The Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul is located in the Swedish Palace on Istiklal Caddesi 247 in the historic district of Pera/Beyoğlu, on the oldest Swedish Government property abroad, acquired in 1757. The current Palace was built in 1870, thus celebrating 150 years in 2020.
The fundamental mission of the Consulate General, with the assistance of four Honorary Consulates in Antalya, Alanya, Izmir and Mersin, is to provide consular services for Swedish citizens in the whole of Türkiye except for the two provinces Ankara and Konya.
In addition to representing the Government of Sweden in Istanbul, the main areas of activity for the Consulate are promoting Sweden and its culture and values, supporting Swedish companies on the Turkish market as an active member of Team Sweden in Türkiye, and supporting civil society, mainly in the areas of democracy and human rights including gender equality. The Consulate also handles migration issues such as applications for visas and residency and work permits in Sweden, for applicants from all of Türkiye.
The Consulate has staff deployed from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish National Police, as well as locally employed staff.
Since 1962, the Consulate hosts the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul (SRII). Its primary aim is promoting Swedish and Nordic research about Türkiye and the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Director is accredited as a Consul. Also, the head of Business Sweden’s office is accredited as a Trade Attaché at the Consulate. All in all, there are 11 Swedes accredited at the Consulate, which also employs 20 local staff members and two interns.
