Where can you travel to from Sweden - and when?
UPDATED: Many European countries have started lifting travel restrictions – but different rules may apply depending on where you're travelling from.
Sweden's foreign ministry currently advises against all non-essential travel to anywhere in the world. This is linked to travel restrictions and the fast-changing global situation which could leave travellers stranded rather than the risks posed directly by the coronavirus.
The recommendation is currently in place until June 30th for ten EU countries, July 15th for the remaining EU/EEA countries, and August 31st for countries outside the bloc.
It isn't legally binding, so it's still possible for individuals to travel. However, when the foreign ministry advises against travel, this also has an impact on things like travel insurance validity, so people who take a non-essential trip against the advice and find themselves stranded or in need of assistance may end up heavily out of pocket.
Alongside that advice from the Swedish government, here are some of the rules in place across Europe. Unless otherwise stated, the advice was accurate as of June 23rd.
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Austria
Austria extended its entry policy on June 16th, where borders opened to a total of 31 countries without any need for quarantine. Sweden is not on that list, and along with travellers from Portugal, Spain and the UK, visitors to Austria from Sweden will either need to show a negative coronavirus test result or otherwise quarantine for 14 days on arrival. If a test is done during quarantine and its negative, quarantine can be ended early.
Read more about the situation from Austria's Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism.
Belgium
Belgium dropped its entry restrictions for travellers from EU countries, including Sweden on June 15th.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria opened its borders to tourists from several countries including EU countries on June 15th, but travellers Sweden, Portugal and the UK must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
Croatia
Croatia opened its borders to tourists from EU countries, but Sweden is not one of the countries from where travel is allowed restriction-free. Instead, tourists from Sweden must show they have a reason for travel -- proof of booked accommodation is accepted at the time of publication.
Read more about the situation from the Croatian tourist board.
Cyprus
Cyprus has categorised countries into A, B and C according to their epidemiological situation. At the moment, the 35 countries in categories A and B are allowed to travel into Cyprus, as long as passengers complete a flight pass form before travel. Sweden is not at the time of writing listed in either category. These lists are to be updated weekly.
Read more about the situation from the Cyprus tourist board.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has created three groups based on the current level of infection. At the time of writing, Sweden is in the top risk group (check the latest information here), which means that people who have a special reason to travel or are Czech residents have to show a health certificate to be allowed into the country. It's not possible to travel to the Czech Republic for tourism from Sweden.
Denmark
Denmark opened its borders to tourists from Germany, Norway and Iceland from June 15th, in a deal that does not include Swedish tourists. Swedish residents who work in Denmark, own a summer home, have a Danish partner or other close family in Denmark are allowed to enter the country.
It is also possible to enter Denmark from Sweden for the purposes of flying from Copenhagen Airport (the main international airport for people living in southern Sweden) or travelling onwards through Denmark.
As long as the infection rate remains high in Sweden, the borders will open further on June 27th to travellers only from regions with a low-infection rate. As of June 26th, that only included the region of Västerbotten.
There are further special criteria for residents of 'border regions' Skåne, Halland and Blekinge. Even if one of these border regions is rated as "quarantined" due to high infection rate, residents will still be able to enter Denmark if they can show that they have tested negative for coronavirus 72 hours before entry.
Read more about the situation on The Local Denmark.
Estonia
Estonia opened its borders to EU tourists back on June 1st, as long as the travellers were symptom-free. However, there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival for visitors from countries with a high infection rate (more than 15 people per 100,000 inhabitants infected in the country over the previous 14 days). You can find the list here, and at the time of publication Sweden is one of six countries whose tourists were required to quarantine.
Read more about the situation from the Estonian Foreign Ministry.
Finland
Essential visits to Finland are permitted, for example for work reasons.
Finland also allows people from Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to enter the country. Swedes are not included in the list, but the decision is set to be reviewed at the end of June. There is an exception for those with family (including being part of a couple) or a property in Finland.
