Do Russians need a Schengen visa to Sweden?

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Sweden joins Schengen

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To enter Sweden, citizens of the Russian Federation need to apply for a Schengen visa. Documents for obtaining it can be submitted to the migration department of the Swedish Embassy in Moscow or the country's visa centers open in 20 cities of Russia. The Consulate General located in St. Petersburg and other official representative offices of the state do not issue short-term visas. The requirements for the package of documents are unified Schengen; the rules for crossing the border and staying also do not differ from those of other countries participating in the Schengen agreement.

Tourist visa to Sweden: general information

• Regular visa cost
  35

  €

• Express visa

  70

  Read also:  How and why to go and live in Goa for 6 months?

  €

• Visa fees

  20

  €

How much does a visa to Sweden cost in 2021?

The cost of a Swedish visa consists primarily of a consular fee. It depends on the type of visa requested.

The consular fee of the Swedish Embassy for Russians is as of 01/01/2018:

• 35 € (2400 rubles) for a Schengen visa;
• 70 € (4800 rub.) for urgent Schengen;
• 60 € (4100 rubles) for national visa D;
• SEK 1,000 (RUB 7,100) for adults and SEK 500 (RUB 3,500) for children for a residence permit;
• SEK 2,000 (RUB 14,300) for a work permit.

In addition to the consular fee, visitors to visa centers pay a service fee of 21 € (1,440 rubles).

All fees are paid in rubles and are non-refundable. The ruble equivalent is recalculated by the Swedes when the euro exchange rate fluctuates.

Stockholm, Sweden

Types of visas

• Standard Schengen - for any trips (this includes transit through the territory of Sweden) that will last no more than 3 months. Its receipt has long been debugged and takes a minimum of time. The most frequent clients of visa centers are tourists, less often - if they are planning a business trip, a visit to friends/relatives, a visit by invitation, or short-term study.
• Long-term "permit". To stay in Sweden for a long time, you need to use the services of a migration agency (Swedish Migration Agency), which issues the appropriate permits: work permit - for contract work, residence permit - for study, employment after graduating from a local university, marriage/cohabitation with a citizen of the country, reunion with a family.

Extension options

The nuances of extending the Schengen work type visa depend on the conditions specified in the agreement with the employer. If the contract with the customer is extended, the visa is also extended. To do this, you will need to apply to the Migration Office 30 days before the deadline for this submitted document.

During the issuance of a new permit, a temporary certificate is provided; you must always take it with you.

In general, obtaining a visa to Sweden for Russians will not take much time. It is only important to ensure that the completed forms, certificates, and photocopies are correct; this reduces the risk of being rejected.

Applying for a visa yourself

The most obvious way is to obtain an entry document through Swedish visa centers. For a small service fee, employees of these organizations will check the availability of all documents, their compliance with the requirements, and send the package for consideration as soon as possible. Visa centers are open in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Ufa, Vladivostok, Murmansk, Perm, Omsk, Pskov, Saratov .

Documents for a Schengen visa are also accepted by the migration department of the embassy, ​​where they are pre-registered through the visa center. The only advantage of submitting an application directly to the official representative office is that there are no intermediary fees.

You can submit documents in person or through a proxy (if you have a power of attorney executed by a notary).

Photo requirements

The basic photo requirements for a Schengen visa are as follows:

• photo size – 35/45 mm;
• the face must occupy at least 70% of the photo;
• paper – gloss (you can also use matte material);
• frame – missing;
• photograph age: 6 months for adults and 3 months for children;
• background is light.

  Photo requirements for a Schengen visa

The applicant must be photographed strictly from the front. In order for identification to be correct, the oval of the face must be clearly visible.

You can take a photograph at the CC office. This will ensure that the photo meets the Embassy's requirements. The applicant can receive the finished photographs within 45 seconds. Issue price – 360 RUR/6 photos.

Documents for a visa to Sweden

Required documents to obtain Schengen category C:

1. Application Form
   Filled out in English or Swedish and personally signed by the applicant (the child will also need an application form signed by the parent);
2. International passport
   Validity - at least three months from the end of the trip, the owner's signature and at least two blank pages are required
3. Copy of international passport
   The first page of the international passport plus copies of all old Schengen documents;
4. Photograph
   One photo 3.5 x 4.5 cm (see photo requirements below);
5. A copy of the internal passport.
   All pages of the internal passport with entries or stamps.
6. Copy of tickets
   A photocopy of air tickets or round-trip tickets for any type of transport.
7. Copy of hotel reservation
   Confirmation of the reserved room in the hotel/hostel. The document must indicate all members of the incoming family/company, as well as information about payment for accommodation;
8. Certificate of employment
   Certificate of employment with the stated position and salary. For entrepreneurs - a photocopy of the enterprise registration certificate and a copy of the tax payment certificate (tax return);
9. Bank account statement
   The statement must be recent and not older than 6 months. Confirmation of sufficient funds at the rate of 450 SEK per day;
10. For students, schoolchildren
    Certificate from the place of study, sponsorship letter with a photocopy of the sponsor's general passport, certificate from work/extract from the sponsor's account (issued according to the general rules);
11. Medical insurance
    Medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen territory and for the entire duration of the trip (the amount of insurance coverage is at least 30,000 EUR);
12. For a business visa: invitation and copy of the agreement.
    An invitation from the host party is required, containing information about the purpose and duration of the visit, as well as who pays all expenses for the duration of the stay in Sweden;
13. For a private visit: invitation and/or confirmation of relationship.
    For visiting relatives/friends - invitation, confirmation of legal residence in Sweden and proof of relationship (if necessary);

Instead of tickets, you can attach a written travel plan (for example, if traveling by car).

Visa application procedure

The process of obtaining a visa is simple, but there are several nuances on which a positive decision on issuing a Schengen visa depends.

The visa center processes only short-term visas. This action can be divided into several stages:

1. Collection of necessary documents.
2. Recording for filing papers. This can be done through the visa center website.
3. Passing fingerprinting.
4. Payment of the consular fee.
5. Submission of documents.

You can find out about readiness online on the website. You can submit documents to the Embassy for a visa of any category.

Submitting an application

The Schengen application form can be filled out on the Embassy website or when visiting a representative office. To obtain a visa to any country, the application forms have a similar appearance, despite this, you should be careful when filling out.

If documents are submitted through a visa center, you can use a paid service to fill out an application form. In this case, the work is performed by qualified company employees, which minimizes the risk of errors.

Submission of documents

Anyone wishing to obtain a tourist visa must provide a standard package of documents. The papers included in it are as follows:

1. Correctly completed application form. This is an A4 application, printed on 2 sides of a sheet. The applicant must sign. If the form is filled out for a minor citizen, the signature must be placed by his parents or legal representatives.

2. 
   Requirements for a visa photo
   A photograph whose dimensions are 35*45 mm. Photos must meet ICAO standard requirements. The photo must be taken no more than 6 months before submitting the application.

3. Cost of visa, payment of consular fee (price is indicated in euros, but must be paid in rubles at the current exchange rate).
4. International passport. It should have 2 blank pages for stamps. After the visa expires, the document must be valid for at least 3 months.
5. Original and copy of Russian citizen's passport.
6. Payment for health insurance in the amount of at least 30 thousand euros. Every day costs about 1.5 euros.

There are also several important features:

1. If a multiple-entry visa is required, this item is indicated in the application form.
2. Applicants who intend to apply for a long-term stay in the country should submit documents only at the Embassy.

If there is a transit visit (for example, a transfer in Stockholm for a trip to a third country), tickets and proof of salary from the place of work should be attached to the main list when submitting documents.

