Sweden Schengen Visa Closure: What It Means for Students
Following reports that the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka has stopped making decisions on Schengen visa applications, many Bangladeshi students and prospective applicants may be wondering whether this development will affect their plans to pursue higher education in Sweden. Will students still be able to apply to Swedish universities? Has the Embassy stopped handling student residence permit applications? Will applicants face difficulties obtaining permission to travel to Sweden for their studies? The short answer is that the announced change concerns Schengen short-stay visa decisions, not the student residence permit system. There is no indication in the official announcement that Sweden has suspended higher education applications or student residence permit processing for Bangladeshi applicants. Here is what prospective students need to understand. What Exactly Has Changed at the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka? Effective 15 October 2026, the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka stopped making decisions on Schengen visa applications submitted in Bangladesh. Instead, the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) now makes all decisions on these applications. The change concerns short-stay Schengen visas, which generally allow visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Importantly, the Embassy has also clarified that it is no longer authorized to provide guidance, information or assistance regarding Schengen visa applications and decisions. However, this announcement should not be interpreted as the closure of all Swedish visa or immigration services in Bangladesh. Does This Affect Applications to Swedish Universities? No. The announced Schengen visa arrangement does not change the university admission process. Bangladeshi students can continue applying to Swedish universities through the usual admission channels. For international applicants, UniversityAdmissions.se remains the central application platform for many bachelor’s and master’s programmes offered by Swedish universities. Applicants must continue to follow the relevant admission deadlines, academic entry requirements, English-language requirements and document submission procedures. The Embassy’s change in Schengen visa decision-making authority does not alter these university admission arrangements. Are Student Residence Permit Applications Still Being Processed? Yes. Student residence permit applications remain a separate immigration procedure handled by the Swedish Migration Agency. For Bangladeshi students planning to study in Sweden for more than three months, a residence permit is generally required. According to the Swedish Migration Agency, applicants for higher education must generally: Hold a valid passport. Have final admission to full-time, on-campus studies. Pay the required tuition fees before applying, where applicable. Demonstrate sufficient financial resources for their stay. Meet the applicable health insurance requirements. Students can submit their residence permit applications through the Swedish Migration Agency’s online application service. The Migration Agency, not the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, is responsible for assessing these applications and making the final decisions. Therefore, the transfer of Schengen visa decision-making authority does not mean that student residence permit applications have been discontinued. Will Students Still Need to Visit the Swedish Embassy? This is where applicants should pay attention. Submitting a student residence permit application online does not necessarily mean that no further in-person procedures will be required. The Swedish Migration Agency may ask applicants to: Present their passports for verification. Attend an interview, if required. Provide fingerprints and photographs for their residence permit cards. Many applicants may receive instructions for a digital passport check. Others may be required to visit a Swedish embassy or consulate-general, depending on their individual circumstances. Applicants should follow the specific instructions issued by the Swedish Migration Agency rather than assuming that they must visit the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka or that the Embassy is no longer involved in any migration-related procedures. The Migration Agency determines whether additional verification or an interview is necessary. Should Bangladeshi Students Be Concerned? Based on the official announcements, there is no reason to assume that the change in Schengen visa decision-making authority will prevent Bangladeshi students from pursuing higher education in Sweden. However, students should distinguish between three separate processes: University admission: Swedish universities and University Admissions continue to manage applications for higher education. Student residence permits: The Swedish Migration Agency remains responsible for receiving and deciding student residence permit applications. Schengen short-stay visas: The Swedish Migration Agency now makes decisions on Schengen visa applications submitted in Bangladesh, effective 15 October 2026. The Embassy’s latest announcement concerns the third category. It does not announce the suspension of the first or second. Students should therefore continue preparing their university applications, arranging tuition payments and financial documentation, and submitting their residence permit applications according to the official requirements.