Sweden visa requirements for Ethiopians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Ethiopians visiting Sweden

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Swedish Visa.

  • A duly completed and signed visa application form
  • Two recently taken passport-size photographs (3.5x4.5cm), both taken within the last three months.
  • A valid Ethiopian passport not older than 10 years, with at least three months validity beyond the date you plan to leave Sweden.
  • A round trip reservation or itinerary that must include entry and exit dates as well as flight numbers.
  • A travel insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros, for the whole Schengen territory, in case of any medical emergency such as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.
  • Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Sweden.
  • Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the country. This can be one of the following:
    • Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to Sweden. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
    • Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
  • Proof of paid visa fee.  €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.

Sweden Visa for Ethiopians

Facts about Sweden

Sweden is a nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes. Lots of tourists who visit the country usually try their hands at skiing and dog sledding as there are a lot of snow parks and resorts to trying out the adventure. There is an abundance of museums and historical sites at which tourists can bask in the rich history if the country.

Tourism in Sweden has been developing at a very steady pace in recent years as the number of tourists who visit the country yearly has been increasing. On average, Sweden receives 24.6 million tourists yearly. The Swedish government is doing her best to develop tourism in the country with 7.1% of household income being spent on domestic tourism.

The capital of Sweden Stockholm is built on 14 islands and possesses more than 50 bridges. The best time for tourists to visit the country is during the winter months with mild weather.

Types of Sweden Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 15 working days 90 days
Business visa 15 working days 90 days
Student visa 15 working days More than 90 days
Work visa 15 working days More than 90 days

General Requirements for Sweden Visa

  • A duly completed and signed visa application form
  • Two recently taken passport-size photographs (3.5x4.5cm), both taken within the last three months.
  • A valid Ethiopian passport not older than 10 years, with at least three months validity beyond the date you plan to leave Sweden.
  • A round trip reservation or itinerary that must include entry and exit dates as well as flight numbers.
  • A travel insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros, for the whole Schengen territory, in case of any medical emergency such as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.
  • Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Sweden.
  • Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the country. This can be one of the following:
    • Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to Sweden. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
    • Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
  • Proof of paid visa fee.  €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.
Sweden Tourist visa Sweden Business visa Sweden Student visa Sweden Work visa

Sweden Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who intend to visit Sweden for tourism, sightseeing or other leisure activities require a short-stay tourist visa.
  • The tourist visa also permits its holder to visit friends and relatives residing in Sweden.
  • If you are visiting friends or relatives residing in Sweden, you need to obtain a letter of invitation from them showing their home address and telephone number. Without an invite, you must submit a cover letter stating the purpose of your visit, places you intend to visit while in Sweden and how long you intend to stay in the country.
  • You are required to complete and sign a visa application form before submission. Applicants are advised to crosscheck for any errors and adhere strictly to the submission guideline so as not to delay the processing of their visa application.
  • The tourist visa also allows its holder to attend social and cultural events, as well as festivals, in Sweden.
  • As proof that you intend to return to your country of origin, you are required to tender a roundtrip flight ticket showing entry and exit dates to/from Sweden as well as the flight numbers.
  • If you are employed, you must not only provide proof of your employment (employment contract, bank account statements of the last six months, Income Tax Return) but also provide a leave letter excusing you from work for the entire duration you intend to stay in Sweden.
  • You must provide proof that you can cater to your financial needs for the entire duration of your stay in Sweden [that means comfortably spending at least 450 SEK (around €48.26) per day] by sending copies of your bank account statements from the last six months. You can also submit a sponsorship letter if someone else intends to sponsor your trip.
  • Minors should provide the original copy of their birth certificate. If they are travelling with one parent, a document of consent allowing the child to travel with one parent, signed by the other parent, must be presented.
  • The tourist visa does not permit you to work in Sweden.

Sweden Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Swedish business visa is issued to foreign nationals who intend to travel to Sweden for business purposes. This is a short-stay visa that permits a maximum stay of 90 days.
  • The business visa permits its holder to attend business meetings, trade fairs and take part in conferences in Sweden.
  • To be attached to your duly completed and signed visa application form are two passport-size photographs, taken against a white background within the last six months.
  • The passport used for your visa application must contain at least two blank pages and have a validity of not less than three months beyond the date you intend to leave Sweden.
  • Ethiopians applying for this visa must obtain a letter of invitation from the partner company/organisation in Sweden. This letter must state the purpose of your visit and who will take care of all your expenses (your company or the partner company) while in Sweden.
  • If there exist previous trade relations between your company and the Swedish company, you are required to provide proof of this. This could be bills of lading, customs clearance, receipts of payment or any similar documents.
  • A letter stating awareness and allowance of leave, as well as your position, salary, and date of return to work, should also be obtained from your employer.
  • As proof that the partner company is licensed to operate in Sweden, you are required to present a copy of the company's certificate of registration.
  • Ethiopian business travellers are not allowed to seek public funds while in the country nor can they receive payment for any services rendered while they are in Sweden.
  • You should submit your visa application in person as your biometric data will be collected at the point of submission.

