# Swimming at the 2020 Summer Paralympics – Qualification

Qualification for swimming at the 2020 Summer Paralympics begin on 1 October 2018 and finish on 31 January 2020. There are 340 male and 280 female athlete quotas in 146 swimming events (76 male, 67 female, 3 mixed relays).

## Timeline

Athletes have to compete in at least one of the following competitions in order to be qualified for the Summer Paralympics.
| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Berths |
| 2018 European Championships | 13–19 August 2018 | Dublin | — |
| 2019 World Series | 15–17 February 2019 | Melbourne | — |
| 2019 World Series | 4–6 April 2019 | Indianapolis | — |
| 2019 World Series | 25–27 April 2019 | São Paulo | — |
| 2019 World Series | 25–28 April 2019 | Glasgow | — |
| 2019 World Series | 10–12 May 2019 | Singapore | — |
| 2019 World Series | 30 May - 2 June 2019 | Lignano Sabbiadoro | — |
| 2019 World Series | 6–9 June 2019 | Berlin | — |
| 2019 Parapan American Games | 23 August – 1 September 2019 | Lima | — |
| 2019 World Para Swimming Championships | 9–15 September 2019 | London | 278 qualified slots 148 males 130 females |
| 2020 World Series Most swimming meets were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 14–16 February 2020 | Melbourne | — |
| 2020 World Series Most swimming meets were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 27 February - 1 March 2020 | Lignano Sabbiadoro | — |
| 2020 World Series Most swimming meets were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 25–28 March 2020 | São Paulo | — |
| 2020 World Series Most swimming meets were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 9–12 April 2020 | Sheffield | — |
| 2020 World Series Most swimming meets were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 16–18 April 2020 | Indianapolis | — |
| 2020 World Series Most swimming meets were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 1–3 May 2020 | Singapore | — |
| 2020 European Open Championships | 16–22 May 2021 | Madeira | — |
| 2021 World Series | 8–11 April 2021 | Sheffield | — |
| 2021 World Series | 15–17 April 2021 | Lewisville | — |
| 2021 World Series | 17–18 April 2021 | Lignano Sabbiadoro | — |
| 2021 World Series | 17–20 June 2021 | Berlin | — |
| MQS Slot Allocation | 1 October 2018 – 31 January 2020 | — | 323 qualified slots 187 males 145 females |
| Bipartite Commission Invitation | 15 February - 10 April 2020 | — | 10 qualified slots 5 males 5 females |
| Total | | | 620 |

## Quotas

The qualification slots are allocated to the NPC not to the individual athlete. In Bipartite Commission Invitation method, the slot is allocated to the individual athlete not to the NPC. World Para Swimming (WPS) reserves the right to allocate slots to the use of certain sports classes particularly for swimmers with complex needs; the slot shall be used as allocated or the NPC must return the slot to WPS.
* An NPC can allocate a maximum of 34 male and 28 female qualification slots in a maximum of 62 qualification slots. Exceptions may be granted through the Bipartite Invitation Commission method.
* An NPC can enter a maximum of three eligible swimmers per medal event.
* NPCs can enter an athlete who has met at least one MQS (Minimum Qualification Standard) time in any medal event and have met the MET (Minimum Entry Time) to any medal event.
* An NPC can only enter one relay event team as long as they meet the MQS for any of the events. All team members have to be qualified in at least one individual event to be selected in the relay team.

