Visa for Sweden from China: price, documents and processing time 2026
Yes, a visa is required: citizens of China apply at the embassy or consulate before departure, for stays up to 90 days per 180-day period.
Data updated on
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Insurance requiredMedical insurance for the Schengen visa
A document the Visa Code requires in the file: at least €30,000 of medical expenses, valid throughout the Schengen area for the whole stay. Any compliant insurer is accepted; AXA Schengen is one. Only the consulate decides whether the certificate is acceptable.
See AXA Schengen insurancePartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
New service€29
Have your application checked before you submit it
A person reads your documents and tells you in writing what is missing or inconsistent: insurance, accommodation, dates, funds, where to apply.
- You pay €29 by card, secure payment by Stripe.
- You email your documents to [email protected] from the address you paid with.
- You get our written reply within 48 hours, or your money back.
The €29 does not include the appointment, the submission or the visa fees. IziVisas is not a consulate: only the consulate decides.
Pay €29 and have my application checkedOfficial fee
90 EUR
Processing time
15-45 days
Allowed stay
90 days per 180-day period
Our guide to the Sweden visa from China
Chinese nationals must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before travelling to Sweden for tourism.
Sweden is part of the Schengen area, and Chinese passport holders are not visa-exempt. The application is filed in China through the Swedish embassy and its provider VFS Global. Expect a €90 fee and a 15–45 day wait.
Do you need a visa?
Yes. On a Chinese passport you need a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Sweden must be your main destination, or your first point of entry into the Schengen area, for you to apply in China.
How much does a visa for Sweden cost from China?
90 EUR
Official government fee only. Providers and visa centres add their own service charge on top.
What does a visa for Sweden really cost?
- Government fee90 EUR
- Application centre feeCapped at €45
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
- ExtrasVariable
What documents are required for a visa for Sweden?
The exact list for Sweden is not published in a source we can verify. Every short-stay tourist application is nonetheless built on the same core:
- Valid passport
- Completed application form
- Compliant passport photo
- Proof of accommodation
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
Treat this as the common core, not the official list, confirm it with the consular authorities of Sweden before you apply.
Travel medical insurance is part of the file
Not a recommendation: the Visa Code makes it a required document. The policy must cover at least €30,000 of medical expenses, including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation, and be valid across every Schengen state for the whole stay. Failing to provide a compliant certificate is one of the grounds for refusal set out in the Code (Article 32).
Prices and pitfalls: our Schengen visa insurance guide
AXA Schengen sells a policy designed for Schengen visa applications. Check that the cover and the dates match your stay: the consulate alone decides whether the document is acceptable.
See the AXA Schengen policyPartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Proof of accommodation is part of the file
The Visa Code asks for documents on accommodation, or proof of enough money to pay for it (Article 14). Depending on the consulate, that means a hotel booking or an invitation from the relative who hosts you. If you book, pick free cancellation, so you can cancel at no cost if the visa is refused. Then keep the booking until you travel: border police may ask for it.
Booking.com lets you filter stays by free cancellation.
Search stays on Booking.comPartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you stay, at no extra cost to you.
Documents and fees
Prepare a passport valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure, travel insurance covering a minimum of €30,000, proof of accommodation, evidence of funds (bank statements, employment) and a return booking. The visa fee is €90 for an adult, before the VFS Global service charge. Check the exact rate before you pay.
How to apply for a visa for Sweden from China
- 1Book an appointment at the embassy, consulate or visa application centre.
- 2Assemble the complete file before the appointment.
- 3Submit the file and provide your biometric data.
- 4Track the processing and wait for the decision.
- 5Collect your passport with the visa sticker.
How and where to apply
Follow the Swedish mission's instructions on swedenabroad.se, then book an appointment at a VFS Global centre in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or another major city. You attend in person to submit the file and give biometrics. Your passport is held during processing.
Where do you apply for a visa for Sweden from China?
A consular visa for Sweden is filed with the diplomatic post accredited for China, or with the application centre that post has appointed.
- The competent post is the one accredited for China, which is not always the nearest one geographically.
- An application centre collects the file and the biometrics. It does not decide, it cannot speed up a case, and it is not an agency.
