Sweden Visa RequirementsFor Afghanistan passport holders
Afghan citizens require a Schengen visa to visit Sweden, costing €90 ($98 USD). The Swedish Embassy in Kabul suspended operations in 2021. Afghans apply at the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad or the Swedish Consulate in Dubai. Sweden has one of the largest Afghan diaspora communities in Europe.
Afghanistan passport holders require a visa to enter Sweden.
Apply at the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad or the Swedish Consulate in Dubai. Required documents: completed Schengen form, valid Afghan passport (at least 3 months beyond return), two biometric photos, travel insurance (minimum €30,000), confirmed return flights, accommodation bookings or invitation letter from Swedish resident, 3 months of bank statements, employment letter. Processing takes 15 business days.
Sweden is part of the Schengen Area. Your stay counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period for the entire Schengen zone. Learn more about Schengen rules →
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
3 months beyond departure from Schengen
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Afghanistan to Sweden: What You Need to Know
Sweden is a Schengen member: a Swedish Schengen visa grants access to all 27 Schengen countries. The Schengen fee is €90 since June 2024. The Swedish Embassy in Kabul suspended operations in August 2021. Sweden has one of the largest Afghan communities in Europe, with over 100,000 Afghans and Afghan-Swedes living in the country, particularly in Gothenburg, Malmo, and Stockholm. This large diaspora means many Afghan visa applicants in Sweden have family connections, which can strengthen visa applications with invitation letters. Applications are processed at the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad or the Swedish Consulate in Dubai.
How to Get There
No direct flights connect Afghan airports to Sweden. Route via Dubai (DXB) then SAS or Norwegian to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) or Gothenburg (GOT), or via Istanbul (IST) with Turkish Airlines then SAS or another carrier. From Islamabad, connect through Gulf hubs. Total journey time from Kabul is typically 12 to 18 hours.
Money & Banking
Sweden uses the Swedish krona (SEK). Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere. Sweden is expensive: Stockholm accommodation from SEK 500 to 800 ($47 to $75) per night in budget options, restaurant meals from SEK 150 to 300 ($14 to $28). Sweden is one of the world's most cashless societies: most places do not accept cash at all. ATMs are available but rarely needed. Sweden has a large Afghan community in Gothenburg, Malmo, and Stockholm with Afghan restaurants and cultural organisations.
Practical Tips
Stockholm's Gamla Stan (Old Town) has colourful 17th and 18th century buildings, the Royal Palace, and excellent restaurants. The Vasa Museum houses a perfectly preserved 17th-century warship. The ABBA Museum is popular culture. The Stockholm Archipelago (30,000 islands) is stunning for summer boating. Gothenburg is Sweden's second city with a food scene that has won multiple Michelin stars. The Northern Lights are visible in Swedish Lapland from September to March. The midnight sun lights up Lapland from June to July.