The Government is extending the ban on entry to Sweden from countries outside and within the EU/EEA, effective 31 October. The Government has also decided on changes to the effect that travellers who can present a vaccine certificate issued in the US, Guernsey, Isle of Man or Jersey are exempted from the entry ban and test requirement when entering Sweden.
The Government today decided to extend the ban on entry to Sweden from countries outside and within the EU/EEA. The Government’s decision to extend the ban on entry to Sweden is primarily due to the continued uncertainty concerning transmission of COVID-19.
Entry from countries within the EU/EEA
The ban on entry to Sweden from countries within the EU/EEA will be extended until 30 November 2021.
The Government had already decided that the entry restrictions within the EU/EEA should be scaled back cautiously to reduce the risk of a setback that would necessitate new restrictions. The restrictions should remain in place a while longer, particularly since certain European countries have recently experienced increased transmission. This means that to enter Sweden from these countries, a traveller will still have to present the EU Digital COVID Certificate or a corresponding certificate showing that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, tested negative within 72 hours prior to arrival or recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months.
As previously, travellers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway are not subject to the entry restrictions and thus do not need to present any certification when entering Sweden.
Entry from countries outside the EU/EEA
The ban on entry to Sweden from countries outside the EU/EEA will be extended until 31 January 2022.
This entry ban is based on a recommendation from the Council of the European Union that is in effect indefinitely. The extension is thus in line with the recommendation.
Accordingly, the regulations stipulating that a foreign national who travels to Sweden from a country outside the EU/EEA may only enter if they are covered by one of the exemptions from the entry ban and can also present a negative COVID-19 test result, or are exempted from the test requirement, still apply. There are also exemptions from the entry ban and test requirement for several categories of travellers.
Exemption for fully vaccinated travellers from US and other countries
The Government today decided that people travelling to Sweden who can present a vaccination certificate issued in the US are exempt from the entry ban and test requirement.
Sweden enjoys close and good relations with the US, and cooperates on important matters in many areas. Travel between Sweden and the US is therefore of major importance in many different ways. For example, it plays an important role when it comes to companies’ competitiveness and opportunities to conduct their activities. The US intends to allow entry to fully vaccinated travellers from all 26 Schengen countries as of 8 November. It is therefore very important that vaccinated travellers from the US can also travel more easily to Sweden.
Finally, the Government has also decided that travellers who can present a vaccine certificate issued in Guernsey, Isle of Man or Jersey are completely exempted from the entry restrictions. This supplements the Government’s decision of 7 October regarding vaccine certificates issued in the United Kingdom.
These amendments will enter into force on 5 November 2021.
For more information on how the ordinance on a temporary ban on entry into Sweden is to be interpreted and which exemptions apply, please visit the website of the Police Authority. See the adjacent links.