### Allocated time targets

| Event | Class | Male | Male | Female | Female |
| Event | Class | MQS | MET | MQS | MET |
| 50m freestyle | S3 | 54.52 | 1:11.00 | — | — |
| 50m freestyle | S4 | 42.97 | 47.46 | 47.84 | 55.62 |
| 50m freestyle | S5 | 36.19 | 36.84 | — | — |
| 50m freestyle | S6 | — | — | 37.78 | 38.98 |
| 50m freestyle | S7 | 29.94 | 31.03 | — | — |
| 50m freestyle | S8 | — | — | 33.61 | 34.88 |
| 50m freestyle | S9 | 26.74 | 27.86 | — | — |
| 50m freestyle | S10 | 25.47 | 26.09 | 28.99 | 29.88 |
| 50m freestyle | S11 | 28.47 | 29.23 | 33.72 | 35.56 |
| 50m freestyle | S13 | 25.55 | 26.25 | 28.88 | 29.54 |
| 100m freestyle | S3 | — | — | 2:33.78 | 4:47.35 |
| 100m freestyle | S4 | 1:37.67 | 1:56.98 | — | — |
| 100m freestyle | S5 | 1:20.70 | 1:23.81 | 1:34.86 | 1:46.15 |
| 100m freestyle | S6 | 1:11.48 | 1:14.34 | — | — |
| 100m freestyle | S7 | — | — | 1:17.98 | 1:20.32 |
| 100m freestyle | S8 | 1:01.79 | 1:03.40 | — | — |
| 100m freestyle | S9 | — | — | 1:05.84 | 1:07.33 |
| 100m freestyle | S10 | 55.28 | 57.11 | 1:03.11 | 1:04.06 |
| 100m freestyle | S11 | — | — | 1:15.48 | 1:18.95 |
| 100m freestyle | S12 | 57.95 | 1:01.32 | 1:08.05 | 1:12.85 |
| 200m freestyle | S2 | 5:28.14 | 6:23.56 | — | — |
| 200m freestyle | S3 | 4:43.70 | 5:01.06 | — | — |
| 200m freestyle | S4 | 3:37.23 | 4:06.74 | — | — |
| 200m freestyle | S5 | 3:02.23 | 3:05.56 | 3:33.74 | 3:59.82 |
| 200m freestyle | S14 | 2:01.29 | 2:03.63 | 2:18.21 | 2:21.20 |
| 400m freestyle | S6 | 5:38.47 | 5:46.98 | 5:55.92 | 6:21.68 |
| 400m freestyle | S7 | 5:08.98 | 5:17.62 | 5:46.79 | 6:02.25 |
| 400m freestyle | S8 | 4:50.25 | 5:00.35 | 5:21.68 | 5:32.35 |
| 400m freestyle | S9 | 4:29.80 | 4:35.02 | 5:04.07 | 5:10.83 |
| 400m freestyle | S10 | 4:20.45 | 4:24.42 | 4:49.14 | 4:54.81 |
| 400m freestyle | S11 | 5:23.76 | 5:33.76 | 5:57.51 | 6:45.53 |
| 400m freestyle | S13 | 4:34.61 | 4:48.40 | 4:59.02 | 5:10.75 |
| 50m backstroke | S1 | 1:53.26 | 1:53.26 | — | — |
| 50m backstroke | S2 | 1:14.55 | 1:26.31 | 1:53.58 | 1:53.58 |
| 50m backstroke | S3 | 59.06 | 1:07.00 | 1:14.71 | 2:12.50 |
| 50m backstroke | S4 | 52.67 | 56.33 | 1:03.14 | 1:12.50 |
| 50m backstroke | S5 | 42.08 | 43.53 | 51.08 | 56.32 |
| 100m backstroke | S1 | 3:54.62 | 3:54.62 | — | — |
| 100m backstroke | S2 | 2:40.18 | 3:16.79 | 3:36.93 | 3:36.93 |
| 100m backstroke | S6 | 1:24.94 | 1:28.87 | 1:34.75 | 1:42.10 |
| 100m backstroke | S7 | 1:19.54 | 1:21.61 | 1:30.06 | 1:32.57 |
| 100m backstroke | S8 | 1:12.78 | 1:13.85 | 1:23.99 | 1:25.84 |
| 100m backstroke | S9 | 1:06.34 | 1:07.72 | 1:16.25 | 1:18.01 |
| 100m backstroke | S10 | 1:03.84 | 1:05.93 | 1:14.52 | 1:15.71 |
| 100m backstroke | S11 | 1:18.95 | 1:22.21 | 1:29.09 | 1:36.31 |
| 100m backstroke | S12 | 1:08.98 | 1:11.84 | 1:21.97 | 1:30.21 |
| 100m backstroke | S13 | 1:04.58 | 1:08.95 | 1:13.03 | 1:17.76 |
| 100m backstroke | S14 | 1:04.40 | 1:05.30 | 1:14.58 | 1:17.69 |
| 50m breaststroke | SB2 | 3:18.37 | 3:18.37 | — | — |
