Sweden tourist visa
Sweden does not issue its own tourist visa. What you apply for is the Schengen short-stay visa (Type C / uniform visa), and once stamped it lets an Indian passport holder move freely for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the entire Schengen area. The rule for choosing Sweden as your mission is simple: apply here when Sweden is your main destination, meaning the country where you will spend the most days. Where no single country stands out, apply where you first set foot in Schengen — and if that is Sweden, this is your route.
For applicants in India, the file is decided by the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi and submitted through VFS Global, which runs Swedish visa application centres in nine cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Expect a decision in about 15 calendar days for most cases. When a file needs a closer look, that window can stretch to 45 days, and in rare instances 60 — the embassy alone sets both the timeline and the outcome.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Travelling to Sweden for tourism, sightseeing or a personal visit of up to 90 days.
- ✓Sweden is your main destination (the country where you spend the most days) or your first point of entry into the Schengen area.
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages.
- ✓Proof of funds of at least SEK 450 for each day of your stay in Sweden.
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000 across all Schengen countries for the entire trip, from a Schengen-approved insurer.
- ✓Clear intention and ties to return to India before the visa expires.
Visa options for Sweden
Tourist visa (Schengen Type C)
For holidays and sightseeing; needs confirmed return flights, hotel bookings for the full stay and proof of funds.
Visiting family & friends (Schengen Type C)
For personal visits; needs an invitation from your host in Sweden with their identity or residence proof.
Business & conference visa (Schengen Type C)
For meetings, trade fairs or conferences; needs an invitation from the Swedish company or organiser.
National (long-stay) visa or residence permit
For stays over 90 days; handled by the Swedish Migration Agency, not the short-stay Schengen route.
Documents typically required
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid three months beyond departure, with two blank pages, plus copies of the data and any extension/observation pages
- ✓Completed and signed Schengen visa application form (in English or Swedish)
- ✓Recent passport-size photograph to Schengen specification
- ✓Flight tickets covering the whole trip
- ✓Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings) for the entire stay in the Schengen area
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen countries for the full trip including arrival and departure dates, from a Schengen-approved insurer
- ✓Personal bank statements showing at least SEK 450 per day of stay
- ✓Cover letter with a day-by-day travel itinerary
- ✓Proof of employment or business (leave letter, or business registration and income-tax returns)
- ✓Invitation letter from your host in Sweden, where visiting family or friends
- ✓Documents on A4 paper; any document not in English or Swedish with an authorised translation
- ✓Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) given in person at VFS; children under 12 are exempt
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. On top of the Schengen visa fee, VFS Global adds a service fee of EUR 19 per application. The Schengen fee itself is EUR 90 for applicants aged 12 and over, EUR 45 for ages 6–11, and nothing for children under 6. You may lodge no earlier than six months before you travel. Remember that the visa is not an entry pass — Swedish border control makes the final call when you land.
Frequently asked questions
Should I apply to Sweden or to another Schengen country?
Apply to Sweden when it is your main destination — the country where you will spend the most days. If the trip is split evenly with no clear main destination, apply to whichever country you enter first. Filing with the wrong mission is one of the most common causes of delay and refusal, so settle this before anything else.
How long does a Sweden Schengen visa take?
For most files, a decision comes within about 15 calendar days of your application reaching the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi. Apply outside Delhi and you add a couple of days for postal transit. Some cases run to 45 days, occasionally 60. Give yourself room and apply well ahead — the embassy controls the clock.
How long can I stay, and where can I travel?
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and the visa opens the whole Schengen area to you, not just Sweden. A multiple-entry visa may be granted for as long as five years, but the 90-in-180 limit still applies to every stay.
Do you guarantee the visa?
No. The decision always rests with the embassy or consulate. What we do is give you a frank assessment and make your application as strong as it can be. Our historical success rate is 97% over the last 2–3 years.