- English
If you are a non-EU citizen who wants to apply for a residence permit/work permit for Sweden, for most types of permits, a first-time application (non-extension) should be submitted and finalised from outside of Sweden, normally from your country of origin/residence. At some stage in the application process, before a decision can be made in the case, an in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad will most likely be required.
For citizens/non-EU residents of New Zealand, in-person visits required in matters concerning residence permits/work permits for Sweden are handled by Sweden’s Mission abroad in Australia, which is the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra. It is not possible to visit any of Sweden’s Honorary Consulates in New Zealand.
Depending on the type of residence permit/work permit being applied for, as well as circumstances of an individual case, the timing and purpose for a required in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad may vary. In all types of applications, a passport check is required. In some types of applications and some cases, an interview with the applicant may also be required. During a required in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad, in preparation for the issuing of a residence permit card if the application is later granted, the applicant’s fingerprints and photograph may be taken.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ONLINE
If you are a non-EU citizen who applies online through the Swedish Migration Agency’s website for a first-time residence permit/work permit for Sweden (based on family ties, employment, working holiday, studies, research, or other reasons), if the application progresses after initial assessment, the Swedish Migration Agency at a later stage in the process determines whether an in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad is required before a decision can be made in the case, and if so, what type of visit is required. If an in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad is required in your case, the Swedish Migration Agency informs you via email when it is time for the in-person visit to take place.
After a required in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad has been completed, the case is sent from the Swedish Mission abroad back to the Swedish Migration Agency in Sweden, who will assess the case further and make a decision. An in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad is usually requested as one of the last few steps in the application process. It is not possible to say how long it may take to receive a decision, after an in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad has taken place.
VISIT SWEDEN FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS
If you are a non-EU citizen who is outside of Sweden and wants to apply for a residence permit to visit Sweden for more than 90 days, your application must be submitted during an in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad. During the initial in-person visit at a Swedish Mission abroad for submission of the application, any other required steps are also completed. After the application has been submitted, it will be forwarded from the Swedish Mission abroad to the Swedish Migration Agency in Sweden for assessment and a decision.