| 50m breaststroke | SB3 | 56.40 | 1:02.59 | 1:08.39 | 1:23.79 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB4 | 1:58.19 | 2:03.86 | 2:24.49 | 2:48.02 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB5 | 1:48.80 | 1:52.38 | 1:59.21 | 2:04.74 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB6 | 1:28.56 | 1:31.47 | 1:49.76 | 1:52.96 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB7 | 1:26.51 | 1:29.03 | 1:45.04 | 1:51.96 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB8 | 1:18.83 | 1:21.78 | 1:32.49 | 1:37.44 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB9 | 1:13.48 | 1:15.33 | 1:24.68 | 1:27.72 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB11 | 1:25.54 | 1:28.59 | 1:41.11 | 1:50.43 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB12 | 1:16.17 | 1:18.73 | 1:31.51 | 1:39.73 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB13 | 1:14.14 | 1:16.61 | 1:25.67 | 1:28.68 |
| 100m breaststroke | SB14 | 1:10.16 | 1:12.07 | 1:26.08 | 1:27.95 |
| 50m butterfly | S5 | 40.61 | 43.44 | 56.59 | 1:21.87 |
| 50m butterfly | S6 | 34.96 | 36.54 | 42.49 | 45.71 |
| 50m butterfly | S7 | 32.90 | 34.87 | 40.25 | 44.46 |
| 100m butterfly | S8 | 1:06.44 | 1:09.59 | 1:21.52 | 1:25.41 |
| 100m butterfly | S9 | 1:03.41 | 1:04.52 | 1:12.69 | 1:16.05 |
| 100m butterfly | S10 | 1:00.97 | 1:02.66 | 1:10.35 | 1:15.98 |
| 100m butterfly | S11 | 1:20.22 | 1:25.98 | — | — |
| 100m butterfly | S12 | 1:03.41 | 1:08.74 | — | — |
| 100m butterfly | S13 | 1:00.84 | 1:03.33 | 1:14.58 | 1:23.23 |
| 100m butterfly | S14 | 59.87 | 1:00.69 | 1:11.98 | 1:14.14 |
| 150m individual medley | SM3 | 4:42.97 | 6:40.09 | — | — |
| 150m individual medley | SM4 | 3:09.71 | 3:22.69 | 3:43.55 | 5:12.98 |
| 200m individual medley | SM5 | — | — | 4:41.15 | 6:37.18 |
| 200m individual medley | SM6 | 3:05.82 | 3:10.89 | 3:24.27 | 3:37.81 |
| 200m individual medley | SM7 | 2:51.39 | 2:57.09 | 3:22.16 | 3:42.56 |
| 200m individual medley | SM8 | 2:34.21 | 2:38.30 | 3:07.10 | 3:12.80 |
| 200m individual medley | SM9 | 2:26.50 | 2:28.49 | 2:46.53 | 2:51.84 |
| 200m individual medley | SM10 | 2:18.96 | 2:27.00 | 2:36.69 | 2:42.23 |
| 200m individual medley | SM11 | 2:49.92 | 2:58.48 | 3:10.45 | 3:35.03 |
| 200m individual medley | SM13 | 2:21.49 | 2:24.38 | 2:40.48 | 2:46.99 |
| 200m individual medley | SM14 | 2:17.68 | 2:19.02 | 2:40.88 | 2:43.02 |
| 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 34pts | 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 34pts | 4:40.00 | 4:40.00 | 6:15.00 | 6:15.00 |
| 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts | 4 × 100 m medley relay 34pts | 5:00.00 | 5:00.00 | 6:40.00 | 6:40.00 |
| Mixed 4x50m freestyle relay 20pts | Mixed 4x50m freestyle relay 20pts | 3:35.00 | 3:35.00 | 3:35.00 | 3:35.00 |
| Mixed 4 × 100 m freestyle relay S14 | Mixed 4 × 100 m freestyle relay S14 | 5:00.00 | 5:00.00 | 5:00.00 | 5:00.00 |
| Mixed 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 49pts | Mixed 4 × 100 m freestyle relay 49pts | 5:30.00 | 5:30.00 | 5:30.00 | 5:30.00 |