Sweden Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who intend to travel to Sweden to study for more than three months require a long-stay visa.
  • You must also apply for a residence permit which will allow you to live in Sweden for the duration of your studies in the country.
  • If you intend to fund your studies in Sweden, you cannot submit your application earlier than three months. This is because you need to be able to provide proof that you can support yourself close to the start of your study. Such proof could be in the form of your bank statements for the last six months, or those of your sponsor accompanied with a sponsorship letter.
  • If you are the recipient of a scholarship, student aid or similar grant, you are required to provide documents supporting this, showing your name, the monthly amount you are entitled to and the period during which you will receive the fund.
  • To obtain a student residence permit, you must have first received a letter of acceptance, from a university in Sweden, to study a programme full-time. You have to show proof of the notice of admission.
  • If you are a doctoral student, you must provide the decision on your admission as a doctoral student with information about the time of admission as well as a certificate with the details of the doctoral studies, issued by the place of study.
  • If you are not going to study on a scholarship, you need to pay a portion of the fee before submitting your application for the permit and provide proof of payment.
  • You must provide a copy of your passport data page, that is, the first page of your Ethiopian passport.
  • You must also provide proof that you have comprehensive health insurance in Sweden. If you have insurance through the school, you are required to send confirmation of this. An admission letter can serve as proof in this case.
  • You are to pay an application fee to obtain the student residence permit. For children below the age of 18, the permit costs 500 SEK while adults must pay 1,000 SEK. This amount can be paid with a debit card online at the same time you fill out an application, also available online, or you can pay at the embassy/consulate-general if that is where you will submit your application.

Sweden Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Swedish work visa is a long-stay visa issued to foreign nationals who intend to travel to Sweden to work.
  • You have to have an offer of employment from an employer in Sweden before applying for the work visa.
  • You must also have a work permit before you can legally work in Sweden.
  • To get a Swedish work permit. you can apply online at the Swedish Migration Agency. Your employer in Sweden, however, has to start the process on your behalf.
    • You need to provide your employer with the following information: your full name, date of birth citizenship, education and your working email address. 
    • When your employer has completed an offer of employment, you will receive an email with information about how to complete your application for a work permit.
    • If your family will be travelling with you to Sweden, you are to apply for permits for each of them at the time of your application.
    • Applicants are advised to check that the details are the same as the ones pre-agreed upon with the employer.
    • You should make sure you have access to your email address as the Swedish Migration Agency will use this email address to communicate with you throughout the application period.
  • If you are unable to apply online, you need to take the following documents to the Swedish embassy in your country:
    • A completed Swedish work permit application form, signed and dated. The application should contain your contact details.
    • 2 colour passport-size photographs, taken from the front with the face depicted at a straight angle. 
    • A written offer of employment in Sweden completed by your employer.
    • The application fee of 2000 SEK.

Sweden Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

60.00 (SEK)

Business visa

60.00 (SEK)

Student visa

60.00 (SEK)

Work visa

2000.00 (SEK)

Sweden Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Ethiopia

Location

Address

Addis Ababa

Lideta Sub-City Woreda 09, House No 891, P. O. Box 1142, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/ethiopia-addis-abeba/

ambassaden.addis-abeba@gov.se

(+251) 11 518 00 00

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while studying in Sweden?

International students with residence permits are allowed to work during the duration of their residence permit. They can also apply for a residence permit to seek employment after having completed their studies in Sweden. This costs SEK 1,000 for adults and SEK 500 for minors.

Is Sweden accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Sweden is accessible for all travellers, including those with disabilities. There are wheelchair ramps in the public transport systems, at many restaurants, hotels and beaches. To reduce the stress of climbing stairs, you can find several elevators, escalators and banisters in public spaces, as well as benches where you can rest.

What is the emergency number to call in Sweden?

In case you need emergency assistance such as a danger to life, property or environment or you require immediate medical assistance while in Sweden, the number to call is 112.

What currency is spent in Sweden?

The national currency of Sweden is the Swedish krona (SEK). The kroner translates to "crown" in English so you might hear Swedish referring to the currency as crowns.