Travel Consideration: Sweden

Sweden is a highly developed stable democracy with a modern economy. Detailed information about Sweden is available at the following Internet sites: http://www.gosweden.org and http://www.goscandinavia.com.


A valid passport is required. Tourist and business travelers do not need visas for stays of less than 90 days within Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland) in any six-month period. For those considering a longer stay or for further information on entry requirements for Sweden, travelers should contact the Royal Swedish Embassy at 1501 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, tel: (202) 467-2600, or the Swedish Consulate General in New York at (212) 751-5900 or check their homepage at http://www.swedenemb.org/.

Sweden has a relatively low crime rate, and violent crimes are uncommon although increasing. Most crimes involve theft of personal property from cars or residences or in public areas (i.e. on public transportation, at museums, in restaurants and other public places where crowds allow thieves to move about unnoticed). Pickpockets and purse-snatchers often work in pairs or groups, one distracting the victim while another grabs valuables. Hotel breakfast rooms and lobbies, in particular, attract professional, well-dressed thieves who blend in with guests.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.



Medical care comparable to that found in the United States is widely available. Travelers with special medical needs should consult with their personal physician and take appropriate precautions, including bringing adequate supplies of needed medication. Forwarding drugs to Sweden after a traveler has arrived is prohibited by stringent Swedish customs regulations. Travelers may also find local physicians reluctant to prescribe equivalent quantities or dosages.


Medical care comparable to that found in the United States is widely available. Travelers with special medical needs should consult with their personal physician and take appropriate precautions, including bringing adequate supplies of needed medication. Forwarding drugs to Sweden after a traveler has arrived is prohibited by stringent Swedish customs regulations. Travelers may also find local physicians reluctant to prescribe equivalent quantities or dosages.



While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Sweden’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested and/or imprisoned and/or fined. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Sweden are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. There is no system of bail in Sweden and non-resident Americans who are arrested, no matter how minor the offense, may be held in custody until the trial is complete.

Sweden’s customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Sweden of items such as firearms, medications and pharmaceuticals. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Sweden in Washington or of Sweden’s consulates in the United States for specific information regarding custom requirements.

Sweden’s customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA carnet in the United States. For additional information call (212) 354-4480, send e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org for details.



Americans living in or visiting Sweden are encouraged to register at the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm and obtain updated information on travel and security within Sweden. The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm is located at Dag Hammerskjoldsvag 31, telephone (46)(8) 783-5300, Fax: (46)(8) 660-5879 and after-hours telephone (46)(8) 783-5310. Information regarding the Embassy’s hours of operation and services are also available at the Embassy web site at http://www.usemb.se.


Medical care comparable to that found in the United States is widely available. Travelers with special medical needs should consult with their personal physician and take appropriate precautions, including bringing adequate supplies of needed medication. Forwarding drugs to Sweden after a traveler has arrived is prohibited by stringent Swedish customs regulations. Travelers may also find local physicians reluctant to prescribe equivalent quantities or dosages.