Visa Requirements for Swedish Citizens

Visa requirements for citizens of Sweden are the rules set by each country for Swedish visitors. They determine if an entry permit is required and, if so, which type of visa or travel authorization is needed in a particular situation.

The Henley Passport Index ranks the Swedish passport 6th in the world in terms of travel freedom in 2021. It grants holders entry to over 180 countries and territories around the world without having to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate.

Different destinations have different visa requirements for Swedes. In addition, the type of visa required for a national of Sweden to enter a particular country may depend on the length of time they plan to spend there and the purpose of the trip.

Travelers from Sweden are required to get a visa or travel authorization that covers the activities they plan to undertake in the foreign country. This may mean a tourist visa, business visa, study visa, work visa, or transit visa, for example.

Swedish citizens can obtain an entry permit online for various countries. This may either be an electronic visa (eVisa) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

These digital options are generally the quickest and most convenient way for Swedes to get authorization to enter a foreign state.

Some countries have a visa on arrival service that Swedish visitors may use. This involves standing in line at border control to fill out a visa application before clearing immigration.

To travel to certain destinations, citizens of Sweden are required to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate, regardless of the reason for their visit or the length of time they plan to stay.

In order to relocate to most foreign countries or perform employed work there, Swedish nationals must apply for the relevant long-term visa(s) and permits from an embassy.

There are also a number of countries that Swedish passport holders may visit without a visa.

For more information about visa requirements for Swedish nationals, see the guide below.

List of Visa Countries for Swedish Passport Holders

Swedish passport holders need a visa to visit over 125 different countries.

The visa requirements for Swedish citizens vary depending on the destination.

A number of destinations have either an eVisa or eTA system that travelers from Sweden can use to complete an online application form and receive their travel permits by email.

The ability to apply online means avoiding any unnecessary trip to an embassy and allows Swedish passport holders to get their travel permits from the comfort of their own homes.

Other countries’ visa requirements for nationals of Sweden dictate that they must apply at an embassy or consulate and submit the form and supporting documents in person. This includes tourist visas and other short-stay visas.

A small number of destinations have a visa on arrival option for Swedes, although this can involve spending extra time at immigration control.

In most cases, long-stay visas for Swedish citizens can only be obtained from an embassy or consulate. The same applies to residence visas/permits and work visas/permits.

Consult the map below to find out the visa requirements for visitors from Sweden to travel to any country or territory in the world.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization for Swedish Citizens

Citizens of Sweden can obtain authorization to enter various countries by applying online. There are 2 types of digital entry permits depending on the destination: the electronic visa (eVisa) and the electronic travel authorization (eTA).

An eVisa for Swedish citizens is a visa that is obtained online, avoiding a trip to an embassy.

An eTA for nationals of Sweden is a visa waiver that means the traveler does not have to apply for a visa at all if they register online.

In practice, the processes of applying for eTAs and eVisas for Swedish nationals are very similar.

Around 35 different countries have either an eVisa or eTA for Swedes.

Both eVisas and eTAs are generally valid for short stays. They allow a maximum of 14 days to 3 months, depending on the country in question.

Depending on the country, an eVisa or eTA for Swedish travelers may allow a single entry or multiple entries.

Swedish citizens can typically use an eVisa or eTA to visit a foreign state for the purposes of tourism and leisure. Depending on the country, other reasons for traveling, such as business, may also be permitted. Transit through the country to another destination is usually also allowed with an eVisa or eTA.

Applying for an eTA or eVisa for Swedes is simple — travelers must complete a quick online form. Swedish citizens must provide the required personal and passport details and answer any other questions, which often include travel plans.

Supporting documents, such as a scan of their Swedish passport, must be uploaded and sent along with the application.

The approved eVisa or eTA will be received by the Swedish visitor at the email address they provided in the questionnaire.

See below the list of countries that Swedes can visit with either an eVisa or an eTA.

Visa On Arrival for Citizens of Sweden

A visa on arrival (VoA) for Swedish citizens is a type of visa that can be obtained by applying at the border of the destination country.

Around 20 different countries and territories have visa on arrival facilities available to visitors from Sweden.

VoAs for Swedes are typically granted for short visits. Depending on the destination, they may allow a maximum stay of between 7 days and 3 months.

They typically allow a single entry to the country, although some destinations may have multiple-entry options.

Swedish travelers can use a visa on arrival to enter a country for tourism, leisure, and, in some cases, business and other purposes. It may also be possible to get a visa on arrival for transit.

Visas on arrival are generally available at certain points of entry to a country. These are usually major airports, seaports, and land crossings. It is important for Swedish visitors who plan to apply for a VoA to check that this is possible at their intended entry point.

Applying for a visa on arrival for citizens of Sweden involves joining a queue at border control and filling out the paperwork there and then. This can mean spending a lot of extra time at immigration before being allowed to enter the country.

In the unlikely event of a problem with the application, such as missing documents, the Swedish traveler may be denied entry and will have to return home. This can be avoided by applying online in advance, if this is an option for the destination in question.

Find out which countries have a visa on arrival for Swedes in the list below.

Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Comoros
Gabon
Guinea-Bissau
Lebanon
Mauritania
Mozambique
Pakistan
Somalia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Embassy Visa Required for Swedish Citizens

An embassy visa for Swedish nationals is any type of visa issued by an overseas diplomatic mission.

The visa requirements for Swedes to travel to around 75 countries state that it is necessary to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate to visit for any reason or length of time. This includes tourist visas.

In addition, Swedes who intend to live and/or work abroad must apply for the relevant visas and/or permits at an embassy, in line with most countries’ immigration requirements for Swedish citizens.

To apply for an embassy visa, nationals of Sweden must generally go to a diplomatic mission in person and submit the application and supporting documents.

Embassies are generally found in foreign capitals. All foreign embassies to Sweden are found in Stockholm and its suburbs. Some countries have consulates in other major cities. In Sweden’s case, several are located in Gothenburg.

Diplomatic missions often take longer to process visa applications than online options. In some cases, it can take several weeks or even months to receive an approved visa. Swedish nationals are advised to apply well in advance of their trip.

Consult the list below to find out which countries require Swedish travelers to apply for an embassy or consular visa for any reason, including short-term visits as a tourist.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antarctica
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guernsey
Iraq
Isle of Man
Jersey
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Montserrat
Nauru
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Tokelau
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required by Swedish Nationals

Citizens of Sweden enjoy visa exemption for a number of destinations. This means that they only require a Swedish passport to enter.

Around 115 countries have no visa requirements for Swedish citizens.

For most destinations, visa exemption for nationals of Sweden only applies for short visits of up to anything between 14 days and 1 year.

Swedish travelers can enter most of these countries visa-free for tourism and leisure. Some also permit business trips visa-free. Swedes generally do not need a visa to transit through any of these countries either.

In order to stay long-term or live and/or work in most of these countries, Swedish passport holders will need to apply for the relevant visa.

However, some of these countries also have a policy of freedom of movement towards Swedes. This means that they are also visa-exempt to live and work in these states.

See below the list of countries that offer visa exemption for Swedish citizens.

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Spain
Swaziland
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela

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Freedom of Movement for Swedes

Sweden is part of the European Union (EU) and Schengen Area. These organizations have a policy of freedom of movement for citizens of all member states.

This means that Swedish nationals have the right to visit, live, and work in any EU and/or Schengen country without a visa.

Swedes are also able to travel to and enter any of these countries using their ID Card instead of their passport if they so choose.

See below the list of EU and Schengen countries for which Swedish citizens enjoy complete freedom of movement.