GoSweden Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Chinese citizens who travel to Sweden for sightseeing, business visits, attending conferences, visiting relatives and friends, or transit should obtain an entry visa in advance. The visa allows foreign nationals to visit Sweden or other Schengen countries for a short-term visit of 90 days.

Applying for a Swedish Schengen visa within 90 days: For first-time applications, visa applications can be processed through VFS Global, the official visa processing agency designated by the Swedish Embassy in China. Please visit https://visa.vfsglobal.com/chn/zh/swe Follow the website prompts to complete the online form, then proceed to the designated location as instructed to submit the materials on-site and collect fingerprints; If fingerprints for a Swedish visa have been collected within the past five years, you do not need to go to the site to apply for a Swedish visa again. You can submit the documents through an agent.

For more information, please visit the website of the Swedish Embassy in China:

https://www.swedenabroad.se/zh-cn/embassies/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC/

If you wish to reside in Sweden for a longer period of time (exceeding 3 months), you need to apply for a long-term visa (residence) in person at the Swedish Embassy in China or the Swedish Consulate General in Shanghai. Please refer to the website of the Swedish Embassy in China for details.

If you need to extend your residence in Sweden for any reason, you need to apply to the Swedish Immigration Office, and there are different requirements depending on the type of residence permit. For example, to extend your work residence permit, you need to submit PAYE tax application form, payroll and other materials. If you hold a work residence permit for more than six months, you can still continue to work during the waiting period for a decision; To extend the study residence permit, proof issued by the university and monthly bank statements are required. After the original study residence permit expires, one must return to their home country to wait for a decision. Please visit the official website of the Swedish Immigration Agency for details https://www.migrationsverket.se/English.html Click on the "Extend a permit" column below, select the type of residence permit that needs to be extended, and view the required documents.

Attention: Since May 2024, some Chinese citizens traveling to Sweden have reported that their actual itinerary does not match the itinerary filled in when applying for a visa, or their main destination country is Sweden but they did not hold a Schengen visa to enter the country. After being discovered by Swedish law enforcement agencies, their visas were cancelled, and they were detained or deported, causing great trouble and inconvenience for their subsequent travel.

To ensure a smooth trip, Chinese citizens traveling to Switzerland are advised to apply for a Schengen visa from the embassy or consulate of the country with the longest planned stay (i.e. the main destination country) before going to Switzerland; If there is no main destination country, please apply for a Schengen visa from the embassy or consulate of the first country you intend to enter. Please ensure that all visa application materials are true, complete, and valid, and avoid false reporting or concealment of actual travel or entry purposes; When entering the country, please be sure to truthfully answer questions raised by border officials such as the purpose of the visit and the length of stay according to the information provided when applying for a visa, in order to avoid errors. Also, do not fabricate information that does not match the application materials, otherwise you may be refused entry; During your stay in Switzerland, if you encounter questioning and investigation by local law enforcement personnel, please cooperate, treat them rationally during inspections, answer questions truthfully, and avoid disputes or taking extreme actions. If you believe that the other party has committed infringement, you can ask them to show their identification, record their work permit and license plate information, etc., and protect their legitimate rights and interests through legal means.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Chinese citizens entering Sweden should pay special attention to whether they carry alcohol, tobacco, food, cash, drugs, and dangerous goods with them. If passengers carry alcohol or tobacco with them not exceeding the amount specified by customs and use it for personal purposes, they do not need to pay customs duties when entering Sweden. Specifically, those who bring alcohol into the country must be at least 20 years old, with a tax-free limit of 1 liter of beverages with an alcohol content exceeding 22%, or 2 liters of wine with an alcohol content above 15% but below 22%, or 4 liters of wine with an alcohol content below 15%, or beer not exceeding 16 liters. For those entering with cigarettes, the tax-free limit is 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco. In terms of food, there are usually no restrictions on food purchased from other EU countries for personal use, but food brought into Sweden from non EU regions faces strict control. Different food products have different entry rules, and meat, dairy products, etc. require health certificates and will be quarantined at the border. In terms of cash, passengers carrying more than 10000 euros or equivalent cash with them entering or leaving the country need to declare to customs. In terms of medication, passengers are allowed to carry prescription drugs for their own health reasons. Only with permission from the Swedish police can passengers bring dangerous goods such as spring knives, pepper spray, batons, rivet gloves, hammers, firearms and ammunition into the country.

