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Meta description: Swedish study permit for Russian and CIS applicants: $150 fee, $1,070 a month in funds, biometrics in Moscow, chip passports from 1 Oct 2026, 15-hour work cap.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Swedish Residence Permit for Studies: Requirements, Funds and Steps for Russian and CIS Applicants

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To study in Sweden for more than three months, citizens of Russia and other non-EU countries need a residence permit for studies (uppehållstillstånd för studier), not a visa. It is issued by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). You apply after admission and after paying the first semester; the fee is $150 (SEK 1,500). You must show at least $1,070 (SEK 10,656) for each month of the permit under the 2026 rate, about $12,830 a year. Over the last 12 months, 75% of these applications were decided within three months. Russian citizens give fingerprints at the Swedish embassy in Moscow, and from 1 October 2026 Sweden no longer recognises Russian passports without a biometric chip.

Below: requirements, documents, the rules on funds, how to apply from Russia and the CIS, and what changed in 2026.

| At a glance | Residence permit for studies in Sweden |
| --- | --- |
| Issued by | Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) |
| When to apply | right after paying the first semester; the decision must come before you travel |
| Fee | $150 (SEK 1,500); children under 18 $75 (SEK 750); non-refundable |
| Living funds | at least $1,070 (SEK 10,656) a month for the whole permit period (2026 applications) |
| Insurance | required if studies last less than a year |
| Permit length | one or two years (two at 34 listed institutions), plus two weeks after the programme ends |
| Processing | 75% of decisions in the last 12 months within 3 months |
| Where Russian citizens give biometrics | Swedish embassy in Moscow, migration section: Mon–Tue 08:30–11:30, no appointment |
| Work | up to 15 hours a week during term for permits granted from 11 June 2026; no limit in summer |

The departures hall of Terminal 5 at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Photo: Calle Eklund / V-wolf / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stockholm-Arlanda_Airport_Terminal_5_c.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

## Who needs a study permit {#section-1}

Non-EU/EEA citizens who will study in Sweden for more than three months on a full-time bachelor's, master's or exchange programme. The permit must be granted before you enter Sweden, and as a rule a first application is made from outside the country.

Studies under three months, such as a summer school, need no residence permit; Russian citizens would need a Schengen visa instead. That is currently hard to get: the Swedish embassy in Moscow states that neither it nor VFS Global is accepting Schengen visa applications for Sweden for the time being, except in documented urgent cases. A national D visa is accepted only on special grounds and cannot replace a Schengen visa.

## Migration Agency requirements {#section-2}

A permit is granted if all of these are met:

- a valid passport; the permit cannot run longer than the passport;
- final admission to full-time studies: 30 credits per semester; distance learning does not qualify;
- tuition paid: admission is preliminary until the first instalment is paid, and the university notifies the Agency;
- comprehensive health insurance if studies last less than a year, covering treatment, hospitalisation, emergency dental care and medical repatriation for the whole stay; students staying a year or more register in the Swedish population register and access healthcare;
- living funds for the whole permit period.

## Documents {#section-3}

Apply online on the Migration Agency site or on a paper form at an embassy. Attach:

- copies of the passport pages with your personal data and validity; the Moscow embassy also lists copies of all completed pages of the internal passport for Russian citizens;
- the admission decision, stating final admission to full-time, on-site studies in Sweden;
- proof of insurance if studies last under a year (or the university's certificate if it provides cover);
- proof of funds: your own bank statement, a scholarship letter, a letter from an organisational sponsor or proof of employment income;
- if family members come: passports, marriage certificate or proof of cohabitation, birth certificates and the other parent's consent for children.

Documents must be in English or Swedish; translations must be certified and accompanied by a copy of the original. The Moscow embassy specifies that bank statements must be in English or translated into English or Swedish.

