My Sweden Visa Application Experience: Visiting Family
Securing a Swedish Visa: A 14-Day Family Visit
Thrilled to share my experience obtaining a Sweden visa for a 14-day family visit! I prepared all the documents myself and applied at the VFS office in Ho Chi Minh City. The VFS staff were incredibly helpful, guiding me through my first family visit application and allowing me to submit additional documents online. One important thing to note about Sweden is that they typically grant visas for the exact duration of your itinerary. The application process can be a bit more involved compared to other European countries, particularly due to the legalization requirements for certain documents.
Here's a breakdown of the documents required for my Sweden family visit visa, where my relative in Sweden provided financial sponsorship. Despite the sponsorship, demonstrating stable income and employment in Vietnam is important, especially for applicants of working age. Since my sponsor was my sister, proving our familial relationship through birth certificates was essential. The documents were divided into three sections:
I. Applicant's (Husband and Wife) Documents
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Photos: Two 3.5x4.5 cm photos with a white background, adhering to the embassy's size and facial proportion requirements.
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Visa Application Form: Downloaded directly from the VFS website, completed in English, and signed with my full name. One photo attached.
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SCHENGEN VISA TO SWEDEN Checklist: The document checklist provided by the embassy. Submit your documents in this order for easier processing. Include the applicant's name, application date, and signature.
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Current Passport: Original and a copy of the passport information page.
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Old Passports: Copies of all pages with personal information, entry/exit stamps, and previous visas (including online visas).
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Proof of Residence: Official residence confirmation from the local police station, translated and notarized into English.
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Sister's Birth Certificate: Translated, notarized, and legalized by the relevant authorities.
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Sister and Brother-in-law's Employment Contracts: Copies with the company's official seal.
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Sister and Brother-in-law's Leave Approval Letters: Signed and sealed by their supervisors.
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Sister and Brother-in-law's Employment Confirmation Letters: Signed and sealed by their supervisors.
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Sister and Brother-in-law's National ID Cards: Notarized copies, legalized because our daughter was traveling with us and we needed to prove our relationship. A copy was used for our daughter's application, and we kept the original.
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Marriage Certificate: Notarized copy, translated, and legalized.
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Bank Statements: Showing salary deposits and other income over the last three months, translated into English. Highlight salary deposits.
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Land Ownership Certificates: Notarized copies, translated.
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Credit Card Statements: Monthly statements for the past three months, with credit limits highlighted.
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Flight Itinerary: Provisional booking in English.
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Travel Insurance: Actual policy with COVID-19 coverage, meeting the requirements specified on the VFS website, in English.
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Hotel Bookings: While we stayed with family in Sweden for a week, we had hotel bookings in Germany and Poland, in English.
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Detailed Itinerary in English: A comprehensive daily plan, including flight details, accommodation, activities, and transportation methods.
II. Daughter's Documents
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Copies of all documents from the parents' application.
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Daughter's Birth Certificate: Notarized copy, translated, and legalized.
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Letter of Approval for School Absence: Notarized copy translated into English, approved by the school administration.
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Confirmation Letter of Enrollment: Notarized copy translated into English, confirming her status as a student.
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Parents' National ID Cards: Notarized copies, legalized to prove the relationship since our daughter was traveling with us.
III. Sponsor's (Sister in Sweden) Documents
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Invitation Letter: Using the template on the VFS website, completed for each applicant and signed, with the original sent to Vietnam.
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Sister's Passport: Color printout, one for each applicant.
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Sister's Residence Permit in Sweden: Color printout, one for each applicant.
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Excerpt from the Population Register: Issued by the Swedish Tax Agency, a scanned copy printed out.
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Bank Statements: For the past three months, scanned copies. The embassy requires the sponsor to guarantee at least 1,000,000 VND per day per person. Calculate the total amount based on the number of applicants and the duration of the stay to ensure sufficient funds.
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Sister's Birth Certificate: Notarized copy, translated, and legalized.
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Photos with Family: Two photos of the sister with the family or the applicant, attached to the applicant's file.
Submitting the Application
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Create an account and book a biometrics appointment on the VFS website. Print the appointment confirmation email and include it with each applicant's file.
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Prepare all required documents.
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Pay the fees: Embassy fee (adult: 2,057,000 VND, child 6-12 years: 1,028,500 VND), VFS service fee (805,000 VND), document delivery fee to the embassy in Bangkok (545,000 VND), and return postage fee (67,000 VND).
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Wait for the passport to be delivered by post, which took about two weeks.
Important Note
All documents must be printed on A4 paper and should not be stapled. Use paper clips instead.
Wishing you success with your Sweden visa application!
