Applications for residence and work permits (Swedish Embassy)

Who can submit an application?

An application for a residence and work permit has normally to be submitted by the applicant in person to the Embassy. The applicant pays an application fee of SYP 3,200 (at the current exchange rate) for an adult and half that amount for each child.

If the applicant is not able to visit the Embassy in person to submit an application for a residence and work permit, the reference person (husband/wife, etc.) can submit the application and pay any application fee.

Asylum

Only asylum seekers who are physically present in Sweden may have their grounds considered by the Swedish Migration Board. Sweden’s missions abroad are obliged to accept asylum applications but it should be emphasised that such applications are always rejected by the Swedish Migration Board since the applicant is not physically present in Sweden.

How to submit an application for a residence and work permit

In order to submit an application for a residence and work permit at the Embassy in Damascus, the prospective applicant or the reference person in Sweden (e.g. husband/wife) must make an appointment. Appointments can be made either by fax or by e-mail. When the appointment is made, the name of the applicant must be provided, as well as the applicants nationality and telephone no.

At present there is a waiting time of approximately 11 months to submit an application and to be interviewed at the Embassy.

As of 1 July 2007 the Embassy only accepts prebookings (for visa and residance permit) via e-mail.

Appointments can be made by email at the following address: ambassaden.damaskus-bokning-tillstand@foreign.ministry.se

For persons wishing to apply for a visa or a residence permit at the Embassy of Sweden in Damascus

To provide better service to clients, the Visa Section of the Swedish Embassy implements an appointment system. This means without an appointment, clients will not be admitted to the Visa Section. Either the applicant or the referee in Sweden can request the appointment. The applicant's full name has to be given directly to the Embassy when making the appointment. The system and the rules have been introduced due to misuse of appointments during the autumn of 2006.

Please note that your identification card and passport will be compared to the appointment list. If your name does not appear in the list you will NOT be allowed to apply. The Visa Section representative outside the premises can NOT make any changes in the list.

Oral investigation with the applicant

Please note that submitting the application and the oral interview will be done at the same date and must be prebooked as mentioned above.

Oral investigation with the reference person in Sweden

The oral investigation with the reference person is carried out by the Swedish Migration Board in Sweden. The Embassy in Damascus only carries out oral investigations with reference persons who have been legally resident in Syria for more than 12 months.

Documents that must be submitted to the Embassy for each applicant and each application at the same time as the application is submitted.

Please note that two application forms must be submitted for each person and that the Embassy will not give an appointment for an interview until the application is complete.

• copy of national passport or other travel document
  
  
• new colour photograph (not more than two months old)
  
  
• copy of identity card for each person, translated Into English
  
  
• copy of marriage certificate, translated into English
  
  
• death certificate where relevant concerning husband/wife and children
  
  
• population registration certificate (not more than three months old) for the reference person in Sweden (note that citizenship, civil status and address must be stated)
  
  
• when an application concerns family reunification the decision of the Swedish Migration Board concerning the reference person showing the grounds for granting the residence permit must be enclosed.

All documents enclosed with the application must be in A4 format.

Application fee

As of 15 July 2001 the Embassy charges an application fee for applications for residence and work permits. It is up to the person submitting the application to the Embassy to pay the application fee when the application is made or to show that the applicant is exempt from the fee.

The Embassy in Damascus only accepts payment in local currency, i.e. Syrian pounds (SYP).

If the application fee is not paid the application may be rejected by the Embassy.

Application forms, etc.

Application forms can be obtained from the Embassy and are also available on the Swedish Migration Board’s website:
> www.migrationsverket.se

The Swedish Migration Board’s website also provides more information about what rules are applicable to people who intend to visit or settle in Sweden.

Granted visa and residence permits can be collected Mondays and Wednesdays.