Nuances of filling out the form

When filling out yourself, you should consider a number of nuances:

1. The form must be completed in English or Swedish.
2. The first 3 points in the application are written in Latin letters. The data must exactly match the information in the passport.
3. The column “place of travel” must contain the name of the city in which the foreign citizen will spend the most time.
4. The “purpose of travel” column should contain a brief description of the reason, for example: tourism, business trip, family reunion.
5. There should be no blank fields left in the application. If the question does not concern the purpose of the applicant’s trip, then this data must be indicated.
6. Difficulties may arise when obtaining a visa for work. This is explained by the fact that the Swedes offer separate forms for each profession, which should contain information about the position held.

Visa for minors

The departure of children abroad is, on the one hand, regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation, and on the other hand, by the country where the child is sent. To visit Sweden, a minor must provide: a copy of his birth certificate, the consent of his parents/guardians (or one parent/guardian) in case of traveling accompanied by a third party or with one of his legal representatives.

Single parents must show a photocopy of the relevant certificate confirming their status or a certificate from the police stating that they do not have a relationship with the child’s second parent and his whereabouts are unknown; widows (widowers) provide a copy of the death certificate of their spouse.

Photo requirements

Accepted photographs are 3.5 x 4.5 cm with a head size of 3 cm in length, without a frame. The background is allowed only white, paper - matte or glossy. The applicant’s face is located in the center from the front; for correct identification, the oval must be clearly visible: not covered by hair, massive glasses, scarves and other objects, unless medical indications require it.

The length of the head from the chin to the crown is approximately 30 mm (70-80% of the area). The photo is taken from the front, the gaze is directed at the camera, there is no smile.

The age of the photo is 6 months, for children - 3 months.

Requirements for documents

Obtaining a visa to Sweden for Russians is a lengthy but not difficult task. Requires compliance with prescribed rules and recommendations. The application can only be completed in one of the two available languages ​​(Swedish, English).

• International passport. The validity period must be more than 90 days from the date of possible entry into the territory of a country that has signed the Schengen Agreement. This document must contain two blank pages. The period of its issuance is no more than 9 years.
• Scans from the following pages of the internal passport: with a photograph, a stamp with registration, marital status and information about obtaining a foreign passport.

Insurance policy requirements

Standard for trips for a short time interval from 7 to 21 days. The insurance limit should be up to 50 thousand euros. If the stay exceeds 1 month, then the insurance amount increases to 100 thousand euros.

If you are staying for a long time, more than 4 weeks, then you should increase the amount to 100 thousand euros.

Separately, you should consider the established requirements for photographs:

• Full face (neutral facial expression).
• Size 3.5x4.5 mm.
• Hair (especially bangs) should not cover the face.
• There are no glasses or hats on the photo (exception: religious prejudices).
• Natural skin color, without processing or retouching.
• 70–80% of the space of the photo card is allocated to the face.

Consular fee – 35 €

Currently, the consular fee for all types of visas is 35 EUR (paid in rubles in the amount of 2600 RUB). Urgent visa application costs 5200 RUB. In case of visa refusal, money is not returned. When applying to the visa center, you will additionally need to pay a service fee of RUB 1,575. Prices on the page are indicated for April 2021.

Children under 6 years of age, schoolchildren and students with accompanying teachers, participants in cultural, sports events and exchange programs, as well as scientists and persons with disabilities are exempt from paying the consular fee. In addition, the fee is not charged if the purpose of the trip is treatment, funeral of a close relative, or caring for illness.

When applying at the consulate, the cost of a visa is 35 EUR; at the visa center an additional service fee of 20 EUR is charged.

What to do if your visa to Sweden is refused?

If you have been denied a visa, we assure you that it is not the end of the world. Everything can be corrected. First you need to find out the reason for the refusal. Usually the Consulate indicates the reason for the refusal and issues it along with the passport. The reasons may be different, such as an unissued insurance policy, insufficient amount on a bank certificate, doubts from the Consulate about your return home, etc.

We will help you find out the exact reason for the refusal, fill out the documents correctly and correct the mistakes you made, and get a visa after Sweden’s refusal. We have received more than 90% of visas after refusal and know what to do and how to help you. After a refusal, you will have to collect documents for a visa again.

