to a decision. Note that the average time that is shown on the page is calculated based on previously decided cases in the same category. The time can vary from application to application.

Time to a decision

After you have sent the application

If you obtain a permit for more than three months, you will also receive a residence permit card. The card, which is proof that you have the right to be in Sweden, contains your photo and fingerprints.

If you need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should go to the embassy or consulate-general as soon as possible to have your picture and fingerprints taken, if you did not do this in connection with showing your passport. This also applies to your family if they apply together with you. Not all embassies or consulates-general have the possibility to take your picture and your fingerprints. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before your visit for more information.

If you do not need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should visit the Migration Agency to be photographed and fingerprinted as soon as possible after your arrival in Sweden. However, your permit must be granted before you travel to Sweden.

Read more about residence permit cards

Swedish embassies and consulates-general External link, opens in new window.

Follow your case in My page

If you have made your application in the e-service, you can log in to My page to follow your case and see if you have received a decision.

My page

The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate-general you selected in your online application. Take your passport along when picking up your decision.

The Swedish embassy or consulate-general will hand over or send you the residence permit card as soon as it is ready. Don't forget that it might take up to four weeks to make and send the card to the embassy or consulate-general after you receive your decision. When you enter Sweden, you must show your residence permit card along with a valid passport. 

If you do not need a visa for travel to Sweden, you should be able to show a copy of the decision when you enter Sweden. You may also need to demonstrate the document regarding Information about residence permit card together with the decision when you leave the country.

Information on residence permit card – print it out and bring it with you on your trip (in Swedish and English) Pdf, 125.4 kB, opens in new window.

Book an appoint­ment

As soon as possible after you have arrived in Sweden, you should book an appointment to be fingerprinted and photographed. When your residence permit card is ready, it will be sent to your address in Sweden. It is therefore important that you can state your address in Sweden when you visit the Migration Agency to have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

Resi­dence permit card

The residence permit card will be produced at the time the decision is made, but no earlier than three months before the residence permit becomes valid. We cannot speed up the production or delivery of the card.

Check if your application has been registered or if a decision has been made in your case

Book an appointment at the Migration Agency in Sweden to be fingerprinted and photographed if you can travel without a visa

Useful links if you have recently moved to Sweden and have a residence permit

You can receive a residence permit for the time your studies require, but usually for one year at a time. Residence permits can never be granted for longer than the validity of your passport.

If the Migration Agency refuses your application, you can appeal the decision within three weeks from the date when you were informed of the decision. Your decision contains information about how to do so.

Read more about what happens if you are in Sweden and the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application

Infor­ma­tion for people who are moving to Sweden with a resi­dence permit

On the page Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit, you will find information that is useful to know before you move or after you have moved to Sweden, such as work, healthcare, school and education in Sweden.

Information for people who are moving to Sweden with a residence permit

Extending a permit

If you have a residence permit and will continue studying after your permit expires, you must apply to extend it before your current permit expires. Apply no earlier than six months before your current permit expires.

How to apply

You apply for extension of your permit in the e-service.

You will probably be required to pay an application fee.

Application fees for residence permits

Enclose the following docu­ments with your appli­ca­tion:

  • Copies of the pages in your passport where your identity, citizenship and the period of validity are indicated. Your passport must be valid in order for the Migration Agency to be able to grant you a permit. If your passport is about to expire, you must apply for a new one in your home country or at your home country's embassy.
  • a certificate stating that you have been admitted to full-time study.
  • a document from the course organizer showing that you have made acceptable progress in your studies.
  • account statements from your bank that confirm that you have money to cover your living expenses. The account statement should be dated in conjunction with the application timing and be translated to English, or
    documents issued in your name that show that you have been granted a stipend/scholarship or the like (such as student finance) with information on the monthly amount or total amount and the period during which you will receive the money.
  • copy of the document that proves that you have, or have applied for, a comprehensive health insurance that is valid in Sweden (unless you are registered in the Swedish Population Register and your total stay in Sweden will be shorter than one year)
  • a written consent from your parents/custodians that you are allowed to study in Sweden if you are under 18 years of age (Consent for a child to settle in Sweden, 123011).

Consent for a child to settle in Sweden, form 123011 Pdf, 726.1 kB, opens in new window.

Read more about what documents you should attach if you submit a paper application

When we have received your appli­ca­tion

If you have submitted an application for renewal before your previous permit expires, you have the right to remain in Sweden until the Migration Agency has made a decision.

If you travel abroad when your permit is about to expire, it may be difficult for you to enter Sweden before your new permit is granted. You may need to wait for a new decision outside Sweden.

You may need to show your passport

The Swedish Migration Agency may need to check your passport before a decision can be made. You will then need to visit one of the Swedish Migration Agency's service centres to present your passport.

In some cases, you will not be required to present your passport, for example, if we have already checked your passport during a previous visit.

If you need to show your passport, we will contact you with information on how and when to do so.

If your family also applies for a residence permit, the Swedish Migration Agency may need to check their passports as well.

Resi­dence permit card

If you are granted a permit, you will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof that you have permission to remain in Sweden and contains your fingerprints and a photo of you. You should, therefore, book a time to have your photograph and fingerprints taken as soon as possible. You need to do this even if you have had a residence permit previously, as your photograph and fingerprints cannot be saved.

Check if your application has been registered or if a decision has been made in your case

Book an appointment at the Migration Agency for a residence permit card

Read more about residence permit cards

After the deci­sion

The decision will be sent to your home address in Sweden. When the residence permit card is ready it will be sent to your home within approximately one week.

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