Diplomatic Correspondent; Dbarta24 — The Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka has announced a key operational shift in its processing of short-stay visas.
Starting October 15, the embassy will no longer render final decisions on Schengen visa applications submitted from Bangladesh. Instead, all decision-making authority will be transferred directly to the Swedish Migration Agency in Sweden.
The announcement was formally made in an official notice issued by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka on Thursday (October 1).
No Changes to the Application Process
Despite the administrative restructuring behind the scenes, Swedish officials clarified that the change will not disrupt or alter the front-end procedure for Bangladeshi travelers.
Applicants will continue to follow the existing protocol:
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Appointment Booking: Applicants must schedule appointments through VFS Global as usual.
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Submission: Documents and biometric details will remain submitted through the designated VFS Global visa application center.
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Guideline Adherence: Travelers are advised to follow the official instructions published on the Embassy of Sweden’s portal for detailed requirement checklists.
The decision aligns with Sweden’s broader efforts to centralize and streamline immigration and short-stay entry assessments across its global diplomatic missions.
By routing final evaluations through the central Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), the government aims to harmonize decision-making standards while maintaining established local intake mechanisms via outsourcing partners like VFS Global.
For applicants in Bangladesh, the update means that while the face-to-face intake process remains identical, decision timelines and assessments will be governed directly from Sweden.