Sweden Travel Guide

Browse the Sweden Photo Gallery

Passports and Visas

All visitors are required to have visible means of support as well as tickets and documentation for return or onward travel. The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option that allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Americans

To enter Sweden, US citizens require a passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to three months. Visitors must hold visible means of support and need to hold required documents (i.e., passport and where required, a visa) for return or onward journey.

UK Nationals

British nationals may enter Sweden with a passport, and no visa is necessary for passport-holders endorsed British Citizen, British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen, or British Subject for a stay of up to three months. Other British passports require a visa.

Canadians

Canadians require a passport to enter Sweden, but no visa is required for stays of up to three months. Visitors must hold visible means of support and need to hold required documents (i.e., passport and where required, a visa) for return or onward journey.

Australians

For entry to Sweden, Australian citizens require a valid passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to three months. Visitors must hold visible means of support and need to hold required documents (i.e., passport and where required, a visa) for return or onward journey.

South Africans

South Africans require a passport as well as a visa for entry to Sweden. Visitors must hold visible means of support and need to hold required documents (i.e., passport and where required, a visa) for return or onward journey. The Swedish Immigration Authorities do not recognize temporary South African passports.

Irish Nationals

Irish nationals require a passport, but no visa is necessary. Visitors must hold visible means of support and need to hold required documents (i.e., passport and where required, a visa) for return or onward journey.

New Zealanders

New Zealand nationals require a passport, but no visa is necessary for stays of up to three months in any six-month period. Visitors must hold visible means of support and need to hold required documents (i.e., passport and where required, a visa) for return or onward journey.

Healthcare

There are no health risks associated with travel to Sweden, but visitors should guard against ticks when traveling to forested areas or the southern coast, including the Stockholm archipelago. Medical care in the country is excellent, and reciprocal health agreements exist with other European Union countries, including the United Kingdom. UK citizens in possession of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be entitled to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Swedish nationals. Outbreaks of bird flu have been detected in wild birds around the country, but the risk to travelers is low and no human infections have been reported. As a precaution all egg and poultry dishes should be well cooked and close contact with live birds should be avoided.

Safety

Sweden is an extremely safe country to visit. There is some petty crime during the summer months in the cities where tourists congregate, but crime is at much lower levels than elsewhere in Europe. Most visits to Sweden are trouble free.