Sweden

Sweden (officially the Kingdom of Sweden) is a country in Northern Europe, located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares a border with Norway to the northwest and with Finland to the northeast. In the south, Sweden is separated from Denmark by the Kattegat Strait. It stretches 1572 km from north to south and 499 km from east to west. The land border with Norway is 1619 km, and with Finland - 586 km. The total area of the territory is 449,964 square kilometers. Sweden is the fifth-largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine, France, and Spain.

The capital and most populous city is Stockholm. The form of government is a parliamentary monarchy. Sweden is a member of the United Nations (since 1946), the Council of Europe (since 1949), the Nordic Council (since 1952), the OSCE (since 1973), the WTO (since 1995), the European Union (since 1995), NATO (since 2024), and the Schengen Agreement (since 2001).

Visa to Sweden

If you are a Russian citizen and wish to apply for a tourist visa to Sweden, it won’t be easy right now. The country has limited the issuance of this type of visa due to EU sanctions against Russia. However, as of 2024, there are still no restrictions on applying for business visas, student visas, or other long-term visas.

You can submit your application at one of the VFS Global visa centers, located in twenty major cities in Russia, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don, and Khabarovsk. You can find the complete list on the official website of the visa center, where you can also schedule an appointment.

To get your visa approved, you will need to provide proof of bookings, purchase travel insurance, and demonstrate that you have enough financial resources for your stay in Sweden—450 SEK (about 3,736 RUB) per day of your trip.

You can apply for a long-term visa at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow, provided there are valid reasons for doing so:

• University studies —  Many universities in Sweden offer programs in English, particularly at the master's level. A student visa is initially issued for one year and can be renewed.
• Employment with a Swedish company — A work visa can be obtained once a contract with an employer is secured. It is typically issued for one year. One significant requirement is proving that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover living expenses in Sweden, even though they are moving there to work.
• Business activities or partnerships in Sweden —  Entrepreneurs can travel to Sweden for conferences, trade fairs, or business meetings. If the inviting party does not cover the costs, financial guarantees must be provided.
• Property ownership — Property owners are eligible not only for a visa but also for a residence permit.

What about transit visas?

You don't need to obtain a transit visa if you are flying to a country outside the Schengen area and do not plan to leave the transit zone at the airport.

Learn more about obtaining a visa to Sweden: the article explains the types of visas available for Russian citizens, the required documents, and the costs involved.

Swedish Residence Permit

According to the UN, up to 20% of Sweden's permanent residents are foreigners. People come to the country to live and work due to low unemployment, excellent environmental conditions, a high standard of living, and reliable social support.

A Swedish residence permit can be obtained if there are valid grounds for long-term legal residence. These grounds are typically similar to those required for a long-term type D visa. We will explain them in more detail below.

• Work in Sweden — A residence permit on this basis cannot exceed 2 years and needs to be constantly renewed. This option is suitable for highly qualified professionals.
• Starting a Business — This option is not for young entrepreneurs, as you will need to prove extensive experience in a specific business field. Additionally, proficiency in English and Swedish, as well as financial support for each family member, is required.
• Education — A residence permit can be obtained for long-term studies. First, you need to be admitted to a university and then provide proof of financial support (at least €806 per month). In Sweden, it is possible to work during studies, but no more than 20 hours per week.
• Family Reunification  — This is available for minor children and spouses. You will need to prove the availability of housing and that the sponsoring party can financially support the individual for one year.

After living in the country for several years, you can obtain permanent residence and eventually citizenship.

How to apply for a residence permit in Sweden, what requirements and details to consider — read more on our website.

Passport of Sweden

In 2024, the Swedish passport ranks 4th in the freedom of movement index, allowing its holders visa-free entry to 176 countries. The same level of access is currently enjoyed by the passports of Finland, Belgium, Poland, and Ireland. Looking at trends, since 2015, the number of countries Swedes can visit visa-free has increased by 18.

Sweden signed the Schengen Agreement in 1985, granting its citizens unrestricted travel across all member states via land, sea, and air borders. In addition, Swedes can enter countries like Andorra, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Montenegro, and many others without a visa.

For travel to Sri Lanka, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, Swedes need to obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). In countries like Australia, Bahrain, Indonesia, Madagascar, and the Maldives, a visa is issued upon arrival.

