After submitting your application, how long does Sweden Schengen visa take? Will you have to wait for several weeks or just a few days before the visa is ready? The answer is not as straightforward as one would expect because several factors may influence processing timelines, but overall, your visa should be ready in 15 days, give or take.
Those planning to visit Sweden may or may not require this visa depending on their nationality, so there is more they should know regarding the application process. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is A Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa is a travel permit issued to visitors coming to Sweden for a short time. This document allows the holder to stay in the country for up to 90 days from the date it is issued, and they can visit any of the 27 countries in the Schengen zone.
Schengen visas are multiple entry visas valid for 180 days and remain the most popular visas used by visitors to tour Europe. Due to the free movement policy agreed upon by all member nations of the Schengen zone, a visitor may obtain a visa for Sweden and use the same visa to visit other countries in the region and not be turned back at the airport or border crossing.
Schengen visas are solely for tourism, family, friends, or business visits. One may use it for legal purposes, provided the engagement does not exceed 90 days.
Sweden In The Schengen Zone
Sweden is the most popular tourist destination among all Scandinavian countries, which includes Finland, Denmark, Norway, and even Iceland if we want to cover the whole region. The county enjoys a much warmer climate compared to its Scandinavian neighbors, which makes it the perfect hangout for those seeking outdoor fun. Stockholm, which doubles as the capital, is also the country's most populated and most visited city.
There are museums dedicated to arts and history, restaurants, hotels and resorts along the coast, and lots of pleasant delights that will excite and keep you busy during your time in the country. However, you will need a visa to enter Sweden if you do not qualify for free entry.
Who Needs A Schengen Visa To Enter Sweden?
Visitors not from visa-free countries need Schengen visas to enter Sweden. There are more than 60 countries on the visa-free lists, most of which are first and second world countries in North and South American countries, including Asia. Check the list of countries to see if your country is listed as a free country; if not, you will need a visa.
Citizens from other Schengen countries don't need this visa to enter member states due to the EU's free entry and free exit policy. All they need to show at the border or airport ask a valid ID card like a driver's license.
Which Other Countries Can You Visit?
A few other non Schengen countries in Europe recognize this visa. For instance, Croatia is not yet a Schengen country, but it will be by 2024; before then, you can visit the country with this visa. Other non-countries that accept this visa are Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania, the countries you can enter with this visa.
Schengen Visa Cost
The visa has an application fee attached to it. The fee charged depends on the applicant's age. Persons under six years and above 80 years do not pay an application fee for the visa. Others above 7 -17 pay €40 while those between 18-80 pay €80. This fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee that you will be issued the visa; it is merely used for document processing.
How To Get The Visa?
You can get this visa by visiting the Sweden embassy in your country to book an appointment and submit your documents for processing. The other method is to go online; however, the online option is not open to all applicants. If you can apply online, head to the VisaHQ application page to do the following
Log onto VisaHQ
Choose Sweden as your first destination
Choose your country
Select the visa you want
Complete the application form
Attach the required documents
Pay the visa application fee
Submit for approval
Once you submit the form, the process will commence and may take a few days or up to 2-3 weeks before it is sent to your inbox. Your nationality and the volume of the embassy's online applications will determine the processing time. So it is best to submit your application as soon as possible.
How long does Sweden Schengen visa take? Processing takes about 15 days. You can submit your documents via VisaHQ for processing if you qualify for the online application.