On the Finnish islands of Åland, privately-owned boats are welcome from Sweden from June 15th, although people arriving from Sweden on these boats should quarantine for 14 days on their arrival. And the government has said it hopes to allow travel from Sweden as soon as possible, but this depends on the coronavirus situation here.
Read more about the situation from the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
France
France opened to EU tourists on June 15th. It only requires people to quarantine if they are citizens of countries that require French visitors to quarantine, which at the moment is just the United Kingdom.
Domestic journeys further than 100 kilometres have been allowed since June 2nd, when the country also eased a number of other restrictions for restaurants, cafés and museums. Some of the restrictions will remain in place in Paris and some of the other hardest-hit regions.
Read more about the situation on The Local France
Germany
The German-Danish border opened to tourists on June 15th, including those from Sweden, but several federal states require a quarantine for new arrivals from Sweden due to the high incidence rate of coronavirus. Restrictions vary between states.
Read more about the situation on The Local Germany.
Greece
From 15th June, people have been allowed to fly from large parts of Europe to Athens and Thessaloniki, with randomised testing done on arrival.
If you are flying from an airport in a region with a high risk of infection according to the EASA (including those in the Stockholm region), or from Sweden (any airport, or other means of travel) along with five other countries considered high risk, testing and spending the night at an assigned hotel is mandatory.
If the test is negative you can travel to your final destination, and if it positive you have to spend 14 days in quarantine. More lenient rules are expected from July 1st, but exactly what rules are yet to be announced.
Read more about the situation from the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Hungary
Hungary has opened its borders only to a small number of countries. At the time of writing, this applied to seven countries and Sweden was not on the list, meaning travel for tourism is not allowed.
Iceland
Iceland's borders have remained open to EU citizens throughout the outbreak, but there has been a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival. From June 15th, travellers can alternatively choose to take a coronavirus test (for a cost of 15,000 Icelandic krona).
Read more about the situation from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration
Ireland
Ireland has also kept its borders open throughout the pandemic, but all foreign tourists are asked to complete a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form and to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, with fines for non-compliance.
Read more about the situation from the Irish Citizens Information Board.
Italy
All EU citizens are welcome to travel to Italy from June 3rd, without any quarantine as long as the traveller has not visited a non-EU country within the previous 14 days. It has also been possible to travel between regions from the same date.
Other restrictions, for example on museums and beaches, may vary between local and regional areas, and could change quickly.
Read more about the situation on The Local Italy
Latvia
Latvia has opened its borders to EU tourists, but those coming from countries with a high infection rate must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. At the time of writing, Sweden was one of three countries on that list, which can be checked here.
Lithuania
Lithuania's borders are also open to EU tourists, but only for those where there have been fewer than 25 coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days. At the time of writing, that meant Sweden was one of three countries excluded from travel to Lithuania.
Malta
Malta won't be opening its borders for tourists until July 1st, and then it will only be open to certain countries. Sweden was not on the list at the time of publication, but more destinations may be announced before July 1st.
Read more about the situation from Malta's tourist board.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands has opened its borders for tourists from EU or Schengen countries, but at the time of publication tourists from Sweden and the UK were required to show a health-declaration form and self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.
Read more about the situation from the Dutch tourist board.
Norway
Norway opened its border to Danish tourists from June 15th, but not to Swedish tourists -- except for those from low-infection regions. Initially that included those from Gotland but as of June 26th, no Swedish region had the green light to travel to Norway.
Work-related travel is allowed without having to spend 10 days in quarantine.
Read more about the situation on The Local Norway and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Poland
As of June 13th, Poland opened its borders for travel from EU countries, dropping its quarantine requirement, with international air travel restarting on June 16th.
Portugal
Portugal reopened air travel from EU countries on June 15th, though its land border with Spain remains closed until July 1st. There is no requirement for tourists to quarantine, though visitors to the Azores and Madeira arrivals will have to undergo coronavirus tests.
