Sweden guide · Residence permit · 3 min read
Sweden's student residence permit from Nepal: the money, the work rule and the wait.
To study in Sweden for more than 3 months you need a residence permit from Migrationsverket. You apply online once you're admitted and have paid tuition, show SEK 10,656 for each month of study (for 2026 applications), pay SEK 1,500, and give fingerprints and photos at the mission Migrationsverket names. For permits granted from 11 June 2026, bachelor's and master's students can work 15 hours a week in term, so the money you show has to carry you.
The short version
- Funds: SEK 10,656 for each month of study (2026 applications). For 10 months that's SEK 106,560, about Rs 16.4 lakh.
- Fee SEK 1,500; apply online after admission and the first tuition payment.
- Work: 15 hours a week in term for permits granted from 11 June 2026; full-time June to August.
- Comprehensive health insurance is needed if your course is shorter than a year.
- After graduating: up to 12 months to look for work or start a business.
The requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admission | A notification of selection for full-time studies |
| Tuition | First payment made (or a scholarship letter) |
| Funds | SEK 10,656 a month of study, for 2026 applications, in your own account |
| Insurance | Comprehensive health insurance if your studies are under a year |
| Passport | Valid for the period of the permit |
| Fee | SEK 1,500 |
The money, in rupees
At Rs 15.39 per SEK (18 Oct 2026):
| Item | SEK | Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Funds for 10 months | 106,560 | about Rs 16.4 lakh |
| Funds for 12 months | 127,872 | about Rs 19.7 lakh |
| Permit fee | 1,500 | about Rs 23,000 |
The 15-hour rule, and why it matters
For bachelor’s and master’s students granted a permit on or after 11 June 2026, work during term is limited to 15 hours a week, except June to August and internships that are part of the course. Many plans online still assume 20 hours or more.
At 15 hours a week and a typical student wage of about SEK 130 an hour (what our alumni report), that’s about SEK 8,400 a month before tax, not enough to cover rent and food in Stockholm or Lund. Budget as if the money you show is all you’ll have.
From our files. Ramila Tamang from Sindhupalchok planned to pay her rent from 20 hours of work a week, a plan built on the old rule. Before she paid anything, we rebuilt her budget for the 15-hour limit, with savings and a smaller loan to cover the gap, and a shared room in student housing. Her permit for an MSc in Lund was granted in 8 weeks.
The steps
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| 1. Accept your place and pay the first tuition | Spring, after results (NOC first) |
| 2. Move the funds into your own account | Before applying |
| 3. Apply online to Migrationsverket | Straight away |
| 4. Fingerprints and photos at the mission Migrationsverket names | When invited |
| 5. Decision | Often 8 to 10 weeks for our students |
| 6. Arrive; register with the Swedish Tax Agency if your permit is over a year | August |
After graduating
You can apply for a permit to look for work or start a business for up to 12 months after you finish. With a job that meets the salary rules, you move to a work permit.
Mistakes that delay Swedish permits
- Funds in a parent’s account, not yours.
- A budget built on 20 hours of work.
- Applying in July, when queues are longest.
- No insurance for a course under a year.
