Sweden · Student
Sweden Student permit
First stay: 2 yrs
Residence permit for higher education
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student permit is a student route for Sweden. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- SEK 1,500 ≈ $150
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesSEK 1,500 ≈ $150
- SEK 1,500 (≈ $150)Adults; children under 18 SEK (≈ $2) 750; Japanese citizens and World Maritime University students pay no fee.
Shown, not spentSEK 11k+/mo ≈ $1,060
- SEK 10,656 a month (≈ $1,060)For the whole period applied for (SEK 10,584 (≈ $1,060) if applied in 2025); reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing; add SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child.
RenewalRenewable
Extendable while you continue your studies.
Where to applyFrom abroad
You must normally be outside Sweden when you apply, with exceptions for people already in Sweden on a valid permit.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Sweden, not after arriving
- Needs a place at a school or university in Sweden
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicants are finally admitted to full-time on-site studies, 30 credits per semester at a university or university college.
- Distance learning does not qualify.
What you must show4
- The tuition fee is paid before applying.
- Funds are SEK 10,656 (≈ $1,060) per month for the whole period applied for, if applied in 2026.
- The amount is reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing.
- SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child.
Documents2
- The admission decision and a bank statement issued within four months are submitted.
- Comprehensive health insurance is submitted for studies under one year.
Steps1
- The first permit is applied for from outside Sweden before travelling.
When you become tax resident
How Sweden decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
A person is liable to tax on worldwide income if domiciled in Sweden (population register), staying regularly in Sweden (six consecutive months or more; short departures do not interrupt) or having significant connections to Sweden after moving away.
- Foreign-source income
Earned income (employment, business, pension), including foreign-source income of residents, after the basic allowance (grundavdrag); municipal tax at the municipality's rate (national average 32.38% for 2026, range 28.93% to 35.65%) on all taxable earned income, and national tax of 20% on the part of taxable earned income above SEK 643,000 (≈ $64,100).
All tax rules for Sweden Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Comprehensive health insurance is submitted for studies under one year
- Accommodation
The amount is reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing
- Bank account / funds
The admission decision and a bank statement issued within four months are submitted
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
For full-time first- or second-cycle studies at a university, university college or similar; tuition fees must be paid before applying; apply from outside Sweden. 1
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least SEK 10,656 a month (≈ $1,060) · For the whole period applied for (SEK 10,584 (≈ $1,060) if applied in 2025); reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing; add SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child. 1
- A fee of SEK 1,500 (≈ $150) · Adults; children under 18 SEK (≈ $2) 750; Japanese citizens and World Maritime University students pay no fee. 1
Requirements
- Applicants are finally admitted to full-time on-site studies, 30 credits per semester at a university or university college. 1
- Distance learning does not qualify. 1
- The tuition fee is paid before applying. 1
- Funds are SEK 10,656 (≈ $1,060) per month for the whole period applied for, if applied in 2026. 1
- The amount is reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing. 1
- SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month is added for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child. 1
- The admission decision and a bank statement issued within four months are submitted. 1
- Comprehensive health insurance is submitted for studies under one year. 1
- The first permit is applied for from outside Sweden before travelling. 1
Stay
- Maximum one or two years depending on the institution, not longer than studies; extendable; two weeks added after the study period.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Bachelor and master students may work at most 15 hours per week (permits granted from 11 June 2026), with exceptions for work that is part of the education, student representation or administration, artistic research, and June to August.
Family
Spouse, partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time; funds of SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month for a spouse and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child are added. New family rules apply from 1 October 2026.
Official sources
- Residence permit for higher education · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
Student permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student permit | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Doctoral student permit | – | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Student permit Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Internship permit Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| D3 study visa Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student permit?
Savings of at least SEK 10,656 a month (≈ $1,060). For the whole period applied for (SEK 10,584 (≈ $1,060) if applied in 2025); reduced by SEK 2,960 (≈ $300) for free food and SEK 4,736 (≈ $470) for free housing; add SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month for a spouse or partner and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child. A fee of SEK 1,500 (≈ $150). Adults; children under 18 SEK (≈ $2) 750; Japanese citizens and World Maritime University students pay no fee.
How long can I stay on the Student permit?
Maximum one or two years depending on the institution, not longer than studies; extendable; two weeks added after the study period.
Can I work on the Student permit?
Yes. Bachelor and master students may work at most 15 hours per week (permits granted from 11 June 2026), with exceptions for work that is part of the education, student representation or administration, artistic research, and June to August.
Can I bring my family on the Student permit?
Spouse, partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time; funds of SEK 4,440 (≈ $440) per month for a spouse and SEK 2,664 (≈ $270) per child are added.
Who can apply for the Student permit?
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
How are Student permit holders taxed in Sweden?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student permit. The standard rules apply: Residents pay municipal income tax at an average 32.38% (2026, set by each municipality and region) on income after the basic allowance, plus 20% national income tax on taxable earned income above SEK 643,000, (≈ $64,100) so the marginal rate is about 52%; residents are taxed on income from all countries (unlimited tax liability). Non-residents working under six months can pay flat 22.5% SINK.
More in Sweden
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 1 official source. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residence permit for higher education · Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.