Sweden

Terrorism is a threat worldwide. There's a threat of terrorist attacks in Sweden. This is motivated by conflicts 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, a vehicle attack in central Stockholm killed and injured several people.

Future terrorist attacks could happen again.

​In recent years terrorists have attacked some European cities. Targets have included:

• airports
• public transport and transport hubs
• places of worship
• sporting venues

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:

• avoid places that could be terrorist targets
• consider the level of security around you
• avoid visiting at peak times
• have a clear exit plan if there's a security incident
• report any suspicious actions or items to the police
• monitor the media for new threats
• take official warnings seriously
• follow the advice of local authorities

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:

• Terrorism

Demonstrations and protests

Protests or demonstrations can occur.

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:

• avoid crowds, protests and demonstrations
• follow the advice of local authorities

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Violent and other serious crimes are rare. However, gang and organised crime do occur, mainly in the three largest cities:

• Stockholm
• Gothenburg
• Malmö

While violent incidents are rare in tourist locations, you should still be cautious. 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 in hotels and restaurants. Thieves steal bags and purses when you're distracted. 

More information

• theft and robbery

Winter can be extremely cold depending on where you are. There's heavy snowfall, including in major cities. There can also be severe transport delays and temporary closures of public facilities, including roads, train and air services.

Sweden experiences severe weather, including:

• rockslides
• floods
• forest fires
• storms

If conditions are extreme or there's a natural disaster:

• check the media, emergency information from Swedish authorities and other local sources for updates
• follow the advice of local authorities

Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.

More information:

• Floods and fires

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. 

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:

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare, or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

More information:

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips (Healthdirect Australia)
• COVID-19 (Department of Health and Aged Care)

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:

• what the medicine is
• how much you'll take
• that it's for personal use

More information:

• Medication

COVID-19

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.

To protect yourself and others from illness:

• practice good hygiene
• stay home if you’re unwell
• self-quarantine as soon as you can if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19. Call the health hotline on 1177 or 113 13 for further instructions.

More Information:

• Coronavirus Q&A (Public Health Agency of Sweden in English)
• COVID-19 (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Australian Department of Health and Aged Care)

Insect-borne diseases

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:

• make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
• always use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

To reduce your risk of tick-borne disease:

• check your body for ticks during and after visiting forests 
• remove ticks as soon as possible, making sure to remove the whole tick
• monitor the tick bite for any signs of infection

More information:

• Infectious diseases

Medical facilities

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:

• ongoing treatment of pre-existing health conditions
• medical evacuation
• prescription medicines
• elective surgery

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:

• Medicare Australia

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.

Children

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.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences, even for small amounts, include heavy fines and jail.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs
• Partying safely

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

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 Conscription and Assessment Agency.

More information:

• Dual nationals

Visas

Sweden is part of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area and has abolished passport and border controls within the Schengen area.

Get an entry stamp in your passport from border control when you first enter 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.

Border measures

Sweden has removed COVID-19 border restrictions. You can enter Sweden without needing a COVID-19 exemption, but regular rules for entry apply.

You no longer need to present COVID-19 vaccination or test certificates at the border. 

Check with Swedish authorities for the latest advice. 

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.

More information:

• Travel to Sweden (Swedish Police)
• Swedish Migration Agency
• Arlanda Airport departures
• Swedish Police 

Border controls are 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.

Always carry your passport. If you have one, carry your Swedish residency permit. Authorities may ask for proof of identity.

Validity

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.

Lost or stolen 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:

• In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.

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.

Road travel

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:

• from 1 December or when it first snows
• until 31 March or later if roads are still icy

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:

• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Check if your travel insurance policy covers you when riding a motorbike or quad bike.

Always wear a helmet.

Public transport

Public transport, including buses and trains, is generally reliable and safe.

Use officially marked taxis.

More information:

• Transport and getting around safely

Air travel

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:

• Air travel

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 112.

Medical emergencies

Call 112.

Police

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:

Australian Embassy, Stockholm

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.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia