Sweden business visa

Route the application through Sweden's mission only when Sweden is your main destination — the country where you will spend the most time — or, if two stays are equal, your first point of entry into the Schengen area. Once the file reaches the embassy, a decision normally follows within 15 calendar days, though in some cases the consulate can take up to 45. The visa then opens the whole Schengen area to you, so long as you stay within the 90-days-in-any-180-days limit.

Who this visa is for

• ✓Indian passport holders travelling to Sweden for short business purposes (meetings, negotiations, conferences or trade fairs) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• ✓Sweden must be your main destination (longest stay) or, where stays are equal, your first point of entry into the Schengen area.
• ✓Passport valid at least three months beyond your intended date of departure, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages.
• ✓A signed invitation from a Swedish company or conference/trade-fair organiser confirming the dates and purpose of the visit.
• ✓Proof of sufficient funds (Sweden requires SEK 450 per day of stay) and travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 valid across the Schengen area.
• ✓Evidence of ties to India and intention to return before the visa expires.

Visa options for Sweden

Documents typically required

• ✓Completed and signed Schengen visa application form, filled in English or Swedish.
• ✓Passport valid at least three months beyond intended departure, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages, plus any older passports.
• ✓Two recent passport photographs to Schengen/ICAO specification.
• ✓Signed invitation letter from the Swedish company or conference/trade-fair organiser, with contact details, stating the dates and purpose of the visit and who is responsible for covering your costs.
• ✓Proof of the business relationship: contracts, invoices, correspondence or proof of import; for conferences, confirmation of fee payment; for trade fairs, the ticket or organiser's invitation.
• ✓Employer's no-objection / leave-approval letter on company letterhead stating your designation and return to employment (salaried); company registration and GST proof for business owners and the self-employed.
• ✓Income Tax Returns for the last two years or Form 16 (salaried), plus personal and/or company bank statements for the last three months showing funds of at least SEK 450 per day of stay.
• ✓Flight tickets and proof of accommodation in Sweden.
• ✓Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with minimum cover of EUR 30,000, including emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
• ✓Cover letter explaining the trip. Documents not in English or Swedish must carry a certified translation, and all documents are submitted on A4 paper.

Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.

Applications from India are decided by the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi. VFS Global accepts Sweden applications at nine centres in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Ahmedabad); files lodged outside New Delhi are couriered to the embassy, adding around two days. Biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photo) are given in person and can be reused within five years, and repeat travellers with a clean record may qualify for longer multiple-entry visas under the EU's cascade rule for Indian nationals.

Frequently asked questions