- Appointments are booked with the post or the centre directly. A slot is never sold, and no one can guarantee one.
Which Schengen state is competent
- Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If Sweden is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
- With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
- If Sweden has no consulate in China, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.
What if Sweden has no embassy in China?
Then the application goes to the post accredited for China, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.
You live in China on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in China but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does a visa for Sweden take?
15-45 days
Indicative time, counted from a complete file. Peak season can be longer.
Processing time and practical tips
Processing usually takes 15–45 days; apply up to six months before departure and no later than 15 days beforehand. VFS slots in China's big cities are in high demand, so book early. A detailed itinerary with consistent bookings strengthens the file.
Before you fly, and at the border
Passport validity, border checks, minors, overstays: the rules common to every trip are gathered on our travel tips page. Formalities before you leave
Common mistakes and good to know
A common mistake is applying to Sweden when the main stay is in another Schengen country: the application must target the main destination. Do not buy non-refundable tickets before approval. Insurance below the €30,000 threshold or thin bank statements often lead to refusal.
Plan your trip
Flights (Trip.com)
Compare flights and airlines for your trip.
eSIM data (Saily)
Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.
Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.
Partner links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Other visa types for Sweden
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
- Job seeker permit (highly qualified)
- Self-employed permit
- EU Blue Card
- Work permit
- Study residence permit
- Researcher permit
2 more visa types
Official sources
- Sweden Abroad: official Swedish visa information
- European Commission: Schengen visa policy
- EU Visa Code (consolidated text)
Other references
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Insurance requiredMedical insurance for the Schengen visa
A document the Visa Code requires in the file: at least €30,000 of medical expenses, valid throughout the Schengen area for the whole stay. Any compliant insurer is accepted; AXA Schengen is one. Only the consulate decides whether the certificate is acceptable.
See AXA Schengen insurancePartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Short-stay (tourism)
Visa required
Entry regime
Visa required
Duration
90 days per 180-day period
Price
€90
Processing time
15-45 days
Insurance for my Schengen visa
A required document; AXA Schengen offer, partner link
Official websiteVerifiedStudy residence permit
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Price
1,500 SEK
Processing time
90 days
Official websiteVerified
Job seeker permit (highly qualified)
Work visa
Duration
9 months
Price
2,200 SEK
Processing time
90 days
Official websiteVerified
Researcher permit
Student visa
Duration
2 years
Price
1,500 SEK
Processing time
90 days
Official websiteVerified
Self-employed permit
Work visa
Duration
2 years
Price
2,000 SEK
Processing time
12-18 months
Official websiteVerified
EU Blue Card
Work visa
Duration
2 years
Price
2,000 SEK
Processing time
90 days
Official websiteVerified
Au pair visa
Working Holiday
Duration
1 year
Price
1,500 SEK
Processing time
90 days
Official websiteVerified
Work permit
Work visa
Duration
2 years
Price
2,200 SEK
Processing time
6-12 months
Official websiteVerified
Family reunification permit
Family reunification
Duration
2 years
Price
1,000–2,000 SEK
Processing time
12-18 months
Official websiteVerified
Tips to extend your stay in Sweden
- Prepare your extension request well in advance, as it may be denied.
- Make sure you have all necessary documents, including medical insurance.
Example: If you have a Schengen visa, you can visit other Schengen countries during your stay.
Get alerted when this visa policy changes
One email only when this destination’s regime, fees or visas change. One-click unsubscribe.
Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Other visas from China
Guides to prepare your trip
Transit visa 2026: when a simple layover requires a visa
Staying airside and crossing immigration are not governed by the same rules. When a transit visa becomes mandatory, the Schengen case, the…
7 min readRead the guide →
Schengen Visa Travel Insurance: The 3 Official Criteria and the Pitfalls (2026)
€30,000 minimum, repatriation, full Schengen validity: what the Visa Code really requires, the mistakes that get applications refused, and…
7 min readRead the guide →
Visa Refusal: The 10 Most Common Reasons and How to Avoid Them
Funds, home ties, insurance, inconsistencies… The 10 most common visa refusal reasons, how to avoid them, and your appeal options region by…
9 min readRead the guide →