Sweden Study Visa for Arab Students: Procedures and Documents by Country of Residence

Important: academic document instructions depend on where you studied. In-person procedures depend on your country of residence and the mission handling your case. An Egyptian living in the Gulf with a Jordanian degree may therefore use Jordan’s academic instructions and arrange appointments according to their current residence.

These basic requirements are shared by bachelor’s and master’s students from the countries covered.

For applications submitted in 2026, the basic maintenance amount is SEK 10,656 per month for the student. A relative’s guarantee alone is insufficient; their money may be transferred to an account in your name that you can access.

The adult application fee is SEK 1,500, separate from university application and tuition fees.

Apply online to the Swedish Migration Agency, then follow its instructions for passport checks, interviews and biometrics. There is no guaranteed processing time. Your permit must be granted before travel.

1. Apply to university and prepare documents

Choose your programme and check its requirements. Submit academic certificates, transcripts and proof of language. A bachelor’s degree or licence meets the general master’s requirement. Submit the certificate and transcript and follow the translation instructions for your application.

Egyptian upper secondary studies alone do not meet the English requirement. Use an approved test or university studies that satisfy the Swedish criteria.

2. Prepare your residence application

After final admission and the required payment, prepare your passport, funds and insurance when required, then apply online.

3. Complete procedures in Cairo

When the Agency asks you to attend, use the official appointment service of the Migration Section at the Swedish Embassy in Cairo. Select passport check, biometrics or interview according to the message you received.

A visitor visa application at VFS does not replace a permit for long-term studies.

4. Prepare to travel

Wait for the decision, then follow residence card collection and travel instructions.

1. Prepare university admission documents

A licence or bachelor’s degree meets the general master’s requirement. Document every year of study.

Private institution graduates must check programme accreditation and institutional recognition. Al-Akhawayn graduates should include reverse pages showing the teaching language. Moroccan upper secondary studies alone do not meet the English requirement.

2. Apply for residence

After confirming admission, apply online with your passport, funds and insurance if required.

3. Complete procedures in Rabat

If the Agency requests an in-person passport check, current instructions allow visits without an appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 14:00 to 15:00, except when closed. Biometrics may also be provided during this period.

Follow separate booking instructions for interviews. Check reception hours before visiting.

4. Collect your card

Follow the embassy’s arrival notification and collection instructions, then arrange your travel.

1. Prepare academic and language documents

For a master’s, submit the bachelor’s degree and official transcript including the grading system. Documents issued in English are accepted. For other languages, provide the original and an official English or Swedish translation. Scan originals on both sides.

Jordanian upper secondary studies alone do not meet the English requirement; check approved tests or qualifying university studies.

2. Submit your residence application

Confirm admission, then apply online with passport, financial maintenance and insurance when required.

3. Book the required service in Amman

After receiving Agency instructions, use the Swedish Embassy in Amman’s appointment system. Choose the correct service, enter details exactly as in your passport, and provide your case or control number. The system covers interviews, passport checks, biometrics and residence card collection.

4. Complete travel arrangements

Wait for the decision and collection notice, and follow the instructions for your case.

1. Check your degree eligibility first

Master’s qualification requirements need careful review. Listed routes include:

• A four-year honours bachelor’s degree.

• A general bachelor’s plus postgraduate diploma under the specified route.

• A general bachelor’s plus accepted additional qualifying studies.

• A five-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering.

University documents issued in English are accepted. Arabic documents need the original and an official English or Swedish translation. Sudanese upper secondary studies alone do not meet the English requirement.

2. Apply online

After final admission, prepare funds, passport and insurance when required and submit the application.

3. Confirm the in-person location

The Swedish Embassy in Khartoum is closed to visitors and currently provides no migration services.

When attendance is requested, contact the Agency and the receiving mission and confirm:

• That it accepts your situation.

• The location for passport checks, biometrics or interview.

• Residence card collection arrangements.

• Your ability to enter the appointment country legally.

Do not rely on an old Khartoum booking form or assume Cairo or Addis Ababa will automatically accept your case.

4. Receive the decision and card

Follow the instructions identifying the collection mission before arranging travel to Sweden.