For more information, please visit the Swedish Customs website:

https://www.tullverket.se/en/private/travellingtosweden.4.7df61c5915510cfe9e75a05.html

Residency and Naturalization

Chinese citizens who plan to study in Sweden for more than 3 months need to apply for a residence permit for studying abroad in Sweden. Spouses, children, or parents who accompany them to study abroad can apply for a residence permit for accompanying them. Chinese citizens who plan to work in Switzerland should obtain a work permit in advance. If the work time is less than 3 months, they should apply for an entry visa at the same time. If the work time exceeds 3 months, they should apply for a residence permit at the same time.

The Swedish citizenship policy mainly implements the principle of bloodline, where the nationality of parents determines the nationality of their children. If both or one of my parents is a Swedish citizen and I was born after April 1, 2015, I automatically acquired Swedish citizenship.

Sweden recognizes dual citizenship, even multiple citizenship. Citizens of other countries who intend to acquire Swedish citizenship should submit a naturalization application to the Swedish Immigration Office. The applicant must meet the following conditions: proof of identity (such as passport), be at least 18 years old, have permanent residency in Sweden, have resided in Sweden for a certain period of time (usually 5 years), and have no negative records.

For more information, please visit the website of the Swedish Immigration Agency: https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Startpage.html

Sweden's risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

In recent years, there has been a high incidence of security incidents involving Chinese citizens in Sweden, with frequent cases of theft and robbery targeting Chinese citizens. Due to strict restrictions on the installation of monitoring equipment in Sweden, it is difficult to obtain evidence in theft and robbery cases, and the possibility of Swedish police retrieving stolen property is extremely low. On April 7, 2017, a truck collided with pedestrians on Queen's Road pedestrian street in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, causing multiple casualties. In recent years, security incidents such as shootings and explosions in Sweden have been on the rise year by year. In August 2023, due to internal and external events, the Swedish government raised the country's terrorist threat level to level four, "high threat". In 2024, Sweden experienced a total of 270 shootings and 129 bombings, resulting in 44 deaths and 57 injuries. Please pay attention to the local security situation, avoid going to areas with unstable security or remote neighborhoods, and reduce nighttime outings.

Since June 2019, multiple overseas Chinese and students studying in Switzerland have received fraudulent phone calls. Unscrupulous individuals impersonate personnel from our embassies and consulates abroad, domestic public security, procuratorial and judicial departments, etc., falsely claiming that the victim's passport and other documents need to be renewed after expiration, otherwise their entry will be blocked, their identity documents or credit cards will be used fraudulently, their bank accounts will be frozen or they will cooperate with investigations due to suspected cases, and the victim will be required to provide account information or pay relevant fees. There are also criminals who, on the grounds that the parties involved are involved in major criminal cases, demand personal information such as name, address, family situation, bank account, or engage in "virtual kidnapping" to carry out telecommunications fraud, causing serious economic losses and mental harm to the parties and their families.

To ensure personal and property safety, Chinese citizens traveling to Switzerland must raise their awareness of safety, carefully choose their travel destinations and residential areas, reduce the amount of cash they carry with them, and try to use credit cards for consumption; Important belongings such as mobile phones, passports, and wallets should be kept close to oneself, and carry on luggage should never be out of sight at any time; Be highly vigilant when approaching, approaching, intentionally seeking or providing help to suspicious individuals, ensure your own safety, and maintain a distance; If you receive phone calls, text messages, emails, etc. suspected of fraud, please be vigilant and wait for verification through other channels before handling. Do not disclose personal information such as name, address, family situation, bank account, etc. to strangers in phone calls or emails.

natural disaster

Sweden has fewer natural disasters. In 1997, a mudslide occurred near Gothenburg, resulting in 9 deaths and 600 people displaced. Sweden experienced one hurricane each in 2005 and 2007, with the 2005 hurricane causing 340000 households to lose power and 18 deaths, making it the most severe natural disaster in Swedish history. In 2008, a 4.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in the southern province of Scandinavia, the largest magnitude since 1986. In the summer of 2018, Sweden experienced sustained high temperatures and forest fires occurred in many areas. In August 2023, a heavy rainfall disaster occurred in central and southern Sweden, causing multiple landslides, road collapses, widespread power outages in the southern city of Malmo, and a train derailing 300 kilometers north of the capital Stockholm. Sweden experiences heavy snowfall during winter, which sometimes affects transportation.

Due to its geographical location, Sweden's weather is unpredictable and changes rapidly. Chinese tourists can pay attention to the local weather forecast in advance to arrange their travel plans.

FDA

The Swedish Food Safety Law is consistent with relevant EU laws, and the National Food Safety Administration is responsible for formulating and publishing relevant regulations, implementing strict standards for food safety, and updating the blacklist of imported food in real time on the official website. Swedish tap water can be consumed directly.

