Sweden Schengen Visa

Sweden, also referred to as the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic nation located in Northern Europe that was also once home to Vikings. Its capital is Stockholm and is famous for its national urban park. Some other major cities in the country are Copenhagen, Malmo, and Gothenburg.

Sweden became a part of the Schengen region in 2001. Thus, if you plan to travel to the country, you would need a Sweden Schengen visa for the same. This requirement, however, will considerably depend on the length of your stay, your nationality, and more.

This can lead to questions like –

Who requires Sweden Schengen visa? What are the requirements to apply for the visa? How to apply for the Schengen visa? This piece will offer answers to these questions along with some information that would help you in your Sweden Schengen visa application process.

Do You Need Schengen Visa for Sweden?

Citizens of the UAE with valid passports don’t need to obtain a Sweden Schengen visa to enter the country and have a stay of up to 90 days. However, if you are a UAE resident with a passport from another nation that doesn’t have the visa-free entry arrangement for Schengen countries, you would need to possess a Sweden Schengen visa. Keep in mind that this visa requirement would also apply to UAE nationals who wish to visit the country for more than 90 days.

The following is a detailed category of individuals who would be required to apply for a Sweden Schengen visa:

• UAE nationals who have been earlier denied entry to the Schengen area without a visa
• UAE citizens planning to stay in the country for more than 90 days
• UAE residents on a temporary or permanent resident visa who are –
  • Nationals of a country with visa-free entry permit in the Schengen region, but have been denied entry into the area
  • National of countries that don’t have a tie-up for visa-exemption for its citizens to enter the Schengen region

Requirements to Apply for Sweden Schengen Visa for UAE Residents

UAE residents would need to submit the following documents to apply for a Sweden Schengen visa in Dubai –

• Application form - fill in the Sweden Schengen visa application form on your laptop, print it after downloading it, and sign it at the end. Make sure you provide the correct information.
• Valid passport - the passport should fulfil the criteria mentioned below –
  • It should not be older than 10 years
  • There should be at least two blank pages to attach the visa
  • It should be effective for at least 3 months beyond your departure date from Sweden and the Schengen region
• Two recent passport-sized photographs - not older than 3 months and should meet the Schengen visa photograph requirements
• Proof of UAE residence - it should be valid for at least 3 months post your departure from Sweden
• travel insurance - a travel insurance plan that offers medical coverage of at least EUR 30,000 in case any emergency medical expenses arise during your stay would be required 
• Flight Itinerary - proof that you have booked your flight tickets to and fro from the UAE to Sweden along with the dates of departure and arrival clearly stated
• Accommodation proof - it could be the document displaying your hotel bookings, a rent agreement contract, or an invitation letter from a host with whom you would be staying in the country
• Document proving your ability to meet the financial requirements for your trip by yourself – this could include the following:
  • Bank statements that are not older than 3 months
  • Sponsorship document confirming that a third party is going to support you financially during your stay in Sweden. The letter will be valid only if accompanied by the sponsor’s last 3 months’ bank statement.
  • Both bank statements and the sponsorship letter may be required in some cases
• Cover letter - it should explain the purpose of your visit, the duration of your stay, and other trip-related information

Besides these general documents, you may be required to provide specific documents as per your employment status. 

For Employed Individuals

• Employment contract
• Leave permit from the employer
• Current bank account statements of up to 6 months

For Self-Employed Individuals

• A photocopy of trade licence
• Bank statement of the company of the last 6 months

For Students

• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from university or school
• Proof of enrolment
• Advertisements

For Retired Individuals

• Pension statement for the last 6 months

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for Sweden?

Here is how you can apply for a Sweden Schengen visa –

• Figure out the type of Schengen visa you require (based on the purpose of your visit)
• Download the visa application form from the website of the official visa partner/authority here – for a Sweden visa in the UAE, this partner is VFS Global

Connect with a relevant Visa Application Centre (VAC) that accepts the Sweden Schengen visa applications to make an appointment

• Attend your visa interview. While appearing for the interview, make sure that you carry all the asked documents organised in the said manner.
• Once the interview is done, await the response. Your application will go through EU security systems

As mentioned earlier, the Sweden Schengen visa application process is looked over by VFS Global on behalf of the Swedish Embassy in the UAE. To initiate the process, you would need to submit your visa applications at any of the concerned VACs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

VAC Abu Dhabi accepts Schengen visa applications from Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. Its counterpart in Dubai, on the other hand, welcomes Sweden Schengen visa applications from Emirates of Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman, Dubai, and Umm Al-Quwain.

