Sweden

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:

• 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 at places you plan to visit
• avoid visiting at peak times
• have a clear exit plan if there's a security incident
• report any suspect actions or items to 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

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:

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

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Violent and other serious crime is rare. However, gang and organised crime-related violence does occur, mainly in the three largest cities:

• Stockholm
• Gothenburg
• Malmö

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.

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:

• rockslides
• floods
• forest fires
• strong winds

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

• check the media 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
• Swedish Government National Emergency Website (Swedish)

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 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:

• General health advice
• International travel and health

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:

• Medicine

COVID-19

Swedish authorities has confirmed cases of COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, Sweden has implemented new public health measures. Further measures are likely. Monitor the media for information on latest developments and follow the advice of local authorities.

Sweden’s Public Health Agency advises that you should stay at home if you feel ill. If you can no longer manage the illness on your own, please call 1177 for medical advice in English.

On 10 March, Sweden's Public Health Agency upgraded the risk of the general spread of the COVID-19 in Sweden to 'very high' (level five out of five). 

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)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (WHO)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Insect-borne diseases

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:

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

During and after visiting forested areas:

• check your body for ticks 
• remove whole ticks as soon as you can
• monitor the tick site 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 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:

• 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 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:

• Medicare Australia

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.

Children

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.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences, even possession of 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.

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:

• Dual nationals

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 and is not permitting entry to non-Swedish citizens and residents at this time unless they have right of residence. The entry ban applies primarily to foreign citizens attempting to enter Sweden from a country outside the EEA or from Switzerland. You can enter Sweden without a visa in some situations.

If you can prove you’re not able to leave Sweden (e.g. due to cancelled flights), you can apply to the Swedish Migration Agency (migrationsverket.se) for a visa extension or a visitor’s permit depending on your circumstances.

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.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from 19 March, all travel to Sweden is significantly restricted for 30 days for non-EU nationals.

Swedish citizens and people who are resident in Sweden will be able to return to Sweden. The ban will not apply to people who have particularly important grounds for travelling to Sweden. This includes diplomats, people in need of international protection and people who are to carry out essential functions in Sweden, such as health care professionals and people transporting goods to Sweden.

If you’re in Sweden and wish to return to Australia, you should do so immediately as departure options are becoming limited. Check your route with your airline as a number of key transit hubs are closing or becoming severely restricted. Follow the Australian Embassy social media accounts for regular updates on flight options for leaving Sweden. Our ability to provide consular assistance may be limited.

The Sweden Airport Websites below provide updates on flight departures but be aware that flights are being cancelled at short notice.

• https://www.swedavia.com/arlanda/departures#/
• https://www.swedavia.com/bromma/departures/#/
• https://www.swedavia.com/landvetter/departures/#/

More information:

• Temporary ban on travel to Sweden due to COVID-19 (Government Offices of Sweden)

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.

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.

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.

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