Romania
Romania's borders are open to EU travellers, but many visitors are asked to quarantine on arrival. At the time of publication Sweden was not one of the 17 countries whose travellers were exempted from the quarantine requirement. The list is updated weekly.
Slovakia
Slovakia's borders are open to many EU countries, but Sweden was at the time of publication not one of the 19 'safe' countries from where people may travel without a test or quarantine. So if you travel from Sweden, you must show a negative coronavirus test from within the previous 96 hours when you enter, and then get tested again after arrival, self-isolating until you receive the result.
Read more about the situation from the Slovakian Foreign Ministry.
Slovenia
Slovenia has opened its borders but anyone entering from a country with high levels of Covid-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. At the time of publication this includes Sweden. This is the list of restricted countries.
Spain
On June 21st, Spain opened its border with all EU countries except for Portugal, whose land border will remain closed until July 1st. There are no requirements for quarantine. People travelling from outside of the EU and the Schengen area will, in theory, be able to visit Spain from June 30th.
Read more about the situation on The Local Spain
Switzerland
Switzerland's borders are open to EU travellers, with no quarantine requirement.
However on Monday June 15th Switzerland announced temperature checks would be required for those flying in from Sweden.
The health ministry said: "From June 15, passengers arriving on direct flights from Sweden will therefore have their temperature checked at the airport," it said, adding that "persons with signs of a high temperature will be given a medical examination and, if necessary, be tested for COVID-19."
Read more about the situation on The Local Switzerland.
United Kingdom
The UK's borders have remained open throughout the outbreak, but everyone arriving by plane, ferry or train has had to isolate for two weeks from June 8th, including British citizens.
The quarantine rules are to be evaluated every third week, but there are already discussions about easing them. That could include making exceptions for several professions, or setting up ”travel corridors” with countries with low infection numbers.
Sources: Swedish news agency TT, or the foreign ministries and tourist boards of individual countries. The situation is changing rapidly across Europe and the world, and individual rules may apply, for example if you are a citizen of the country you are travelling to, so please always check with local authorities to make sure you have the latest information.
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Sweden's foreign ministry currently advises against all non-essential travel to anywhere in the world. This is linked to travel restrictions and the fast-changing global situation which could leave travellers stranded rather than the risks posed directly by the coronavirus.
The recommendation is currently in place until June 30th for ten EU countries, July 15th for the remaining EU/EEA countries, and August 31st for countries outside the bloc.
It isn't legally binding, so it's still possible for individuals to travel. However, when the foreign ministry advises against travel, this also has an impact on things like travel insurance validity, so people who take a non-essential trip against the advice and find themselves stranded or in need of assistance may end up heavily out of pocket.
Alongside that advice from the Swedish government, here are some of the rules in place across Europe. Unless otherwise stated, the advice was accurate as of June 23rd.
Austria
Austria extended its entry policy on June 16th, where borders opened to a total of 31 countries without any need for quarantine. Sweden is not on that list, and along with travellers from Portugal, Spain and the UK, visitors to Austria from Sweden will either need to show a negative coronavirus test result or otherwise quarantine for 14 days on arrival. If a test is done during quarantine and its negative, quarantine can be ended early.
Read more about the situation from Austria's Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism.
Belgium
Belgium dropped its entry restrictions for travellers from EU countries, including Sweden on June 15th.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria opened its borders to tourists from several countries including EU countries on June 15th, but travellers Sweden, Portugal and the UK must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
Croatia
Croatia opened its borders to tourists from EU countries, but Sweden is not one of the countries from where travel is allowed restriction-free. Instead, tourists from Sweden must show they have a reason for travel -- proof of booked accommodation is accepted at the time of publication.
Read more about the situation from the Croatian tourist board.
Cyprus
Cyprus has categorised countries into A, B and C according to their epidemiological situation. At the moment, the 35 countries in categories A and B are allowed to travel into Cyprus, as long as passengers complete a flight pass form before travel. Sweden is not at the time of writing listed in either category. These lists are to be updated weekly.