The VACs remain open from Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can file your Sweden Schengen visa on any working day from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Address and Contact Information

1. Dubai – Joint Visa Application Centre, Wafi Mall, Level 2, Falcon, Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2

2. Abu Dhabi – Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, 26th Street, Near Khalidyah Mall, 30023

• Phone Number – 00971 (0) 42055859
• Email – info.swedenuae@vfshelpline.com

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Sweden Schengen Visa?

Travel insurance is mandatory for individuals who are allowed to enter Sweden only with a Sweden Schengen visa. Moreover, you would need to keep in mind that your chosen Schengen travel insurance plan must have a medical cover of at least EUR 30,000 and be valid in all the Schengen countries –

With travel insurance for a Sweden Schengen visa, you can get financial cover in case of any medical emergency related to an illness, injury, accident, and more.

The following are the key benefits of travel insurance for your Sweden Schengen visa -

• Complete the visa requirements – A travel insurance plan is mandatory to get Sweden Schengen visa approval
• Emergency medical expense cover – You can easily access the required medical treatment in case of an emergency medical situation concerning an illness, accident, or injury at your nearest network hospital
• COVID-19 coverage – In light of the ongoing pandemic, travel insurance plans for Sweden Schengen visa cover all the costs of COVID-19. A travel insurance plan can offer financial cover right from the RT-PCR tests (in case of symptoms) to quarantine and medical treatment in case one is diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Travel inconvenience cover – Under this cover, you are offered compensation in case your baggage is stolen, your flights are delayed/cancelled, or if there is a personal liability that requires you to compensate a third party. 
• Loss of baggage cover – With travel insurance for a Sweden Schengen visa, you would be compensated in case of delay or loss of luggage so that you can purchase all the necessary replacement items as per your requirements.

The following are the two types of Sweden Schengen visa travel insurance -

• Single-Trip Travel Insurance – This plan, designed for individuals travelling to the Schengen nation only once a year, remains valid throughout the trip (up to the specified days’ limit) and ends once the policyholder lands back in the UAE. It can be purchased by solo travellers or individuals travelling in groups like friends or family
• Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance – This insurance type is suitable for people who travel frequently to Sweden in a given year. The validity of this travel insurance is of a year, with all the trips taken in this period being covered under a single plan. It is often bought by solo travellers, family, or companies sending their employees abroad.

Processing Time for the Sweden Schengen Visa

You can get your short-stay Sweden Schengen visa in up to 15 days. However, in certain situations, the processing time could go up to 30 days. To avoid delays in receiving your visa, you should submit your application as early as possible but not before 6 months from the date you have to travel to Sweden.

When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa to Sweden?

You should submit your Sweden Schengen visa application not earlier than 6 months from your travel date to Sweden and not later than the point where 15 days remain for your trip. As a general rule, one can apply for this visa 3 to 4 weeks before the date of their journey.

Schengen Visa to Sweden Fees

Given below are the fees applicable for applying for a Schengen visa to Sweden –

SCHENGEN VISA CATEGORY	Visa Fee in AED	Visa Fee in EUR
Adult	340	80
Minor between the age of 6 to 12 years	170	40
Minor younger than the age of 6 years	Free	Free
Diplomatic and service passport holders	Free	Free
A family member of EU or EEA national	Free	Free

How Long is Your Sweden Schengen Visa Valid?

A short-stay Sweden Schengen visa, generally applicable for tourism purposes, is effective for 90 days. A long-stay visa, on the other hand, can be valid for a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years. In case you need to elongate your stay in the country for a while, you may be able to extend your Sweden Schengen visa from the Swedish Migration Board. However, keep in mind that this process is only permitted in special cases.

Key Takeaways

With Sweden, the Nordic nation in Northern Europe, being a part of the Schengen region since 2001, you would need a Sweden Schengen visa if you plan to travel to the country. While UAE nationals don’t need a Sweden Schengen visa to visit the country for a short stay, if you are a UAE resident with a passport from another nation that is not included in the list of nations allowed visa-free entry, you would need a Sweden Schengen visa.

When you apply for the Sweden Schengen visa, you would have to provide documents like your passport, proof of income, a signed Sweden Schengen visa application form, a travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, and travel insurance.

Regarding the last bit in the previous list, you can secure your trip with the best travel insurance for a Sweden Schengen visa from policybazaar.ae. Our online portal provides excellent travel insurance plans at highly affordable rates and allows you to make detailed comparisons before getting a plan first.

With Policybazaar UAE, you can seek assistance from insurance experts to select a travel insurance plan that meets your requirements. Simply visit policybazaar.ae, go to the ‘travel insurance’ section, and start exploring to get the best deals and discounts on your purchase.

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