Can I travel to Canada with a Swedish residence permit?

No. A Swedish residence permit by itself does not enable you to enter into Canada. The principles used to determine entry into Canada depend on your nationality (passport) rather than the status of your residence in Sweden.

Residence Permit vs. Passport Privileges

A Swedish residence permit gives you the opportunity to legally live, study, or work in Sweden and to travel in the Schengen Area. Canada is not however a member country of the Schengen Zone. It implies that the Swedish residence card lacks any legal meaning at the Canadian borders. When going to Canada, the Canadian immigration officials will consider the passport you possess, not your residence in Sweden. Your Swedish residence permit may be relevant only when applying for a Canadian visa from within Sweden, but it does not grant entry rights.

Visa or eTA Requirements

Depending on your nationality, you may need either a visa or an eTA:

The visa-exempted country members (citizens of Sweden, other EU member states, the UK, Australia and Japan) do not require a visa when visiting Canada on short stay visits. They are rather required to seek an eTA prior to the flight to Canada. The eTA is connected electronically to your passport and valid for up to five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
Nationals that are visa required (citizens of South Africa, India, Nigeria, and numerous others) have to seek a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also referred to as a visitor visa, prior to travelling to Canada. This is the case even when they have a valid Swedish residence permit.

Example

Even with a Swedish residence permit but being an Indian citizen you must apply for a Canadian visitor visa before you can travel. Conversely, a Swedish citizen traveling with a Swedish passport can enter Canada without a visa, but must obtain an eTA before boarding their flight, but he or she requires an eTA to travel.

Transit Through Canada

Remember that you might require a visa or eTA as well as you can only be transiting via a Canadian airport on your way to another state. Canada requires most foreign travelers to have the correct authorization, even if they are only transiting through a Canadian airport

Conclusion

In conclusion, a Swedish residence permit will not be sufficient to get into Canada. It is what you carry with you in terms of passport. In case of visa-exempt nationality, then you will require an eTA. If your nationality requires a visa, you must apply for a TRV (visitor visa) before traveling. To avoid inconvenience, always review the new requirements on entry at the official Government of Canada site before flying to avoid inconvenience.

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