Special reminder: Sweden grows a variety of poisonous mushrooms. Tourists should not pick and consume them on their own. If you have any questions, you can consult the Swedish Food Poisoning Information Center (phone: 0046-8-331231).

For more information, please visit the website of the Swedish Food Safety Authority:

https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/en

Urgent Help

If Chinese citizens in Switzerland encounter an emergency situation, please immediately report to the nearest police station and request a record of the report. Emergency call 112, non emergency call 11414, please dial 0046-77-111400 for Chinese mobile phones.

Emergency contact information for consular protection at the Chinese Embassy in Sweden: 0046-763383654, Chinese Consulate General in Gothenburg: 0046-709395290.

air traffic

The main airports in Sweden are Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg, and Sturup Airport in Malmo. Air China operates direct flights from Beijing to Stockholm, with flight numbers CA911/CA912, taking off and landing at Arlanda Airport. Chinese citizens can take airport buses or express trains to and from the airport; You can also take a taxi. The one-way taxi fare from Arlanda Airport to the city center is about 750 Swedish kronor. Black taxis often demand 2000-3000 kronor from foreign tourists, and tourists need to take precautions.

Common contact information: Arlanda Airport phone number 0046-10-109100, Randwid Airport phone number 0046-10-1093100, Malmsturop Airport phone number 0046-10-1094500.

For more information, please visit the airport shuttle website:

https://www.flygbussarna.se/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiLyVr8eI5wIVGD5gCh3XPQXDEAAYAiAAEgLJqfD_BwE

land transport

The total length of roads in Sweden is 216000 kilometers, and the total length of railways is 12800 kilometers. Swebus is the main long-distance passenger transport operator in Sweden, and the State Railways (SJ) is the largest railway operator in Sweden. The road conditions in Sweden are good, with Stockholm and Gothenburg imposing city congestion taxes at different times, and some cities imposing bridge tolls. There are railway and long-distance bus connections between cities, making it convenient to rent a car in each city, but the cost is relatively high.

The driving direction of Swedish vehicles is the same as that of our country, with left-hand drive and right-hand drive. Before self driving, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the local traffic rules and strictly abide by them, arrange the itinerary reasonably, and avoid fatigue driving and drunk driving. Sweden experiences heavy snowfall during winter and insufficient nighttime lighting. Please use winter tires as required, use car lights wisely, and drive with caution. Non EU driver's licenses used in Sweden must meet the following conditions: the license is genuine, legal, valid, and has not been replaced with a Swedish license; The holder has not been registered as a resident of Sweden for less than one year and has no record of having their Swedish driver's license confiscated or revoked; Non English, German, or French driver's licenses must be shared with translated and notarized versions in English, German, French, Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian; A driver's license without a photo needs to be shared with a photo identification document.

For more information, please refer to the website of the Swedish Transport Agency:

https://www.trafikverket.se/en/startpage/

water communication

There are canal cruise routes within Sweden that travel between Stockholm and Gothenburg, while overseas routes can reach Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, and Baltic coastal countries. The main cruise companies are Viking Line, Silja Line, and Tallink.

Urban transportation

Sweden mainly relies on public transportation, with buses and light rail covering most of the city. Public transportation does not accept cash payments. Passengers need to purchase a card in advance and swipe their card to board the busThrough local channelsmobile phonenamesend outPurchase tickets via SMS or mobile app. Taxi prices are high and require advance booking; You can also use Uber（Uber and other ride hailing services.

Please choose a regular taxi and negotiate the price before boarding to avoid disputes such as being charged high prices. The following taxi company information is for reference only:

major city

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has a history of over 700 years and is composed of 14 islands. The main attractions include City Hall, Queen Island Palace, Children's World, Modern Museum, Old Town, Skansen Open Air Museum, Nordic Museum, Vasa Shipwreck Museum, etc.

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and the gateway to the Western Isles. The main attractions include the Botanical Garden, the Gothenburg sailboat museum, the Riseberg amusement park, Gustav Adolf Square, and the Volvo Car Museum.

Malm ö is Sweden's gateway to the European continent, and the Ø resund Bridge connects Malm ö with the Danish capital Copenhagen. The main attractions include the Central Square, St. Peter's Basilica, Hus Castle, and the Oresund Bridge.

The northern part of Sweden has a vast territory, with numerous pine forests, polar plains, pastures, and glaciers, and is also the homeland of the indigenous Sami people. The main attractions include Abisko National Park, Sarek National Park, and Ice Hotel. The main attractions in central Sweden are Dalarna and the Ferenc copper mine. The southern part of Sweden is the main settlement of the Swedish population, with a milder climate than the northern part. The main attractions are: Crystal Kingdom, Scona, and Smolan.

Commodity prices

The overall price level in Sweden is relatively high. The country only produces a small amount of vegetables such as potatoes, oats, and rhizomes, and relies heavily on imports for its main fruits and vegetables, resulting in high prices. Crafts mainly include crystals, Dalama horses, smokeless candles, silverware, glass products, etc.

Sweden is a high tax and high welfare country, with an average personal income tax ranging from 30% to 33%. On the shopping receipt, in addition to the regular price of the product, relevant taxes and fees are separately listed. The banking and finance industry is well-developed, and credit cards and online electronic transfers are very popular. The main banks include Swedbank, Handelsbanken, Nordea Bank, etc. Most stores accept both bank card transactions and cash transactions.

The exchange rate between Swedish krona and Chinese yuan is: 100 krona is approximately 65.73 yuan (January 2025 data), please refer to the website of Bank of China for real-time foreign exchange rates.

Insurance Medical

Sweden implements a universal healthcare insurance system, and citizens of EU and European Economic Area countries enjoy their national treatment. Chinese citizens with residency rights in Sweden can enjoy local preferential medical expenses, but ordinary travelers need to bear all the medical expenses themselves. When issuing entry visas, Schengen area countries have required travelers to purchase travel medical insurance that covers all expenses that may arise due to medical reasons, emergency medical care, emergency hospitalization, or death. Please make sure to purchase the corresponding types of insurance as required to avoid facing high medical expenses in case of accidents.

Ambulance phone number: 112.

Health Hotline: 1177 (For Chinese mobile phones, please dial+46771117700).

The main hospitals in the Stockholm area are: Karolinska Institute Affiliated Hospital, telephone: 0046-8-51770000; Dandelude Hospital telephone: 0046-8-12355000. The main hospitals in the Gothenburg area are: University Hospital of Sachergreska, telephone: 0046-31-3421000.

Customs taboos

Some holidays in Sweden originate from religious festivals, introduced by German merchants or Protestants from abroad, as well as some local festivals closely linked to seasonal changes. The main festivals include: Easter, a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, on the first Sunday after the full moon of the Spring Equinox every year; On the night of April 30th, Walpurgis celebrated the arrival of spring through a bonfire party; On June 6th National Day, members of the Swedish royal family received blessings from the public; Midsummer Festival around June 24th is the day with the longest daylight hours of the year, celebrated to celebrate the arrival of summer; On the fourth Sunday before Christmas, Advent, every household will hang up colorful lights and the Christmas star; On December 13th, Lucia Day, pray for light. As a messenger of light, Lucia brings hope to people in the dark and cold winter of Sweden; Christmas on December 25th; December 31st, New Year's Eve.

Sweden has strict alcohol control measures, and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content exceeding 4 degrees must be purchased from specialty stores. Most indoor public places, airports, public transportation facilities, shops, restaurants, etc. in Sweden prohibit smoking, and some hotels have smoking rooms.

Swedes have a relatively introverted and quiet personality, dress neatly, and enjoy various sports such as sailing, horseback riding, ice hockey, skiing, and running.

The Swedish government designates the Swedish Church to be responsible for funeral affairs, and citizens are required to pay funeral taxes. Different religious believers can handle funerals in their own ways. Catholicism and Judaism have their own dedicated cemeteries, while other religions have dedicated areas in their cemeteries.

Communications Power

The voltage in Sweden is 220 volts, 50 hertz, and the plug standard is a German standard round two pin interface. Chinese citizens who intend to use Chinese appliances in Switzerland, please bring a converter plug.

The international code of Swedish telephone is 0046. The coverage rate of mobile phone signal and wireless network is high, and the Internet is also very popular. Chinese GSM network mobile phones can be used directly after global roaming is enabled, and local communication operators Telia, Tele2, and Telenor mobile phone cards can also be replaced.

contact information

Sweden's national emergency hotline (emergency, fire alarm, bandit police): 112.

Sweden's national non emergency hotline: 11414

Call the emergency hotline 0046-771141400 from a foreign (non Swedish) mobile phone in Sweden

Swedish Health and Medical Hotline: 1177

Swedish Police Agency: 0046-8-4019000.

Air China Stockholm Branch: 0046-8-216146,

Stockholm Arlanda Airport Office Phone: 0046- (0) 10-1091000