NOTE: Last update of this article occurred on December 16th.
Can I travel to Sweden?
In accordance with EU’s recommendation to gradually remove entry restrictions, the Swedish government decided to prolong the entry ban, with the latest decision being in effect until December 22nd. The entry ban has some exceptions. In addition to EEA* citizens, foreigners residing in the following list countries are exempted from the entry ban:
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
These countries are assessed to be low-risk in terms of contagion. Exemptions will be based on residence in one of the countries, not citizenship. This means that foreigners who can document that they reside in any of these countries, will be allowed to enter Sweden if they do fulfil the entry requirements given in the Schengen Border Code and the Visa Code. The selection of included countries which are considered to fulfil the criteria of exemption, is evaluated on a regular basis and the list will be updated every other week. Questions regarding the selection or evaluation should be posed to EU and the Swedish government.
Exemption will also be made for the following categories:
- Foreigners who are coming to Sweden to study.
- Highly skilled professionals, if the job can not be postponed or be done remotely.
- Participants or necessary support staff in international professional athletic events.
Swedish Police can not guarantee that it will be possible to enter Sweden at a specific future date, as the situation is changing and regulations will be adjusted according to the current state. Updates will be published continuously at the Swedish government’s website in English and their Questions and answers – temporary entry ban to the European Union via Sweden.
EEA* countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Switzerland and the UK are not part of the EEA, but are included in the term EEA* on this page. Citizens of these countries, as well as citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, are included in the term EEA*-citizen.
Most recent list of exempt countries can be found here
1. Travel ban from countries outside EEA*
As a general rule, foreigners who are not EEA* citizens, travelling to Sweden from a non-EEA* country will be denied entry and rejected. This will mainly affect travels to Swedish airports and sea ports, since Sweden does not have any land borders to a country which is not part of EEA. There are exemptions for a select number of identified countries outside EEA.
2. Travels inside EEA* are not affected
Travels from another EU country such as Denmark or Finland, a country that is part of the EEA such as Norway, or from the UK and Switzerland, hereafter referred to as EEA*, will not be affected.
However, since 2015, Swedish Police has the option to perform border control at an inner border: Temporary border controls.
When the temporary ordinance makes exception for citizens of certain countries, are both EU and EEA citizens, as well as citizens Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or the Vatican, included in the term of EEA* citizen — EEA* citizens are exempt from the entry ban and are allowed to enter Sweden regardless of residing here or not.
3. Swedish citizens and certain close relatives are not affected
Swedish citizens will always be allowed to return to Sweden. EEA* citizens and individuals holding residence permits or class D visas in an EEA* country, are also allowed to enter Sweden. Exceptions to the entry ban may also be made for foreigners who have particularly important reasons for traveling to Sweden.
4. Exceptions from the entry ban
Except for Swedish citizens, the following individuals or groups are exempted from the entry ban and are allowed to enter Sweden:
- Citizens of another EEA state, the UK, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or the Vatican,
- have the right to reside in Sweden or another EU country.
- Individuals holding a residence permit or right to reside in Sweden or another EEA* state, holders of a national (class D) visa for Sweden or a national (class D) visa valid for more than three months in another EEA country, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the Vatican.
- Individuals with documented family connection, such as spouse, common-law partner, partner or child, to a Swedish citizen, EEA* citizen or foreigner holding residence permit or national (class D) visa in Sweden or an EEA* country. More information about which family connections are included by the exemption, can be found in Frequently Asked questions. It is not required for this category of foreigners to hold a residence permit. A visa, however, is required if the foreigner comes from a country where a visa is mandatory to enter Sweden under normal circumstances.
- Foreigners who resides in one of the exempted countries.
Exceptions can be made for foreigners with particularly urgent personal needs or who are to perform essential functions in Sweden, such as
- healthcare professionals, and certain other professions in related areas
- individuals working with the transportation of goods
- merchant seamen working on cargo or passenger lines,
- people travelling for urgent family reasons. More information about this is defined, can be found in Frequently Asked Questions.
- family members of Swedish citizens working for a Swedish company, a Swedish government agency or an international organization abroad, if the employer is calling home the employee and/or his or her family members.
- individuals working in international organizations or who are invited by such organizations and whose presence is needed for the operation of the organization, military staff, aid workers or staff working with civil defense
- military staff
- individuals entering Sweden for studies
- highly skilled professionals, if the work can not be postponed or be done remotely
- Foreigners who are going to work within the agricultural, forestry or gardening industry, will be allowed to enter Sweden if they can present proper documentation supporting the purpose of the journey.
