The Government today adopted amendments to the temporary ban on entry into Sweden. The changes mean that travellers who can present a vaccine certificate issued in the UK will be exempt from the ban on entry to Sweden and the COVID-19 test requirement.
The temporary entry ban came into force on 19 March 2020 and initially applied for 30 days. It has subsequently been extended on several occasions, and under the latest such decision, the entry ban now applies until 31 October 2021.
The entry ban means that a foreign citizen departing from a state other than an EEA State or Switzerland travelling to Sweden will be denied entry into Sweden and turned away. There are a number of exemptions from the ban, but travellers are normally required to present a negative COVID-19 test result even if they are covered by one of the exemptions.
The Government’s decision today means that people travelling to Sweden who can present a vaccination certificate issued in the United Kingdom are exempt from the entry ban and test requirement.
Sweden and the UK have close ties and a long history of cooperation in many important areas. Travel between Sweden and the UK is of major importance for both countries from a range of perspectives, not least to facilitate mutual trade and increased investment. The UK has allowed entry to fully vaccinated Swedes (on certain conditions) for some time. By contrast, travellers from the UK cannot currently travel directly to Sweden unless they are covered by a special exemption. It is therefore very important that vaccinated UK nationals can also travel more easily to Sweden.
The amendments enter into force on 11 October.
For more information on how the ordinances on a temporary ban on entry to Sweden are to be interpreted and which exemptions apply, please visit the Swedish Police Authority website. See the adjacent links.
