Sweden Student Visa 2026: Funds, Fees and Work Limit
A student from outside the EU and EEA needs a residence permit for higher education to study in Sweden for more than three months, and it must be issued before you travel. The rules changed in 2026. Students whose permits were granted on or after 11 June may now work only a limited number of hours a week, and the money you must show has gone up. This guide sets out the current requirements from the Swedish Migration Agency, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
You must be finally admitted to full-time studies, have paid any tuition fee, and show at least SEK 10,656 per month for the whole permit period if you apply in 2026. The application costs SEK 1,500 for adults. Bachelor's and master's students may work a maximum of 15 hours per week, with exceptions such as June, July and August. A permit is granted for one or two years, and 75% of recent cases were decided within 3 months.
Who needs the permit
Citizens of countries outside the EU and EEA need a residence permit in most cases. It covers first- or second-cycle studies at a university or university college, exchange studies, higher vocational education and post-secondary courses at a folk high school. If you will study in Sweden for less than three months, you should not apply for a residence permit.
The requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid. A permit is never granted for longer than the passport is valid |
| Admission | Final admission to full-time studies on site in Sweden. At universities, 30 credits per semester counts as full time. Distance learning does not qualify |
| Tuition | Any tuition fee must be paid before you apply. You only count as finally admitted once it is paid, and your institution notifies the Migration Agency |
| Health insurance | Comprehensive insurance if your studies last less than a year. For studies of at least one year you should register in the population register, which gives access to health and dental care |
| Money | Enough to support yourself for the entire period you apply for |
The money
| Item | If you applied in 2026 | If you applied in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance requirement per month | SEK 10,656 | SEK 10,584 |
| Reduction for free food | SEK 2,960 | SEK 2,940 |
| Reduction for free housing | SEK 4,736 | SEK 4,704 |
The reductions apply only if you receive free housing or food through the higher education institution or an organisation for international exchange. If your family applies with you, add SEK 4,440 per month for a spouse or cohabiting partner and SEK 2,664 per month for each child.
How to show it
- Your own bank assets: a bank statement issued no more than four months before the date you want the permit to start, showing the account holder, bank, date, balance and currency.
- A scholarship: a copy stating the provider, the period, the amount and when it is paid.
- Student grants or loans from your country of origin: a certificate with the amount intended for living expenses.
- Income from employment: an employment certificate and payslips. A job offer is not sufficient.
You can combine different forms of financial maintenance.
Working while you study
If you are studying at bachelor's or master's level and your permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026, you may work a maximum of 15 hours per week. The Migration Agency is explicit about the consequences: your permit may be withdrawn if you work more, and an extension may be refused.
You may work more than 15 hours per week if the work:
- is part of your education, such as an internship;
- involves student representation, administration or research at the institution where you study;
- takes place during June, July or August.
The limit also falls away for the rest of your permit once you have completed higher education equivalent to at least two semesters and are not applying for a new study permit below doctoral level.
Fees
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adults | SEK 1,500 |
| Children under 18 years of age | SEK 750 |
There is no refund if the application is rejected. Students at the World Maritime University in Malmö and Japanese citizens pay no fee.
How long the permit lasts
You can be granted a permit for a maximum of one or two years, depending on the institution, and never for longer than your studies. Two-year permits are available at a named list of institutions that includes Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg. If the permit covers your whole programme, the agency adds an extra two weeks so you can finish and leave. The permit can be extended.
How long it takes
The agency does not give a fixed time. Its statistics for the last 12 months show that 75% of recently decided cases were decided within 3 months. Whether the application is complete affects the wait, so have documents in Swedish or English with certified translations before you start, and be ready to visit an embassy to present your passport.
How to apply
- Get admitted and pay the tuition fee, if one applies.
- Collect the documents: passport copies, the admission decision, proof of insurance if needed and proof of money.
- Apply and pay the fee through the Migration Agency.
- Present your passport at the embassy or consulate you named, if asked.
- Wait for the decision before travelling. The permit must be issued before you go to Sweden.
Family
Family members can apply at the same time as you. New rules for family members accompanying students took effect on 1 October 2026, changing some requirements for relatives, so read the agency's notice before you include them. Anyone who decides to join you later must submit a separate application.
After your studies
Graduates can apply for a residence permit to seek employment after completing their studies in Sweden. A student who has completed at least two semesters of a higher education programme can also apply for a work permit from inside Sweden, and is exempt from the standard 90 percent salary requirement when applying for a work permit for the first time; the 75 per cent level applies instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a Swedish student visa?
At least SEK 10,656 per month for the entire permit period if you apply in 2026, according to the Swedish Migration Agency.
How much does a Swedish student residence permit cost?
SEK 1,500 for adults and SEK 750 for children under 18. The fee is not refunded if the application is rejected.
Can international students work in Sweden?
Yes, but bachelor's and master's students whose permit was granted on or after 11 June 2026 may work a maximum of 15 hours per week, apart from exceptions such as work in June, July or August.
How long does a Swedish student permit take?
75% of cases decided in the last 12 months were decided within 3 months.
Do I have to pay tuition before applying?
Yes. You are only considered finally admitted once the tuition fee is paid, and your institution notifies the Migration Agency.
How long is the permit valid?
One or two years at most, depending on the institution, and never longer than your studies or your passport.
Can I stay in Sweden after graduating?
You can apply for a residence permit to seek employment after completing your studies, or for a work permit if you have a job.
Official sources
- Swedish Migration Agency — Apply for a residence permit for studies at higher education
- Swedish Migration Agency — Residence permit to seek employment after completing your studies
- Swedish Migration Agency — Apply for a work permit in Sweden
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The maintenance amount depends on the year you apply, so confirm it with the Swedish Migration Agency before you apply. Information, not legal advice.