Doctoral-studies residence permit

Here you will find information about residence permits for people who have been admitted to doctoral studies. Doctoral studies are third-cycle studies that will lead to a licentiate degree, qualification in the fine, applied, or performing arts, a doctoral degree, or a doctoral degree in the fine, applied, or performing arts.

You must be finally admitted to full-time studies in Sweden.

If you need to pay a tuition fee, it must be paid before you apply for a residence permit.

If you have been admitted to studies that will last less than a year, you need comprehensive health insurance. If you do not have insurance through your higher education institution, you must have or have applied for your own insurance.

The so-called “maintenance requirement” means that you must show that you have funds (money) available through your own bank assets, scholarship, or doctoral student salary or doctoral grant.

The maintenance requirement is at least SEK 10,656 per month, if you applied in 2026 at least SEK 10,584 per month, if you applied in 2025.

If you will receive a salary for employment as a doctoral student, you must show this with a certificate of enrolment issued by the higher education institution.

Yes, in parallel with your education, you can work with teaching, research or administration (up to 20 percent of full time). If you are an industrial doctoral student, you can work more than 20 percent of full time, under certain conditions.

If any of your family members also want to apply for a residence permit, they can do so at the same time as you. “Family members” are considered to include spouses, registered partners, cohabiting partners, and children under the age of 18.

You can be granted a residence permit for a maximum of four years, but not for longer than your studies are supposed to last. You can never be granted a permit for longer than your passport is valid.

Your residence permit can be extended.