1. Prepare university documents

A bachelor’s degree or licence meets the general master’s requirement. A French diploma may be accepted without translation, but a French transcript needs an official English or Swedish translation. For other languages, provide the original and required translation.

Some Lebanese upper secondary studies may meet the English requirement if English was the first foreign language, with the necessary evidence. IELTS is therefore not mandatory for every Lebanese student: check your circumstances and programme.

2. Apply for residence

After confirming admission, apply online with the basic documents.

3. Coordinate through Amman

Since 1 October 2025, migration and visa enquiries are directed to the regional migration hub in Amman. After being asked to attend, use the approved booking system and follow the location stated in the appointment response. Coordination through Amman does not automatically mean every student must travel there.

4. Follow card collection instructions

Wait for the card arrival and collection instructions before travelling.

1. Prepare admission documents

For a master’s, submit your licence or bachelor’s and document every year of study.

• A French diploma may be submitted without translation.

• An Arabic diploma requires the original and official translation.

• Arabic or French transcripts require the original and official English or Swedish translation.

• Tunisian upper secondary studies alone do not meet the English requirement.

2. Select Rabat in the application

After admission is confirmed, apply online. Official instructions require selecting the Swedish Embassy in Rabat, Morocco. The embassy in Tunis does not handle migration applications; photographs and fingerprints can be provided in Rabat.

3. Complete the visit

Follow the Agency’s message and Rabat’s instructions. Confirm the requested service before travelling to Morocco.

4. Collect the card

Follow your case with the Agency or Rabat, then comply with collection instructions.

Short studies: Schengen is a separate route. Finland and VFS in Tunis represent Sweden for Tunisian applications under that route’s conditions.

1. Prepare admission documents

For a master’s, submit your bachelor’s degree and transcripts. Non-English documents require originals and official English or Swedish translations. Scan both sides of originals according to the instructions. Iraqi upper secondary studies alone do not meet the English requirement.

2. Apply online

After final admission and the requested payment, submit passport, funds and insurance when required.

3. Confirm the receiving mission

The Swedish Embassy for Iraq does not handle residence procedures. Contact the competent mission to arrange attendance; Amman can be contacted about these procedures.

For a previous Tehran appointment, the announcement dated 7 April 2026 describes arranging an alternative interview in Amman, then contacting Tehran to cancel its appointment. Check the current situation before selecting a mission or booking travel.

4. Complete collection and travel

Follow decision and residence card instructions and confirm the collection location.

1. Prepare academic documents

Submit your degree, transcripts for every semester, language evidence and programme-specific documents. Non-English documents require originals and official English or Swedish translations.

2. Enter nationality and travel document accurately

For Palestinian citizens, official instructions say to select STATE OF PALESTINE in the online application. If you hold another travel document or are stateless, enter your actual status and check the rules for your document.

3. Arrange procedures outside Jerusalem’s consulate

Since 1 October 2025, the Swedish Consulate-General in Jerusalem no longer handles migration cases. Contact a competent mission in the region to confirm interviews, passport checks and biometrics. Migration enquiries are directed to Amman. Check that you can reach and legally enter the appointment country.

4. Follow the decision and card

Use the collection location confirmed in your case and complete the documents before travel.

First international admissions round:

The first round is preferable if you need a residence permit; the second may not leave enough time. Scholarships and some programmes may have separate deadlines.

Is IELTS mandatory?

Other approved tests and routes exist. For the usual English 6 level, IELTS Academic requires an overall 6.5 with no section below 5.5. Some programmes require a different level.

Does a digital passport check remove all embassy visits?

You may receive an invitation for an eligible passport, but interviews or attendance may still be required. The personal link is valid for seven days.

Can my family accompany me?

A family route exists with additional documents and funds. Current maintenance amounts are SEK 4,440 per month for an adult and SEK 2,664 for each child. Check eligibility for your circumstances.

Does a doctorate follow the master’s route?

Doctoral studies have a separate route. A hosting agreement may allow the researcher route when its conditions are met.

• Swedish Migration Agency: higher education permits

• University Admissions: country instructions

• University application dates

• Sweden Abroad

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