23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
Call 112.
Call 112.
Call 112.
Do not travel to Sweden.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Terrorism is a threat worldwide. There's a threat of terrorist attack in Sweden. This includes by people motivated by conflict in Iraq and Syria.
The Swedish Government has assessed the risk of terrorism as 'elevated', this is equivalent to a threat level of 3 of 5.
In April 2017, there was a vehicle attack in central Stockholm which killed and injured people.
Terrorists are likely to plan further attacks in Sweden.
In recent years terrorist have attacked in some European cities. Targets have included:
European security services have also stopped several planned attacks.
Areas attracting large groups of people are also targets. These include places popular with foreigners, such as Christmas markets.
To protect yourself from terrorism:
If there's an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe. Avoid the affected area in case of secondary attacks.
More information:
You might encounter protests or demonstrations.
Monitor the media and other sources for possible unrest.
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
To protect yourself in periods of unrest:
More information:
Violent and other serious crime is rare. However, gang and organised crime-related violence does occur, mainly in the three largest cities:
While violent incidents have not typically occurred in areas frequented by tourists, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. In Gothenburg and Malmö gang-related violence does occur more frequently in the city centre, especially at night.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common and on the rise in Stockholm.
Criminals may work in teams. One distracts the victim while the other carries out the theft.
Take care of your belongings in hotels and restaurants. Thieves may blend in and steal bags and purses when you're distracted.
Winter can be extremely cold depending on where in the country you are located. There's heavy snowfall, including in major cities. There can be severe transport delays and temporary closures of infrastructure, including roads, train and air services.
Sweden experiences severe weather, including:
If conditions are extreme or there's a natural disaster:
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.
More information:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
Check the status of your medicine with the Swedish Medical Products Agency.
You can bring a 3-month supply of medicine for personal use into Sweden.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Sweden. For information on Sweden's COVID−19 vaccination program, refer to advice from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
Several regions across Sweden have introduced stricter restrictions for responding to local outbreaks of COVID-19. Check the advice of the regional and local health authorities, as well as the national Public Health Agency.
To protect yourself and others from illness:
More Information:
Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are risks. Ticks are very common in country areas, especially in some coastal regions and around major lakes. They're active from March to November.
To protect yourself from disease:
To reduce your risk of tick-borne disease:
More information:
Swedish medical facilities have standards similar to Australia.
Emergency services are limited in remote areas.
The main hospitals are located in the Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö regions. English is widely spoken.
Australia has a healthcare agreement with Sweden. It's called the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA). If you're in Sweden for less than 90 days, you can access emergency medical services for free.
It doesn't give you the same amount of cover as Medicare in Australia. It doesn’t cover:
Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
To get emergency treatment, you need to present an Australian passport and a valid Medicare card. You may also need to refer to the RHCA.
If you can't show your passport and Medicare card, you may need to pay the same costs that apply to non-residents.
The RHCA does not replace the need for private travel health insurance.
More information:
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter, but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
You can't use physical punishment against children in Sweden. It's illegal. This includes threatening a child with physical punishment.
If you use or threaten physical punishment against your child, local authorities can take custody of your child and prosecute you.
Penalties for drug offences, even possession of small amounts, include heavy fines and jail.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Sweden recognises dual nationality.
The Swedish Government has reinstated compulsory military service for citizens who are 18 years of age. This starts with those born between 1999 and 2000.
If you're a dual Australian-Swedish national, check your military service obligations with the Swedish Defence Recruitment Agency (Swedish).
More information:
Sweden is part of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area and has abolished passport and border controls within the Schengen area.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy of Sweden for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Global travel has been impacted by COVID-19 and remains unpredictable. Your plans may be disrupted at short notice. Be aware of the risks of travelling at this time and make informed decisions about your travel. See the COVID-19 Information for Australian Travellers.
Refer to the relevant travel advisory of neighbouring countries for departure and entry information for that country, including possible public health measures in place.
