Embassy
Embassy of Sweden, Pretoria
Pretoria
1166 Park Street
Sweden visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens need a visa for Sweden, from its embassy or consulate.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
SWE
Sweden
Visa needed
A visa for tourists who need one before visiting Sweden.
- Visa
- Required
- Fee
- €90
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Find Sweden's embassy or consulate that covers where you live.
Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
Book an appointment early; processing can take several weeks.
Get your Sweden visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Sweden
Visit without a visa if eligible, or apply before travel.
Visa not requiredSchengen permit visitPeople with another Schengen country's residence permit can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your passport and residence permit are valid.
- Carry both when you travel.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Valid Schengen residence permit
- The 90-day limit covers any 180 days outside your permit's country.
- This visit rule does not give you permission to work in Sweden.
Visa on arrivalEmergency border visaA border visa for urgent, unexpected cases when applying earlier was impossible.
- Stay
- 15 days
How to apply
- Explain why you could not apply before travel.
- Show proof of the urgent, unexpected reason.
- Show proof that you will leave.
Documents required
- Passport or travel document
- Proof of the urgent reason
- Return or onward travel proof
- Border staff decide whether to give you a visa.
- Transit permission lasts only as long as needed.
Visa requiredSchengen tourist visaA visa for tourists who need one before visiting Sweden.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Find the embassy or visa centre for your application.
- Fill in the form and check the document list.
- Attend your appointment, pay, and give fingerprints if needed.
- Collect your passport and check your visa.
Documents required
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Filled visa form
- Travel plans and accommodation proof
- Return booking
- Proof of money
- Travel insurance covering 30,000 EUR
- Passport photo
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- Your visa sets your stay: at most 90 days in any 180 days.
- Lower fees or no fee may apply; visa centres may charge extra.
Other routeLong tourist stay permitA permit for tourists from outside Europe who want more than 90 days.
- Fee
- SEK 1,500
How to apply
- Prepare passport copies, proof of money, and insurance.
- Apply online or through the Swedish embassy.
- Complete the passport check and any required appointment.
Documents required
- Passport copies
- Proof of money
- Medical travel insurance unless exempt
- Proof of your visit plans
- The permit cannot last beyond your passport's expiry date.
- This permit does not allow work or a permanent move.
Sources (33)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Swedish Migration Agency: Schengen visa and visa-free visits
- Swedish Police: entry requirements for third-country nationals
- Government Offices of Sweden: information on visas
- Government Offices of Sweden: nationality and special-passport visa requirements
- European Union visa regulation: visa-required and visa-exempt nationalities
- European Union visa regulation: readable consolidated nationality lists
- European Union Visa Code: airport-transit exemptions and exceptional border visas
- Official European Union ETIAS website: not yet operational
- Embassy of Sweden in the United States: visiting Sweden
- Embassy of Sweden in the United Kingdom: travel to Sweden
- Embassy of Sweden in the United Kingdom: Schengen visa applications
- Embassy of Sweden in India: visiting Sweden
- Embassy of Sweden in India: application process
- Embassy of Sweden in India: entry and visa processing
- Embassy of Sweden in India: biometrics and exemptions
- Embassy of Sweden in India: common Schengen information
- Embassy of Sweden in India: tourist checklist
- Embassy of Sweden in India: business and conference checklist
- Embassy of Sweden in India: family and friends checklist
- Embassy of Sweden in India: short study checklist
- Embassy of Sweden in India: medical checklist
- Embassy of Sweden in Kenya: airport-transit checklist, June 2026
- Embassy of Sweden in Serbia: medical insurance and exemptions
- Embassy of Sweden in Thailand: Schengen visa questions
- Embassy of Sweden in Turkey: visa fees and educational exemptions
- Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh: visa fee schedule
- Swedish Migration Agency: visitor's residence permit
- Swedish Migration Agency: higher education residence permit
- Swedish Migration Agency: employee work permit
- Swedish Migration Agency: family residence routes
- Swedish Migration Agency: residence permit to live with a partner
- Swedish Migration Agency: family application appointments and travel documents
- Swedish Migration Agency: working holiday residence permit
Embassies for this trip
Book an appointment before you go.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs C FAdapter for some
- MoneySEK kr
- Time−1h
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguageSwedish
- Emergency112 police
Planning your Sweden trip
- StockholmThe compact historic capital has plenty of heritage, the Vasa Museum and access to the Stockholm Archipelago.
- GothenburgVisit its canals, cobbled streets and well-known botanical garden.
- MalmöThe city is known for its modern architecture.
- VisbyThis historic port town is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site.
Scams to watch for in Sweden
- PickpocketingThieves take wallets or other belongings in places used by tourists. Crowds can make a theft harder to notice.
- High taxi faresYou can face a much higher fare if you enter without checking the taxi's prices. The yellow rear-window sign shows a comparison price for a typical 10 km, 15-minute journey. A high fare alone does not prove fraud.
- Poor exchange rates when paying in eurosSome shops accept euros but typically use an unfavourable exchange rate. You may pay more than expected. This is a pricing risk rather than proof of fraud.
About Sweden
Sweden is a Nordic constitutional monarchy on the east side of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Money
- Swedish krona (kr)
- Languages
- Swedish
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +46
Other Africa passports
Going to Sweden
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Sweden with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Sweden?
South African citizens need a visa for Sweden, from its embassy or consulate.
Where do I apply for a Sweden visa?
At Sweden's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Book an appointment early, as it can take several weeks.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help south african citizens enter Sweden?
We have no record of Sweden relaxing its rules for south african citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do swedish citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Swedish citizens do not need a visa for South Africa. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Sweden?
Mauritius and Seychelles can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Sweden are easier for south african citizens?
Kosovo, Russia, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Sweden?
Find Sweden's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
What money is used in Sweden?
Swedish krona (kr). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Sweden?
Swedish.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
It ranks #51 and reaches 91 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck