Visiting relatives and friends in Sweden for longer than 90 days.

Visiting relatives and friends for longer than 90 days.
If you are planning to visit Sweden for longer than 90 days you need to apply for a visitors' residence permit, or – if there are special reasons – a visa for a longer period (a D-visa, national visa).

General information.
When applying, if you know that you will need to stay in Sweden for a period longer than 90 days, you should not apply for a Schengen visa but for a visitor’s residence permit. In special cases, it might be possible to apply for a national visa, known as a ‘D-visa’. Such permits are decided in accordance with national Swedish rules. This means, for instance, that visa facilitation agreements do not apply and visa decisions are not subject to appeal.

An application for a visitor’s residence permit is always sent to the Migration Agency in Sweden, where the decision is taken. If the application is granted, residence permits are usually issued for between three and twelve months.

If you have special grounds that are approved, you can obtain a national visa (D-visa) for longer than 90 days, but for a year at the most. Special grounds may, for instance, be that you need to travel often for business purposes and spend more than 90 days in a 180 day period in Sweden. This could also apply to parents who will travel back and forth to visit their children in Sweden. Please note that only if you can show special grounds can a national (D) visa be approved. In most cases, you should apply for a visitor‘s residence permit. A national visa gives you freedom of movement throughout the Schengen area, in the same way as a residence permit. You yourself decide how many times you want to enter the Schengen area during the visa’s period of validity. National visas are decided at the Embassy.

Applying for a D-visa.
If you have special grounds that are approved, you can obtain a national visa (D-visa) for longer than 90 days, but for a year at the most. Special grounds may, for instance, be that you need to travel often for business purposes and spend more than 90 days in a 180 day period in Sweden. This could also apply to parents who will travel back and forth to visit their children in Sweden.

Please note that only if you can show special grounds can a national (D) visa be approved. In most cases, you should apply for a visitor‘s residence permit. A national visa gives you freedom of movement throughout the Schengen area, in the same way as a residence permit. You yourself decide how many times you want to enter the Schengen area during the visa’s period of validity. National visas are decided at the Embassy.

Requirements for D-visa.
Only if you have special grounds could you be entitled to national visa (D visa)?

The requirements are the same as for a Schengen visa with the following exceptions:

You have to show that there are special circumstances entitling you to a D visa. Most applicants who want to stay in Sweden more than 90 days in a 180 day period should apply for a visitor's permit.
Use the form National visa (D visa) 169011.
Medical travel insurance is not required but recommended in case anything should happen.