Study in Sweden from Nepal and India

Sweden student visa at a glance

Visa fee

SEK 1,500

Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

SEK 127,872

Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Work in term

15 hrs/wk

Term-time work

Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

1 yr

Permit to look for work

Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in Sweden you apply for the Residence permit for studies in higher education. The main visa fee is SEK 1,500. You must also show SEK 10,656 per month: money that stays yours. You can work up to 15 hours a week during term. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 12 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).

How much does it cost to study in Sweden?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the Sweden student visa?

Admission

You must be finally admitted to full-time, on-site studies (30 credits per semester); distance learning does not qualify. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Tuition before applying

Pay any tuition fee before you apply; your university notifies the Migration Agency, and you count as finally admitted only once it is paid. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Bank statement

Must be issued no more than four months before the date you want the permit to start. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Insurance

Comprehensive health insurance is required if your studies last less than a year; longer stays should register in the population register. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Passport check and biometrics

Most applicants do a digital passport check by app; visa-required nationals give fingerprints and a photo at an embassy for the permit card. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Processing time

75% of recently decided cases were decided within 3 months. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Permit length

One or two years at a time depending on the university, never longer than your passport; extendable. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Study progress

From 11 June 2026 full-time students need 37.5 credits in year one and 45 credits a year after that, or the permit may be revoked or not extended. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

English requirement

Most programmes require English 6, e.g. IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section below 5.5. Source: universityadmissions.se (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in Sweden?

Term-time work

Bachelor's and master's students granted a permit on or after 11 June 2026 may work at most 15 hours a week; working more can lead to revocation. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Exceptions

No limit in June–August, for internships in the programme, or student representation/administration/research at your university. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Earlier permits

The 15-hour limit applies to students with permits granted before 11 June 2026 once they extend. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

Permit to look for work

After completing bachelor's or master's studies you can get a permit for up to one year to look for work or explore starting a business. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Conditions

Apply before your study permit expires, with passing grades in the whole programme, maintenance for the full period and insurance if needed. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Switching permits in Sweden

From 11 June 2026 you generally need a completed programme of at least two semesters to switch to, e.g., a work permit from inside Sweden. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in Sweden?

Compare universities across countries

What has changed recently?

1. 1 Jan 2026

   Maintenance requirement is SEK 10,656 a month for applications made in 2026 (SEK 10,584 in 2025). Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 11 Jun 2026

   New rules: 15-hour weekly work cap in term time, higher study-progress requirement, address notification within 30 days, two completed semesters needed to switch permits in Sweden. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

3. 1 Oct 2026

   Family members staying up to a year need comprehensive health insurance and a guardianship rule applies to children; the maintenance requirement is unchanged. Source: Swedish Migration Agency (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Whether the Consulate General in Mumbai accepts student biometrics (the embassy page says only New Delhi).
• Exact tuition for your programme — see the programme page on universityadmissions.se or the university’s site.
• Whether a visa application centre (VFS) handles any step for Swedish permits in Nepal or India — check the Embassy in New Delhi.

Official sources for Sweden

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket)immigration_authority · Residence permits
2. 2Migrationsverket – residence permit for higher educationstudent_visa · Requirements, fee SEK 1,500, funds SEK 10,656/month, 15 h work, processing
3. 3Migrationsverket – new rules from 11 June 2026work · 15 h/week, study progress, address notification
4. 4Migrationsverket – new rules for family members of students (1 Oct 2026)changes · Family insurance and guardianship rules
5. 5Migrationsverket – look for work after completing studiespost_study · Up to 1 year job-search permit
6. 6Embassy of Sweden, New Delhiembassy_india · Embassy for India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives
7. 7Embassy of Sweden – biometrics and passport checks (India)embassy_india · Biometrics only at New Delhi; jurisdiction list
8. 8Embassy of Sweden – studying in Sweden (India)embassy_india · Apply online; tips
9. 9Embassy of Sweden – residence permit (Nepal)embassy_nepal · Nepali biometrics at Embassy New Delhi
10. 10University Admissions in Sweden – application feestudy_portal · SEK 900 per semester
11. 11University Admissions – paying your tuition feestuition · Tuition paid to university before permit approval
12. 12University Admissions – English language requirementslanguage · English 6 / IELTS 6.5
13. 13University Admissions – country instructions: Indiarecognition · Indian degrees and English
14. 14University Admissions – country instructions: Nepalrecognition · Nepali degrees and English
15. 15Study in Sweden – fees and costs (Swedish Institute)study_portal · Tuition range, living cost SEK 10,656/month