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Afghanistan → Sweden

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Afghanistan
To
Sweden
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
3,125
Change since 2018
-67.5%
Share of all arrivals in Sweden, 2023
4.10%
Inflow 20233,125OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<SEAFGHANISTAN<SWEDEN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
AF5<SE8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Migration from Afghanistan to Sweden

Inflows of nationals of Afghanistan recorded by Sweden; stock of nationals of Afghanistan living there; and acquisitions of Sweden's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

5,65511k200020032006200920122015201820212023
5,65511k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000888
20011,030
2002979
2003964
2004964
2005656
20061,669
2007835
20081,033
20091,558
20101,920
20113,415
20124,673
20134,165
20143,844
20153,375
20164,081
201711,309
20189,618
20197,862
20202,587
20212,194
20223,274
20233,125
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—44,683—
20233,12545,0533,332
20223,27446,6665,405
20212,19448,4784,269
20202,58749,5922,820
20197,86245,3652,793
20189,61837,4361,912
201711,30928,0492,316
20164,08126,0322,330
20153,37523,5661,198
20143,84420,261785
20134,16516,679776
20124,67312,710851
20113,4159,797636
20101,9208,643848
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Afghanistan who live in Sweden: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

40k79k19901995200020052010201520202024
40k79k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990911
19951,465
20003,945
20057,965
201013,500
201529,853
202059,971
202479,353
Estimate, 2024
79,353
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
3.5%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
6
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Sweden's consulates in Afghanistan

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Sweden's consulates located in Afghanistan.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20201180—
201930270—
2018352138.6%
201727240—
201654340—
20152940—

Applications by year

2754201520162017201820192020
2754201520162017201820192020
Data table
201529
201654
201727
201835
201930
202011
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Sweden

First residence permits issued by Sweden to citizens of Afghanistan (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family1,901
  2. Other reasons429
  3. Work49
  4. Education1
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20252,380000
20242,33805,91720
20233,77303,33225
20223,83805,40522
20213,65504,26920
20203,07002,82026
20196,75402,79319
201811,36801,91219
201712,57102,31620
20165,34612,3329
20153,42001,1989
20144,32707865
20134,63507787
20125,00908530
20114,34606360
20102,30508480
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities49
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
35,511
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,752
Changed status into work, 2025
4
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Sweden: national statistics office

Immigrations of citizens of Afghanistan to Sweden, by grounds for settlement (Statistics Sweden).

YearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
20251,654501,29426689
20241,51913596244396
20233,1253541,0481,900138
20223,2744718222,023381
20212,19410056731,262154
20202,58712621,1861,165108
20197,86210742,1465,483122
20189,61813571,7227,576178
201711,3092731,2169,922141
20164,0811169982,99868
20153,3752231,7281,57547
20143,8441421,6012,17849
20134,1652511,5042,58253
20124,6731501,1733,270215
20113,4154406902,563118
20101,9201735551,31926

All by year

5,65511k20052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
5,65511k200520092013201720212025
Data table
2005656
20061,669
2007835
20081,033
20091,558
20101,920
20113,415
20124,673
20134,165
20143,844
20153,375
20164,081
201711,309
20189,618
20197,862
20202,587
20212,194
20223,274
20233,125
20241,519
20251,654
Source: SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0)Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Sweden in Afghanistan, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyKabulswedenabroad.se
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Sweden, 2023; Afghanistan ranks 4.

Inflows to Sweden, 2023
  1. India7,461
  2. Poland4,493
  3. Germany3,819
  4. Afghanistan3,125
  5. China2,617
  6. Syria2,515
  7. Pakistan2,383
  8. Romania2,216
  9. Iran1,944
  10. Italy1,842
  11. Denmark1,790
  12. Türkiye1,719
Other destinations for people from Afghanistan, 2023
  1. Germany58,482
  2. United States35,630
  3. Canada20,180
  4. Türkiye12,732
  5. France10,974
  6. Australia4,275
  7. Belgium3,934
  8. Austria3,530
  9. Switzerland3,466
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more