## How much money you need and how to show it {#section-4}

The Migration Agency's rate is at least $1,070 (SEK 10,656) a month for applications made in 2026; for 2025 applications it was $1,060 (SEK 10,584). The rate follows the year you apply: if your permit application goes in during 2027, the 2027 amount applies, and the Agency publishes it on the same page. It applies to the whole period you request: about $12,830 (SEK 127,872) for 12 months, about $25,650 (SEK 255,744) for 24 months. A spouse adds $450 (SEK 4,440) a month and each child $270 (SEK 2,664). If the university or an exchange organisation provides free housing or food, the monthly rate drops by $480 (SEK 4,736) and $300 (SEK 2,960) respectively.

The rules applicants trip over most often:

| Rule | In practice |
| --- | --- |
| Account in your name | a parent's statement is not accepted; relatives' money must be moved to your account. For applicants under 18, guardians' accounts count |
| Recent statement | issued no more than 4 months before the permit start date (for 1 August, not before 1 April) |
| Statement contents | account holder, bank name, date of issue, balance and currency |
| Access to funds | deposits frozen during the permit period do not count; credit, funds and shares are not accepted |
| Moving money abroad | if a central bank permit is needed to transfer money out of your country, include it |
| Sponsor | only organisations (universities, companies, foundations); private individuals cannot sponsor |
| Work income | counted only with an employment certificate and payslips; a job offer is not enough |

A scholarship counts as funds if the letter states the recipient, period, amount, payment schedule and living-cost share. Holders of Swedish Institute, Sida, EU or Uppsala International Science Programme scholarships that include living costs are exempt from the fee. See [scholarships in Sweden](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-sweden) and, for a full budget, the [cost of studying in Sweden](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-sweden).

## How Russian citizens apply {#section-5}

1. Pay the first semester. For autumn 2027, admission results arrive on 1 April (master's) or 8 April (bachelor's), followed by the invoice. Plan the transfer from Russia in advance, as Russian-issued cards do not work abroad; see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).
2. Choose how to apply. The online service is for applicants aged 18 or over with an email address and a Visa or Mastercard to pay the fee. Without such a card, or if you are 17, fill in paper form 113011 and hand it in with your documents at the embassy's migration section in Moscow (60 Mosfilmovskaya St.) during reception hours; no appointment is needed. The paper-application fee is paid in cash in roubles: RUB 13,400 for adults and RUB 6,700 for children, according to the embassy.
3. Name your embassy. The application asks where you will present your passport. For residents of Russia this is the Moscow embassy; Sweden Abroad currently lists no other Swedish mission in Russia.
4. Passport check and biometrics. The Agency may offer a digital passport check through an app. Applicants who need a visa to enter Sweden, including Russian citizens, give photos and fingerprints for the permit card at the embassy; in Moscow this is done without an appointment during reception hours. The embassy currently holds residence permit interviews only to a limited extent.
5. Decision. Online applicants are notified by email; the decision itself is sent to the embassy, where you collect it with your passport.
6. Permit card. A card is issued for permits over three months. If the permit is granted but the card will not be ready before your programme starts, the embassy may issue a national D visa in special circumstances, such as the risk of losing your study place; you then give biometrics in Sweden. If you have left and the card arrives in Moscow, the embassy can forward it to a Migration Agency office in Sweden on request, which takes 4–6 weeks.

The university application process is in [applying to Swedish universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-swedish-universities).

## Russian passports: the change from 1 October 2026 {#section-6}

From 1 October 2026, Sweden no longer recognises ordinary Russian passports without an electronic chip. Such a passport cannot be used to enter Sweden or to obtain a visa or residence permit, including for studies. Until 31 December 2026 there is a transition: an old passport is accepted only if it contains a valid visa, or the holder has a valid residence permit from Sweden, another EU state or a Schengen country, issued before 1 October 2026. If your passport is the old type, get a biometric one before applying.

## Citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries {#section-7}

The Migration Agency's rules are the same for all non-EU citizens; only the mission where you present your passport differs. The Swedish embassy in Astana does not receive residence permit applications: citizens of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan apply through the Swedish Consulate General in Istanbul. Belarusian citizens can hand in a paper application at the Moscow embassy on the same terms as Russians, as can foreign nationals permanently and legally resident in Russia. Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and other countries should check the directory on the Migration Agency's application page first: not every Swedish embassy handles migration cases, and the directory shows where to go.

## Schengen visa rules for Russians and whether they affect the study permit {#section-8}

From 12 September 2022, the EU fully suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia: the short-stay visa fee rose from $40 (€35) to the standard rate — $91 (€80) at the time and $100 (€90) since June 2024 — and standard processing times and document requirements returned. A European Commission decision of 6 November 2025 (published 7 November) restricted multiple-entry visas for Russian citizens residing in Russia. Both apply only to short-stay Schengen visas, not to residence permits for studies. In practice they matter for visiting relatives and short courses, and Sweden is currently not accepting Schengen applications in Moscow at all.

## After arrival: what changed in 2026 {#section-9}

- Registration. With a permit of a year or more, register in the population register to get a personal identity number (personnummer); without it, opening a Swedish bank account and booking healthcare online through 1177 are difficult.
- Address. For permits granted from 11 June 2026, you must report your address to the Migration Agency within 30 days of receiving the permit and after each move, unless you are already in the population register.
- Work. At most 15 hours a week during term, no limit from June to August. Work within the programme or at your university in student representation, administration or research is outside the limit. Exceeding it can cost you the permit.
- Study progress. Extensions require 37.5 credits in the first year and 45 credits in each later year.
- Family. From 1 October 2026, family members staying up to one year need comprehensive health insurance.
- After graduation. You can apply, before your study permit expires, for a permit of up to one year to look for work or start a business.

## Timeline for autumn 2027 {#section-10}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Before applying to universities | check that your passport is biometric and valid for the whole programme |
| January–March 2027 | build up funds in an account in your name; plan how to pay the semester |
| 1 or 8 April 2027 | admission results |
| April–May 2027 | pay the first semester |
| Right after payment | apply for the permit online or at the embassy |
| May–July 2027 | biometrics and, if requested, an interview |
| July–August 2027 | decision and card; travel to Sweden |

## Common reasons for delays and refusals {#section-11}

- Applying before paying the semester: the permit cannot be approved until the university confirms payment.
- A parent's bank statement, or one that is too old.
- Money in a deposit that cannot be withdrawn during the permit period.
- No comprehensive insurance for studies under a year.
- A passport that expires before the programme ends or lacks a biometric chip.
- Documents without certified English or Swedish translations.
- Applying late: the later the application, the lower the chance of a decision before term starts.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Do Russian citizens need a visa to study in Sweden?

For studies longer than three months you need a residence permit for studies from the Swedish Migration Agency, granted before entry, rather than a visa. A permit card is issued for permits over three months. A Schengen visa covers only courses under three months, and such applications are currently not accepted in Moscow except in urgent cases.

### How much money do I need for a Swedish student residence permit?

Under the rate for 2026 applications, at least $1,070 (SEK 10,656) a month for the whole permit period: about $12,830 for one year and $25,650 for two. The money must be in an account in your name, with a statement issued no more than four months before the permit start date.

### How long does a Swedish study permit take?

The Migration Agency gives no fixed time. Its statistics show that 75% of decisions over the last 12 months were made within three months. Complete online applications submitted right after paying the first semester move fastest.

### Where do Russian citizens apply for a study permit?

Online on the Migration Agency website if you have a Visa or Mastercard to pay the fee. Otherwise, on a paper form at the migration section of the Swedish embassy in Moscow, paying RUB 13,400 in cash. Russian citizens give biometrics for the permit card at the same embassy without an appointment during reception hours.