However, the Swedish passport is not just about visa-free access to Western countries. According to the Numbeo database, Sweden ranks among the top 15 countries in the world for quality of life and is in the top 10 for human rights and freedoms, environmental standards, and the quality of its healthcare system. We have detailed these and other benefits, as well as the stages of legalization in Sweden, in a dedicated article.

Swedish Citizenship

Foreign nationals can acquire Swedish citizenship if they have lived in the country for a long time and are already integrated into society. Here are the main ways to obtain it:

• Naturalization – This involves several checks before citizenship is granted. For example, you must pass a Swedish language test, provide a certificate of no criminal record, and demonstrate knowledge of the country’s culture, laws, and history.
• Citizenship through marriage – Unfortunately, this path is not faster than naturalization. There are no exceptions made for spouses, and you must remain married for at least 10 years before obtaining a Swedish passport.
• Having citizenship in another Nordic country – If you have lived in Sweden for more than two years and are a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, or Norway, you may be eligible for a Swedish passport. These nations share cultural similarities, and prolonged integration is not required.

You can find detailed information about how to obtain Swedish citizenship through these and other methods in our article.

Climate Conditions

Northern and central Sweden are located in the cold temperate zone, while the southern part lies in the temperate zone of Central Europe. Sweden's climate is relatively mild considering its geographical position. This is primarily due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Gulf Stream current. The climate across most of Sweden is humid, with heavy rainfall and relatively small temperature differences between summer and winter.

In January, the average temperature ranges from 0°C to -2°C in the south and from -12°C to -14°C in the north. In July, the average temperature ranges from 16°C to 18°C in the south and from 12°C to 14°C in the north. The all-time lowest temperature recorded was -53°C in 1941, while the highest recorded temperature reached +38°C in 1947.

On average, most of Sweden receives between 500 and 800 mm of precipitation annually. The southwest part of the country experiences the highest rainfall, ranging from 1000 to 1200 mm, while some northern mountain regions can receive as much as 2000 mm. Snow generally falls from December to March in the south, from November to April in the central region, and from October to May in the north.

Demographics

In 2023, Sweden had a population of 10.4 million. The population density is 21.9 people per km². The annual population growth rate is +0.7%. The birth rate is 10.9 per 1,000 inhabitants, and the death rate is 9.5. The number of births per woman is 1.7. The life expectancy is 82.4 years (84.2 years for women, 80.7 years for men). The average age of the population is 41.1 years, which is lower than the average for Europe.

The majority of the population are ethnic Swedes. The country also has a minority of ethnic Swedish Finns. As of 2022, about 450,000 residents of Swedish origin with Finnish roots lived in the country. Tornedalians are another officially recognized ethnic minority. Other officially recognized minorities include Jews, Roma, and Sami.

Sweden is home to immigrants from nearly every country in the world. In 2020, nearly 15% of the population had foreign roots.

The official language is Swedish. Finnish, Tornedalian Finnish, Yiddish, Romani, Sami, and Swedish sign language have minority language status. Almost 80% of Sweden's population speaks English as a foreign language, since English is the first foreign language taught in schools.

In 2023, more than 54% of Sweden's population identified as members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden, which was the state church until 1999. The second-largest religious group, Muslims, makes up around 5% of the population. Approximately 1.2% of the population belongs to the Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Economy

Sweden's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 was $586 billion USD, with a GDP per capita of $55,482 USD for the same year. The annual growth rate of GDP was -1%.

The unemployment rate in 2023 stood at 1.5%. In 2022, 2.0% of all workers were employed in agriculture, 12% in industry, and 86% in the services sector.

Swedish agriculture is shaped by geological conditions and climate. 90% of the cultivated land is located in southern and central Sweden. Most farms are family-owned. The main crops include cereals, potatoes, and oilseeds. Animal husbandry accounts for over half of agricultural income (58%).

Sweden is rich in natural resources, most of which far exceed the country's domestic demand. The main resources mined and exported include copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold.

The largest industrial sector is automotive manufacturing (Volvo, Scania, Saab), followed by the wood processing, paper, electrical, and electronics industries.

Freedom of Travel (Visa-Free Countries)

Sweden ranks 3rd in the global passport strength index, sharing this position with Belgium, Finland, and Ireland. Citizens of Sweden have the right to visa-free travel to 125 countries worldwide (with a stay of up to 180 days). In 43 countries, a visa can be obtained upon arrival, with the right to stay for up to 90 days. Eight countries permit entry through an electronic authorization, allowing a stay of up to 90 days.