Sweden gives green light to travel to UK again
Sweden on Monday lifted its warning against non-essential travel to the UK.
The decision comes into effect today, September 14th, said the Swedish foreign ministry.
That means that non-essential journeys are now ok – at least as far as the Swedish foreign ministry is concerned – to Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Vatican.
The deicision comes after Sweden on September 12th was added to the UK's list of travel corridors, meaning travellers coming from Sweden (or who have been to Sweden in the past two weeks) no longer need to self-isolate on arrival.
But for other countries in the EU, EEA and Schengen (which leaves only: Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia) the Swedish foreign ministry's recommendation against non-essential travel remains in place until September 23rd, and until November 15th for countries outside the EU.
Those deadlines are not set in stone, and could be extended or scrapped early.
The foreign ministry's advisory is not a legally binding ban, but has other implications that residents in Sweden may want to take into account before deciding to travel, for example the validity of your Swedish travel insurance.
The guidance has been in place since an early stage in the pandemic, due to global uncertainty and travel bans, so it relates to restrictions in place for travellers rather than the spread of coronavirus in those countries.
"In recent weeks, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has lifted the advice against non-essential travel to the majority of countries in Europe. This does not mean that the situation is back to normal. Local rules, restrictions and quarantine requirements affecting Swedish travellers can be re-introduced at short notice if the situation changes," said the foreign ministry in a statement on Monday.
"A high degree of personal responsibility must be taken by travellers regardless of where they travel. Before travelling, every traveller should prepare thoroughly, keep well informed about the entry rules that apply and follow the advice and instructions of local authorities when abroad."
The Swedish foreign ministry has opened a new helpline for questions about travelling during the coronavirus pandemic: 08-405 92 00.
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The decision comes into effect today, September 14th, said the Swedish foreign ministry.
That means that non-essential journeys are now ok – at least as far as the Swedish foreign ministry is concerned – to Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Vatican.
The deicision comes after Sweden on September 12th was added to the UK's list of travel corridors, meaning travellers coming from Sweden (or who have been to Sweden in the past two weeks) no longer need to self-isolate on arrival.
But for other countries in the EU, EEA and Schengen (which leaves only: Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia) the Swedish foreign ministry's recommendation against non-essential travel remains in place until September 23rd, and until November 15th for countries outside the EU.
Those deadlines are not set in stone, and could be extended or scrapped early.
The foreign ministry's advisory is not a legally binding ban, but has other implications that residents in Sweden may want to take into account before deciding to travel, for example the validity of your Swedish travel insurance.
The guidance has been in place since an early stage in the pandemic, due to global uncertainty and travel bans, so it relates to restrictions in place for travellers rather than the spread of coronavirus in those countries.
"In recent weeks, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has lifted the advice against non-essential travel to the majority of countries in Europe. This does not mean that the situation is back to normal. Local rules, restrictions and quarantine requirements affecting Swedish travellers can be re-introduced at short notice if the situation changes," said the foreign ministry in a statement on Monday.
"A high degree of personal responsibility must be taken by travellers regardless of where they travel. Before travelling, every traveller should prepare thoroughly, keep well informed about the entry rules that apply and follow the advice and instructions of local authorities when abroad."
The Swedish foreign ministry has opened a new helpline for questions about travelling during the coronavirus pandemic: 08-405 92 00.
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