Read more about the situation from the Cyprus tourist board.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has created three groups based on the current level of infection. At the time of writing, Sweden is in the top risk group (check the latest information here), which means that people who have a special reason to travel or are Czech residents have to show a health certificate to be allowed into the country. It's not possible to travel to the Czech Republic for tourism from Sweden.
Denmark
Denmark opened its borders to tourists from Germany, Norway and Iceland from June 15th, in a deal that does not include Swedish tourists. Swedish residents who work in Denmark, own a summer home, have a Danish partner or other close family in Denmark are allowed to enter the country.
It is also possible to enter Denmark from Sweden for the purposes of flying from Copenhagen Airport (the main international airport for people living in southern Sweden) or travelling onwards through Denmark.
As long as the infection rate remains high in Sweden, the borders will open further on June 27th to travellers only from regions with a low-infection rate. As of June 26th, that only included the region of Västerbotten.
There are further special criteria for residents of 'border regions' Skåne, Halland and Blekinge. Even if one of these border regions is rated as "quarantined" due to high infection rate, residents will still be able to enter Denmark if they can show that they have tested negative for coronavirus 72 hours before entry.
Read more about the situation on The Local Denmark.
Estonia
Estonia opened its borders to EU tourists back on June 1st, as long as the travellers were symptom-free. However, there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival for visitors from countries with a high infection rate (more than 15 people per 100,000 inhabitants infected in the country over the previous 14 days). You can find the list here, and at the time of publication Sweden is one of six countries whose tourists were required to quarantine.
Read more about the situation from the Estonian Foreign Ministry.
Finland
Essential visits to Finland are permitted, for example for work reasons.
Finland also allows people from Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to enter the country. Swedes are not included in the list, but the decision is set to be reviewed at the end of June. There is an exception for those with family (including being part of a couple) or a property in Finland.
On the Finnish islands of Åland, privately-owned boats are welcome from Sweden from June 15th, although people arriving from Sweden on these boats should quarantine for 14 days on their arrival. And the government has said it hopes to allow travel from Sweden as soon as possible, but this depends on the coronavirus situation here.
Read more about the situation from the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
France
France opened to EU tourists on June 15th. It only requires people to quarantine if they are citizens of countries that require French visitors to quarantine, which at the moment is just the United Kingdom.
Domestic journeys further than 100 kilometres have been allowed since June 2nd, when the country also eased a number of other restrictions for restaurants, cafés and museums. Some of the restrictions will remain in place in Paris and some of the other hardest-hit regions.
Read more about the situation on The Local France
Germany
The German-Danish border opened to tourists on June 15th, including those from Sweden, but several federal states require a quarantine for new arrivals from Sweden due to the high incidence rate of coronavirus. Restrictions vary between states.
Read more about the situation on The Local Germany.
Greece
From 15th June, people have been allowed to fly from large parts of Europe to Athens and Thessaloniki, with randomised testing done on arrival.
If you are flying from an airport in a region with a high risk of infection according to the EASA (including those in the Stockholm region), or from Sweden (any airport, or other means of travel) along with five other countries considered high risk, testing and spending the night at an assigned hotel is mandatory.
If the test is negative you can travel to your final destination, and if it positive you have to spend 14 days in quarantine. More lenient rules are expected from July 1st, but exactly what rules are yet to be announced.
Read more about the situation from the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Hungary
Hungary has opened its borders only to a small number of countries. At the time of writing, this applied to seven countries and Sweden was not on the list, meaning travel for tourism is not allowed.
Iceland
Iceland's borders have remained open to EU citizens throughout the outbreak, but there has been a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival. From June 15th, travellers can alternatively choose to take a coronavirus test (for a cost of 15,000 Icelandic krona).
Read more about the situation from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration
Ireland
Ireland has also kept its borders open throughout the pandemic, but all foreign tourists are asked to complete a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form and to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival, with fines for non-compliance.