### Can I apply with an old Russian passport without a chip?

From 1 October 2026, Sweden does not recognise such Russian passports and will not grant permits in them. Until 31 December 2026, an exception applies only if the passport contains a valid visa, or you hold a valid Swedish, EU or Schengen residence permit, issued before 1 October 2026.

### Can I work on a Swedish student permit?

Yes, with a limit: for permits granted from 11 June 2026, at most 15 hours a week during term and without limit in summer. Work within your programme or at your university in research or administration is outside the limit.

### Do I need health insurance for a Swedish study permit?

If your studies last less than a year, yes: comprehensive cover for the whole stay, including treatment, hospitalisation, emergency dental care and repatriation. For a year or more, you register in the population register and use Swedish healthcare. Some universities, such as the University of Gothenburg, insure fee-paying students themselves.

## Sources {#section-13}

- [Swedish Migration Agency: residence permit for higher education — requirements, documents, funds, fee, processing, work](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/study/higher-education.html); checked 30 Sept 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency: [new rules for students from 11 June 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/nyheter/news-archive/2026-05-25-new-rules-for-residence-permits-for-studies-in-higher-education.html), [Russian non-biometric passports from 1 October 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/nyheter/news-archive/2026-09-21-russian-non-biometric-passports-will-no-longer-be-recognised-from-1-october.html), [family rules from 1 October 2026](https://www.migrationsverket.se/nyheter/news-archive/2026-09-17-new-rules-for-family-members-accompanying-students.html), [timing tips](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-apply/study/higher-education/5-tips-to-increase-your-chances-of-a-decision-before-the-semester.html), [looking for work after studies](https://www.migrationsverket.se/en/you-want-to-extend/study/look-for-work-after-completing-your-studies-in-sweden.html); checked 30 Sept 2026
- [European Commission: Schengen visa fee](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en); checked 30 Sept 2026
- Embassy of Sweden in Moscow: [how to apply](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/russia/going-to-sweden/studying-in-sweden/how-to-apply/), [documents](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/russia/going-to-sweden/studying-in-sweden/required-documents/), [fees](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/russia/going-to-sweden/studying-in-sweden/fees/), [FAQ](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/russia/going-to-sweden/studying-in-sweden/frequently-asked-questions/), [migration section hours and Schengen applications](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/russia/going-to-sweden/changed-opening-hours-at-the-migration-department/); checked 30 Sept 2026
- Swedish missions: [Kazakhstan](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/kazakhstan/), [Uzbekistan](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/uzbekistan/); checked 30 Sept 2026
- [Council of the EU: full suspension of visa facilitation with Russia, 9 September 2022](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/09/09/council-adopts-full-suspension-of-visa-facilitation-with-russia/), [European Commission decision C(2025) 7552 on multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/commission-implementing-decision-establishing-rules-issuing-multiple-entry-visas-russian-nationals_en); checked 30 Sept 2026
- [University Admissions: paying tuition](https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/fees-scholarships-residence-permit/paying-your-tuition-fees/), [Study in Sweden: health insurance](https://studyinsweden.se/moving-to-sweden/health-insurance/); checked 30 Sept 2026
- Dollar amounts use the ECB rate of 29 Sept 2026: one euro = $1.1355 = SEK 11.3210, one krona ≈ $0.1003; under $100 to the nearest $1, above to the nearest $10.

Checking your permit documents, calculating the funds to show and preparing the application are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The Swedish Migration Agency decides on the permit, the Swedish embassy handles biometrics and hands out documents, and the university decides on admission.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Applying to Swedish Universities: Process, Documents and 2027 Deadlines](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-swedish-universities)
- [Scholarships in Sweden for International Students: Who Qualifies and How to Apply](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-sweden)
- [Cost of Studying in Sweden: Tuition, Living Costs and a Full Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-sweden)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Bachelor's Degrees in Sweden in English: Programmes, School Certificate Rules and Real Timelines](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-sweden)
- [Master's Degrees in Sweden in English: Requirements, Costs and How to Choose](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-sweden)

Updated: September 2026