Application period for a visa to Sweden

The visa center website states that decisions on applications take 3-5 days. Considering that it takes another day to send documents to the embassy, ​​the actual period is 5-7 days. Migration department employees also issue ready-made passports within 5 days. In rare cases, the review time increases, and the applicant may be asked for additional data.

Information about the readiness of a visa can be obtained using an SMS notification from the visa center. Passport courier delivery service is also available for a fee.

Documents for a visa to Sweden: list from 2021

The website of the Swedish Embassy contains a list of required documents depending on the purpose of the trip. It is additionally stipulated that their translation into Swedish or English will speed up the processing time of the application by the visa officer.

Required documents to obtain a visa to Sweden in 2021:

1. questionnaire;
2. photo;
3. Consular fee in cash (strictly equal amount, no change);
4. valid international passport;
5. medical insurance (minimum 30 thousand euros);
6. confirmation of the availability of funds (on average 450 CZK per person per day) using a certificate from work, a bank statement, a sponsorship letter, etc.;
7. internal passport (original, copy).

Long-term visa applicants must add:

1. “Information about the family” (a special application form to the application form in Swedish or English);
2. copy of the international passport;
3. a copy of the return ticket.

Health insurance is not required for long-term visas. It is only recommended to purchase it.

Photo for a visa to Sweden

Swedish diplomats' photo requirements are the same as those common to all Schengen countries. The photograph must be recent (up to 6 months), size 35x45 mm, color, clear, without damage or retouching.

Visa documents for children

The package of documents for a visa for a minor has a number of differences. Thus, the form is signed not personally, but by legal representatives (parents, guardians). Also, for children under 14 years of age, a birth certificate is provided instead of an internal passport. Traditionally, a notarized exit permit is required if children cross the border without one/both parents.

The Swedes have a special application form for obtaining a residence permit for persons under 18 years of age. You can download it in English or Swedish from the Migration Board website.

Additional documents for different types of visas

It is possible to obtain a residence permit to study in Sweden only if you have proof of enrollment in full-time study. You will also need proof of a minimum of 8 thousand crowns for 1 month to live in Swedish territory and a comprehensive health insurance policy.

For a Schengen Swedish visa for various purposes of visit, you must provide:

• booking hotels, tickets as confirmation of the route for tourists;
• an invitation from the host company for businessmen and individual entrepreneurs;
• certificate of courses for short-term training, internship;
• a written request from the host, confirmation of his solvency for a guest visa.

Unlike Schengen and study visas, obtaining a work permit in Sweden is quite difficult. You will need to provide a job offer, union agreement and other documents from the Swedish employer to the embassy or online.

Sweden

Visa validity periods

A Schengen visa to Sweden is valid for 90 days within six months. Russian citizens with “clean” passports who have not previously visited Europe receive a visa for a short period (for example, for a month). Experienced travelers have every chance of an annual Schengen with an unlimited number of entries. A compromise option is a six-month multi-Schengen visa, which goes to applicants with one or two correctly “redeemed” visas.

If you properly justify the need for frequent trips to Sweden (to visit relatives, for work), you can request a visa with a validity period of at least 2 years. To do this, you need to draw up a so-called motivation letter, state your situation in it and attach it to the general package of documents.

Do Russians need a visa to Sweden in 2020?

Sweden is part of Schengen, so Russians should definitely obtain a Schengen visa before traveling. Such visiting conditions apply to all citizens of the post-Soviet space. The exception is residents of Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Georgia, Estonia and Ukraine.

The government of this European country is loyal to Russians, so the visa application scheme is thought out to the smallest detail and well worked out. Thanks to these features, there should be no problems in obtaining it.

According to the new requirements, from 2021 all foreigners must undergo a fingerprinting procedure before traveling to Sweden: fingerprints are taken to confirm their identity.

If a visa is being issued for the first time, the recipient must come in person to the visa center or embassy. When re-registering, personal presence will not be required.

Embassy and consulates of Sweden in Russia

Embassy of Sweden in Moscow

Sweden Visa Application Center in Moscow

Sweden Visa Application Center in St. Petersburg