Read more about the situation from the Irish Citizens Information Board.
Italy
All EU citizens are welcome to travel to Italy from June 3rd, without any quarantine as long as the traveller has not visited a non-EU country within the previous 14 days. It has also been possible to travel between regions from the same date.
Other restrictions, for example on museums and beaches, may vary between local and regional areas, and could change quickly.
Read more about the situation on The Local Italy
Latvia
Latvia has opened its borders to EU tourists, but those coming from countries with a high infection rate must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. At the time of writing, Sweden was one of three countries on that list, which can be checked here.
Lithuania
Lithuania's borders are also open to EU tourists, but only for those where there have been fewer than 25 coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days. At the time of writing, that meant Sweden was one of three countries excluded from travel to Lithuania.
Malta
Malta won't be opening its borders for tourists until July 1st, and then it will only be open to certain countries. Sweden was not on the list at the time of publication, but more destinations may be announced before July 1st.
Read more about the situation from Malta's tourist board.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands has opened its borders for tourists from EU or Schengen countries, but at the time of publication tourists from Sweden and the UK were required to show a health-declaration form and self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.
Read more about the situation from the Dutch tourist board.
Norway
Norway opened its border to Danish tourists from June 15th, but not to Swedish tourists -- except for those from low-infection regions. Initially that included those from Gotland but as of June 26th, no Swedish region had the green light to travel to Norway.
Work-related travel is allowed without having to spend 10 days in quarantine.
Read more about the situation on The Local Norway and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Poland
As of June 13th, Poland opened its borders for travel from EU countries, dropping its quarantine requirement, with international air travel restarting on June 16th.
Portugal
Portugal reopened air travel from EU countries on June 15th, though its land border with Spain remains closed until July 1st. There is no requirement for tourists to quarantine, though visitors to the Azores and Madeira arrivals will have to undergo coronavirus tests.
Romania
Romania's borders are open to EU travellers, but many visitors are asked to quarantine on arrival. At the time of publication Sweden was not one of the 17 countries whose travellers were exempted from the quarantine requirement. The list is updated weekly.
Slovakia
Slovakia's borders are open to many EU countries, but Sweden was at the time of publication not one of the 19 'safe' countries from where people may travel without a test or quarantine. So if you travel from Sweden, you must show a negative coronavirus test from within the previous 96 hours when you enter, and then get tested again after arrival, self-isolating until you receive the result.
Read more about the situation from the Slovakian Foreign Ministry.
Slovenia
Slovenia has opened its borders but anyone entering from a country with high levels of Covid-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. At the time of publication this includes Sweden. This is the list of restricted countries.
Spain
On June 21st, Spain opened its border with all EU countries except for Portugal, whose land border will remain closed until July 1st. There are no requirements for quarantine. People travelling from outside of the EU and the Schengen area will, in theory, be able to visit Spain from June 30th.
Read more about the situation on The Local Spain
Switzerland
Switzerland's borders are open to EU travellers, with no quarantine requirement.
However on Monday June 15th Switzerland announced temperature checks would be required for those flying in from Sweden.
The health ministry said: "From June 15, passengers arriving on direct flights from Sweden will therefore have their temperature checked at the airport," it said, adding that "persons with signs of a high temperature will be given a medical examination and, if necessary, be tested for COVID-19."
Read more about the situation on The Local Switzerland.
United Kingdom
The UK's borders have remained open throughout the outbreak, but everyone arriving by plane, ferry or train has had to isolate for two weeks from June 8th, including British citizens.
The quarantine rules are to be evaluated every third week, but there are already discussions about easing them. That could include making exceptions for several professions, or setting up ”travel corridors” with countries with low infection numbers.
Sources: Swedish news agency TT, or the foreign ministries and tourist boards of individual countries. The situation is changing rapidly across Europe and the world, and individual rules may apply, for example if you are a citizen of the country you are travelling to, so please always check with local authorities to make sure you have the latest information.
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