Sweden visa options for India passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa required
Arrange a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Sweden
Rules are written for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (third-country nationals); EU/EEA and Swiss citizens have free-movement rights and generally do not need a visa or permit to enter, work, or study in Sweden.
- Most nomadsTourist
Schengen Short-Stay Visa (C-visa)
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period (Schengen-wide).
- Insurance
- Required— travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000, valid across all Schengen states for the full stay, including emergency care, hospital treatment and medical repatriation.
- Good for
- Visa-required non-EU nationals visiting Sweden for tourism, family/friends, business meetings or other short visits.
- Requirement
- Passport valid 3+ months beyond intended departure and issued within last 10 years; proof of purpose (e.g. invitation or hotel booking), return ticket, and funds of approx. SEK 450 per day of stay. Apply up to 6 months ahead; decisions typically within ~15 days.
- Business
Residence Permit for Self-Employment / Own Business
Up to 2 years initially, not beyond passport validity; renewable and can lead to permanent residence.
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required — Migrationsverket does not list a mandatory health-insurance requirement for this permit, but private medical cover is strongly recommended until covered by the Swedish system.
- Good for
- Non-EU/EEA nationals who want to start and run their own business in Sweden (must own at least 51% and actively run it).
- Requirement
- Proven 51%+ ownership and active control; relevant industry/business track record; established customer contacts or networks; credible budget; personal funds of approx. SEK 200,000 (plus SEK 100,000 per accompanying spouse and SEK 50,000 per child) — verify figures; good Swedish or English.
- Most nomadsWork
Work Permit (Employee)
Granted for up to 2 years, not exceeding the employment contract or passport validity; renewable, and a path toward permanent residence.
- Insurance
- Required— employer must provide health, life, occupational-injury and occupational-pension insurance; for postings of one year or less, comprehensive health insurance (medical care, hospitalisation, emergency dental, repatriation) is also mandatory.
- Good for
- Non-EU/EEA nationals with a confirmed job offer from a Swedish (or foreign) employer for employment in Sweden.
- Requirement
- Signed employment contract; salary at least 90% of the Swedish median wage (approx. SEK 33,390/month, verify current figure) — note new labour-immigration rules apply from 1 June 2026; pay and terms must also meet collective-agreement or industry standards. Employer must arrange standard work-related insurances.
- Most nomadsWork
EU Blue Card (Highly Qualified Employment)
Issued for at least 9 months up to a maximum of 4 years (matching the contract); renewable, with facilitated mobility within the EU.
- Insurance
- Required— comprehensive health insurance covering urgent and routine care, hospitalisation, emergency dental and repatriation; for stays under one year, cover must extend approx. 3 months beyond the employment.
- Good for
- Highly qualified non-EU/EEA professionals with a higher-education degree (or 5+ years relevant experience) and a qualifying job offer in Sweden.
- Requirement
- Higher education (approx. 180+ credits) or 5 years relevant experience; signed contract of at least 6 months in a highly qualified role; gross salary at or above the annual threshold (SEK 52,000/month since 9 July 2025 — verify the current threshold).
- Work
Working Holiday Permit
Up to 12 months; work is permitted but must not be the main purpose of the stay.
- Insurance
- Recommended— comprehensive private health/travel insurance is strongly advised for the duration of the stay (confirm specific requirements with Migrationsverket).
- Good for
- Young people (typically aged 18-30) from countries with a reciprocal agreement with Sweden (e.g. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Hong Kong) wanting to experience Swedish life and culture.
- Requirement
- Eligible nationality with a working-holiday agreement; within the age range; sufficient funds (at least approx. SEK 15,000 on arrival — verify); valid passport.
- Study
Residence Permit for Studies (Higher Education)
Granted for the duration of studies (typically renewed per study period); after graduation a separate permit to seek work/start a business may be available.
- Insurance
- Requiredfor short programmes — students admitted to studies lasting under one year need comprehensive health insurance (emergency and other medical care, hospitalisation, emergency dental) for the full stay if not covered by the institution; longer-stay students are generally covered by Swedish residence registration.
- Good for
- Non-EU/EEA students admitted to full-time university/college studies in Sweden for longer than 3 months.
- Requirement
- Final admission to full-time studies (30 credits/semester) with tuition paid where applicable; proof of sufficient funds to support yourself (recent bank statement, issued within last ~4 months); valid passport.
- Residence
Permanent Residence Permit (PUT)
Permanent (indefinite), subject to maintaining residence in Sweden.
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required — permanent residents are covered by the Swedish public healthcare and social-insurance system.
- Good for
- Non-EU/EEA nationals who have lived and worked in Sweden long-term and want to settle permanently.
- Requirement
- Generally several years of lawful residence (e.g. work-permit holders typically after about 4 years of work within the last 7 years; verify your category); ability to support yourself with an income leaving a required margin after housing (approx. SEK 6,243/month for a single adult in 2026 — verify); application fee approx. SEK 2,000.
Indicative summary of Swedish entry/residence routes from official Migrationsverket sources; thresholds and rules change (notably new work-permit rules from 1 June 2026) — always verify current figures with Migrationsverket before applying. Last checked: 2026-06.
Last verified June 2026
Routes that depend on your nationality
Some of Sweden’s long-stay routes are open only to citizens of specific countries. Here’s where a India passport stands:
Working Holiday Visa (for young people)
Not open to India passport holders
Open only to citizens of Sweden's bilateral partner countries: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea (confirmed on the official Migrationsverket page, June 2026). Applicant must be 18-30 years old; permit granted for max 1 year (never beyond passport validity); requires at least SEK 15,000 of funds on arrival; work is permitted but must not be the main purpose of the stay. No quota stated. Earlier agreements with Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are not currently listed as active (previously suspended).
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Sweden, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
India → Sweden: frequently asked
- Do India passport holders need a visa to visit Sweden?
- Visa required. Arrange a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a India passport holder live or work long-term in Sweden?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Sweden has 7 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Sweden?
- Entry to Sweden never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Sweden visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.