The Swedish Government has extended its temporary ban on foreigners from outside the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) entering Sweden.
The ban applies to all foreign nationals except those travelling from EEA countries, or Switzerland and residents of several other countries assessed to be low-risk for COVID-19, including Australia. Further details are available here. This means foreigners who can document that they reside in any of the countries specified will be allowed entry into Sweden. The list of countries will be regularly updated and could change at any time. However, you can’t leave Australia unless you seek an exemption from Home Affairs.
If you’re an Australian already overseas and travelling from another country with a higher COVID-19 risk, you may be denied entry.
From 31 March, if you're travelling from the UK to Sweden, you'll need to demonstrate that you live or work in Sweden or have a special reason to enter.
If you're travelling from Denmark and Norway, entry restrictions have been lifted, but you must comply with pre-departure testing requirements.
Anyone entering Sweden must show a negative COVID-19 test taken in the 48 hours before arrival. There are exemptions to this requirement, including for Swedish citizens and residents and those under the age of 18. See the Swedish Ministry of Justice website for details.
New testing and self-isolation requirements are in place for travellers from countries affected by new COVID-19 variants. Travellers from countries listed by the Public Health Agency of Sweden must self-isolate at home for at least seven days on return, with COVID-19 tests on arrival and on day five of self-isolation.
If you’re in Sweden and wish to return to Australia, flight options are changing regularly. Check your route with your airline as a number of key transit hubs may be restricted.
If you’re travelling from outside of EEA countries, Switzerland or the low-risk countries specified by Sweden, you can still transit through Stockholm Airport, but you can't leave the transit area.
If you’re remaining in Sweden, find out about visa regulations in place and follow the advice of local authorities. For more information about visa requirements, please refer to the Swedish Migration Agency.
Several regions across Sweden have introduced stricter restrictions for responding to local outbreaks of COVID-19. Check the advice of the regional and local health authorities in your travel destination, as well as the national Public Health Agency.
The Swedish Public Health Agency recommends the use of face masks on public transport.
COVID-19 measures may change overtime, but strict compliance with hygiene and social distancing rules remains essential at all times:
More information:
Since 2015 border controls have been in place between Sweden and Denmark due to the refugee crisis.
Carry a valid passport to enter or leave Sweden. Do this even if you're travelling from another Schengen country.
Get an entry stamp in your passport from border control when you first enter the Schengen area.
Always carry your passport. If you have one, carry your Swedish residency permit. Authorities may ask for proof of identity.
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
Sweden's official currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK).
Declare amounts over 10,000 euros or equivalent if you're travelling between Sweden and any non-European Union (EU) country. This includes all forms of currency, not just cash.
If you don't declare it or you give wrong information on entry or exit, you'll be fined.
You don't need to declare currency if you're travelling to or from another EU country.
Sweden's roads are usually in very good condition.
Roads can be dangerous in winter due to ice. Long periods of darkness can make it hard to see. Every year approximately 60,000 wildlife road accidents are reported in Sweden.
Get details on road conditions from the Swedish Transport Administration (Swedish).
Vehicle headlights must always be on.
Winter tyres must be fitted:
The legal blood alcohol limit for drivers is 0.02%. Penalties for drink driving are severe and can lead to a prison sentence. Note that the police may give you a fine even if the alcohol limit in your blood is lower than 0.02% depending on your capability to control your vehicle.
More information:
Check if your travel insurance policy covers you when riding a motorbike or quad bike.
Always wear a helmet.
Public transport, including buses and trains, is generally reliable and safe.
Use officially marked taxis.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Sweden's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network .
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 112.
Call 112.
Call 112.
Always get a police report when reporting a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
For consular assistance, contact:
Klarabergsviadukten 63, 8th Floor
111 64 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: (+460) 8613 2900
Email: reception.stockholm@dfat.gov.au
Website: sweden.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Sweden Embassy Facebook
Twitter: @AusAmbSE
Check the Embassy website or its Facebook page for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.