The Government today decided to revert to the entry restrictions that applied prior to 28 December 2021. This means that the specific requirement for a negative COVID-19 result from a test conducted within 48 hours of arrival no longer applies. This decision is based on a request from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The list of countries with approved vaccine certificates has also been expanded. The amendments will enter into force on 21 January.
Travellers are no longer considered to represent a particular risk that would affect the spread of the Omicron variant in Sweden. For this reason, the specific requirement for a negative COVID-19 result from a test conducted within 48 hours of arrival to Sweden is no longer considered to be a proportional measure, according to a request from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The Government has therefore decided to revert to the entry restrictions that applied prior to 28 December 2021.
As of 21 January, people travelling to Sweden from EU/EEA countries, including the Nordic countries, must present the EU Digital COVID Certificate or a corresponding certificate showing that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, tested negative within 72 hours of arrival or recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months. This requirement applies to foreign citizens aged 18 and over, with certain exemptions.
To make it easier for people travelling between Bornholm and another part of Denmark via Sweden, they will continue to be exempt from the COVID Certificate requirement.
As of 21 January, foreign citizens travelling to Sweden from a country outside the EU/EEA may only enter the country if they are covered by one of the exemptions from the entry ban and can also present a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival to Sweden, or are exempt from the test requirement. Exemptions from the entry ban and test requirement apply for several categories of travellers, including for those with a vaccination certificate issued in certain countries.
The Government also decided today that people who can present a vaccination certificate issued in Montenegro, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia or Uruguay are exempt from the entry ban and test requirement when travelling to Sweden.
According to a European Commission decision, vaccination certificates issued in these countries are to be considered as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. This means that such certificates can be checked and verified in the same manner and using the same technological system as the EU Digital COVID Certificate.
All amendments to the entry ban will enter into force on 21 January.
For more information on how to interpret the ordinances on temporary bans on entry into Sweden and which exemptions apply, please visit the Swedish Police Authority website. See the adjacent links.
Read the press release from the Swedish Ministry of Justice
