COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Sweden (16 July Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents can enter Sweden.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Entry to Sweden is permitted from the Nordic countries of Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Finland without restrictions.

• Most travellers are not allowed to enter Sweden until 31 August 2021. There is an entry ban for non-essential travel to Sweden from countries outside the EU and Schengen area.

• This entry ban does not apply to:

• People residing in Sweden.

• Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Vatican City and their family members.

• Anyone who has a national visa for Sweden or a national visa valid longer than three months in another EEA State, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, or the Vatican City.

• Travellers arriving from a third-country on the list of EU-recommended safe countries will be allowed entry to Sweden. The list of countries currently includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity), Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, and the United States of America, Hongkong and Macau. This list is periodically revised and can be found at this link.

• Students or others with an essential purpose or need in Sweden; merchant seaman; military personnel

• Expired passports issued by Sweden are accepted if accompanied by a valid national ID card or another valid form of identification document.

• More details and exemptions for entry can be found here.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Transit through Sweden is permitted.

• When travelling from another EU/EEA country, or from Switzerland, a foreign citizen is required to present a negative COVID-19 test to transit Sweden.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Health screening procedures are in place.

• Authorities recommend that anyone entering Sweden who has travelled in a country outside the EU/EEA, the Schengen Area, the UK, and other exempt countries, regardless of their nationality, should get tested upon entry and five days later.

• Anyone who has been vaccinated with a dose at least three weeks before arriving in Sweden or those who have had COVID-19 in the last six months do not need to get tested after arriving in Sweden. This also applies to people who have presented a negative test for entry into Sweden and children six years of age.

Test certificate accepted?

• Yes

• Test certificates issued outside Sweden are accepted. The following types of tests are approved: Antigen tests, TMA-test, PCR tests, and LAMP tests. Antibody tests are not approved. The information on the certificate must be clearly stated in Swedish, English, Norwegian, Danish, or French.

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers arriving from EU/EEA and Schengen countries are required to present one of the following:

• An EU Digital COVID Certificate.

• A certificate of vaccination against COVID-19.

• A negative COVID-19 test certificate performed no more than 72 hours.

• A certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 11-180 days.

• Travellers arriving from a country outside the EU/EEA are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 48 hours before arrival.

• Travellers arriving from Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Finland are exempted from the requirement to present a pre-departure negative test certificate.

• Travellers with a previous record of COVID-19 illness or a vaccine certificate are exempted from the requirement to present a pre-departure negative test certificate.

• Cross-border commuters are required to present a negative COVID-19 test certificate that is no older than one week.

• A number of exemptions apply to certain categories of travellers, including Swedish citizens arriving from permitted countries. Details of the same can be accessed here.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Swedish authorities recommend that all travellers self-isolate for up to seven days, and avoid close contact with others. However, this is not mandatory. No quarantine requirements are in place in general or if tests are negative.

• Travellers from the following countries, regardless of nationality, do not need to self-isolate for seven days either after their arrival in Sweden:

• Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Vatican City, and Austria.

• EU list of exempted third countries.

• Fully vaccinated travellers are also exempted from the requirement to self-isolate unless they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

• Travellers testing positive for COVID-19 will be required to enter quarantine for 14 days.

• Based on the above restrictions, non-exempted travellers will be required to self-isolate for 7 days on arrival in Sweden.

Is an entry form required?

• No

• An entry form is not required to enter Sweden.

Vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not mandatory for entry into the country. However, proof of vaccination, in some cases, may allow travellers some exemptions from the testing and quarantine requirements.

• To be considered “fully vaccinated”, at least two weeks must have passed since the first dose was administered. The vaccine must be either one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or one of the ones that have received emergency use authorization from the WHO.

Insurance required?

• No

• A COVID-19 health insurance is not required to enter the country.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• International commercial flights and domestic flights are operating at a reduced capacity.

• Airline operators may require passengers to show a health statement, however, this is not a requirement for entering Sweden. Check with your airline prior to travel.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Eligible travellers can enter Sweden via air, sea, or land borders.

• Expired passports issued by Sweden will be accepted if the passport holder has a valid national card and a valid identification document form.

• The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided to extend its advice against all non-essential travel to most countries outside the EU/EEA/Schengen area. The decision remains in effect until 1 September 2021.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There are no curfew measures in place at this time.

• Several provinces including Dalarna, Kronoberg, Halland, Västmanland, Skåne, and Västra Götaland have been classified as risk zones. Information and updates on special restrictions in different regions of Sweden may be found here.

• Avoid social contacts as well as any meetings, concerts, sports events, and any indoor establishments.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Events are allowed to take place with restrictions and limits on attendance. Relaxation of measures applies to outdoor events.

• Employers must ensure that staff and guests maintain adequate distance from one another.

• Persons aged 70 and above are advised to stay close to home.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Public transport is operating on a limited scale.

• Internal travel within Sweden is not restricted. Information and updates on special restrictions in different regions of Sweden may be found here.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Shops and shopping centres are open but with a limited number of customers and spaced seating.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Accommodations are open in Sweden.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• A maximum of four people can sit together at the same table in a restaurant. All restaurants must close by 22:30 (local time) until further notice.

• Restaurants would still be able to offer delivery and takeaway services after 22:30 (local time).

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Cafes and bars are open but with a limited number of customers and spaced seating. The sale of alcohol is restricted after 22:00 (local time) until further notice, and the establishment must close by 22:30 (local time).

Personal care services open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Personal care services are operating at a reduced capacity.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• No

• Museums remain closed until further notice.

Events allowed?

• Yes with exceptions

• Events are allowed to take place with restrictions and limits on attendance. Relaxation of measures applies to outdoor events.

Masks required in public?

• No with exceptions

• Face masks are not required in public places, except on public transport at peak times.

Other

• National parks are open.

• Local sports teams are allowed to hold practice outside, however, matches and competitions will remain suspended.

• Some educational institutions are open.

• Theatres can open; however, some have limited hours.

• Gyms, indoor sports facilities, and swimming facilities are open but attendance will be restricted.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing, maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.