How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in Sweden for Philippine Passport Holders

If you are dreaming of visiting Sweden, the land of ABBA, IKEA and Nobel prizes, you might need to apply for a Schengen visa first. A Schengen visa is a permit that allows you to enter and stay in any of the 26 countries that are part of the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Sweden is one of these countries and it offers plenty of attractions for travelers, such as its beautiful nature, rich culture and vibrant cities.

But how do you apply for a Schengen visa in Sweden if you are a Philippine passport holder? In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps and requirements that you need to know before you book your flight.

Step 1: Check if you need a visa

The first thing you need to do is to check if you actually need a visa to visit Sweden. If you have a valid residence permit issued by another Schengen country or if you are permanently living in an EU country, you do not need to apply for an entry visa. However, if you are only a citizen of the Philippines and do not have any other permits or visas, then you will need to apply for a Schengen visa.

You can check if your country requires a visa on this website.

Step 2: Determine your purpose of visit

The next thing you need to do is to determine your purpose of visit. This will affect what type of visa you need and what documents you need to prepare. There are different types of visas depending on your reason for traveling, such as:

– Visiting relatives and friends
– Business or conference
– Tourism
– Medical treatment
– Religious purposes
– Studies, research or doctoral exchange
– Volunteer work or internship

You can find more information about each type of visa and its requirements on this website.

Step 3: Find out where and when to apply

Once you know what type of visa you need, you need to find out where and when to apply. You must apply at the embassy or consulate-general that represents Sweden in your area. In some cases, another Schengen country might represent Sweden if there is no Swedish representation available.

In the Philippines, the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok is responsible for the processing of the visas. However, there is a Sweden Visa Application Center (VFS) located in Manila and Cebu that handles all visa applications on behalf of Sweden. You can find more information about the VFS on this website.

You must apply no earlier than six months before your intended date of travel and no later than 15 days before your departure date. However, it is recommended that you submit your application as early as possible since it might take some time for processing.

Step 4: Prepare your documents

The next step is to prepare all the documents that support your application. The exact documents may vary depending on your purpose of visit and personal circumstances, but generally they include:

– A completed and signed application form
– A valid passport with at least two blank pages
– Two recent passport-sized photos
– A travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000
– A round-trip flight reservation or itinerary
– Proof of accommodation (such as hotel booking or invitation letter)
– Proof of financial means (such as bank statements or sponsorship letter)
– Proof of purpose (such as invitation letter from relatives/friends/business partners/organizations/schools)
– Any other relevant documents (such as marriage certificate/birth certificate/employment contract/study certificate)

You can find more details about each document on this website.

Step 5: Book an appointment and submit your application

The final step is to book an appointment online at the VFS website and submit your application in person. You will also need to pay an application fee which varies depending on your age and type of visa.

At the VFS, you will have to submit all your documents along with your biometric data (fingerprints and photo).

After submitting your application, you can track its status online using your reference number.

Step 6: Wait for the decision

The processing time for Schengen visas may vary depending on several factors such as peak seasons, demand, complexity, and completeness of applications. However, the average processing time is around 15 days. You have the option to either pick-up your passport at the VFS center or have it shipped to your home. You will be notified when your passport is ready by email or phone.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to get a Schengen visa in Sweden for Philippine passport holders. Getting a visa can be a daunting process, but with proper preparation and documentation, you can make it easier and faster. And you can easily do it on your own! Once you have your visa, you can enjoy exploring Sweden and other Schengen countries without any hassle. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog or check out Thrill Escapade on YouTube for more travel tips and inspiration.

Thank you for reading and happy travels!