Sweden · Student
Uppehållstillstånd för studier vid högre utbildning (residence permit for higher education studies)
Uppehållstillstånd för studier vid högre utbildning (residence permit for higher education studies) is issued by Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency). VisaAI tracks 11 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.
Last verified against the official source on .
VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.
Requirements change. Confirm every item on Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency)’s own page before you apply.
Conditions you must meet
- Be finally admitted to full-time studiesTranslation: you must be finally admitted to full-time studies in Sweden. 'Finally admitted' is the operative word — see tuition_paid_for_final_admission.
- Distance learning does not qualifyTranslation: you cannot get a residence permit for studies conducted as distance learning.
- Full-time means 30 higher education credits per semester, or 20 teaching hours a week elsewhereTranslation: for university studies, 30 higher education credits per semester counts as full-time; for other education, such as folk high school, studies must comprise at least 20 teaching hours per week on average.
- Any tuition fees must be paid before you apply — that is what makes admission finalTranslation: you must have paid any tuition fees before you apply; only once the fee is paid are you counted as finally admitted. The institution notifies Migrationsverket when it is paid.
- Studies under one year require comprehensive health insurance for the whole stayTranslation: if admitted to studies lasting less than a year you need comprehensive health insurance; if not covered by the institution you must hold or have applied for your own, valid for your whole stay and covering emergency and other medical care, hospital stays, emergency dental care and medical repatriation.
- Support yourself for the whole permit period, and your family if they apply with youTranslation: your means must cover the entire period you apply for; if your family applies with you, you must support them too unless they have their own means.
- SEK 10,656 per month for 2026 applications; SEK 10,584 for 2025SEK 10,584 per month 2025 · SEK 10,656 per month 2026Translation: the maintenance requirement is at least SEK 10,656 per month if you applied in 2026, at least SEK 10,584 if you applied in 2025. Two years are published side by side, and the amount depends on the year of APPLICATION, not of study.
- Reduced by SEK 2,960 for free food and SEK 4,736 for free housing (2026 applications)SEK 2,960 food deduction 2026 · SEK 4,736 housing deduction 2026Translation: the monthly amount can be reduced by SEK 2,960 for free food and SEK 4,736 for free housing if you applied during 2026. Applies where the institution or an international exchange organisation provides them.
- Add SEK 4,440 a month for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 for each childSEK 2,664 per child per month · SEK 4,440 spouse partner per monthTranslation: then SEK 4,440 per month is added for a spouse or cohabiting partner and SEK 2,664 per month for each child. Migrationsverket assesses the family's combined capacity.
- Means may be own savings, scholarship, study grant or loan, sponsor, or employment incomeTranslation: you must show money available through your own bank assets, a scholarship, a study grant or student loan from your home country, a sponsor, or employment income. Forms may be combined.
Documents you must provide
- A valid passportTranslation: you must have a valid passport.
Official sources
- Studier vid högre utbildning — Requirements, Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency)