A volcano erupted on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Updates are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Call 112.
Call 112.
Call 112.
Exercise normal safety precautions in Sweden.
Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.
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.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common and on the rise in Stockholm.
Criminals may work in teams. One distracts the victim while the other robs.
Take care of your belongings in hotels and restaurants. Thieves may blend in and steal bags and purses when you're distracted.
Winter is extremely cold. 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. 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.
If you need counselling services while overseas, contact the Australian Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305. Ask to speak to a Lifeline telephone counsellor.
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:
Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are risks. Ticks are very common in country areas. They're active from March to November.
To protect yourself from disease:
During and after visiting forested areas:
More information:
Swedish medical facilities have standards similar to Australia.
Emergency services are limited in remote areas.
The main hospitals are in Stockholm, Gothenburg and the Malmo area. 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 mention 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:
ou'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 on children in Sweden. It's illegal. This includes threatening a child with physical punishment.
If you use or threaten physical punishment on your child, local authorities can take custody of your child. They can 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.
In 2018, the Swedish Government reinstated compulsory military service for all its 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:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.
Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.
Sweden is part of the Schengen area. You can enter Sweden without a visa in some situations.
Check local news for border conditions. You can also ask transport providers.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy of Sweden for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
From November 2019, Denmark introduced border controls with Sweden and extended existing border controls in place with Germany. This includes ports with ferry connections to Sweden and Germany as well as land borders.
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.
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.
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:
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