### Quotas achieved

* Two top medalists in all swimming medal events at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships will earn a qualification slot for their representing country. As of 15 September 2019.
* Athletes who has achieved an MQS performance at any World Para Swimming recognised competition between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 but didn't achieve a direct allocation at the World Championships will be given an allocation slot for their NPC.
| Qualified nation | Quotas achieved 2019 WPSC | Quotas achieved MQS | Total quotas |
| Argentina (ARG) | — | 9 | 9 |
| Australia (AUS) | 9 | 32 | 41 |
| Austria (AUT) | — | 3 | 3 |
| Azerbaijan (AZE) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Belgium (BEL) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Belarus (BLR) | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Brazil (BRA) | 7 | 35 | 42 |
| Canada (CAN) | 7 | 19 | 26 |
| Chile (CHI) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| China (CHN) | 14 | 42 | 56 |
| Colombia (COL) | 3 | 11 | 14 |
| Croatia (CRO) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Cuba (CUB) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Cyprus (CYP) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Czech Republic (CZE) | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Denmark (DEN) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Egypt (EGY) | — | 3 | 3 |
| Estonia (EST) | — | 3 | 3 |
| Finland (FIN) | — | 2 | 2 |
| France (FRA) | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Germany (GER) | 4 | 15 | 19 |
| Great Britain (GBR) | 16 | 33 | 49 |
| Greece (GRE) | 2 | 10 | 12 |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | — | 4 | 4 |
| Hungary (HUN) | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Iceland (ISL) | — | 2 | 2 |
| Indonesia (INA) | — | 1 | 1 |
| India (IND) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Ireland (IRL) | — | 4 | 4 |
| Israel (ISR) | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Italy (ITA) | 13 | 29 | 42 |
| Japan (JPN) | 5 | 27 | 32 |
| Kazakhstan (KAZ) | — | 6 | 6 |
| Latvia (LAT) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Lithuania (LTU) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Malaysia (MAS) | — | 2 | 2 |
| Mexico (MEX) | 3 | 18 | 21 |
| Myanmar (MYA) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands (NED) | 5 | 15 | 20 |
| New Zealand (NZL) | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Norway (NOR) | — | 3 | 3 |
| Peru (PER) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Philippines (PHI) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Poland (POL) | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Portugal (POR) | — | 5 | 5 |
| Refugee Para Team | — | 1 | 1 |
| RPC (RUS) | 17 | 51 | 68 |
| Singapore (SGP) | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Slovakia (SVK) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Slovenia (SLO) | — | 1 | 1 |
| South Africa (RSA) | — | 4 | 4 |
| South Korea (KOR) | — | 5 | 5 |
| Spain (ESP) | 7 | 24 | 31 |
| Sweden (SWE) | — | 2 | 2 |
| Switzerland (SUI) | — | 2 | 2 |
| Thailand (THA) | — | 2 | 2 |
| Turkey (TUR) | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Ukraine (UKR) | 17 | 40 | 57 |
| United States (USA) | 14 | 34 | 48 |
| Uzbekistan (UZB) | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Venezuela (VEN) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Vietnam (VIE) | — | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 167 | 591 | 758 |