The Government to reintroduce ban on entry to Sweden for travellers from the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia

The temporary entry ban came into force on 19 March 2020 and initially applied for 30 days. It was subsequently extended on several occasions, and the latest decision to extend the ban means that the entry ban now applies until 31 October 2021.

The entry ban means that a foreign citizen travelling to Sweden from a state other than an EEA State or Switzerland will be denied entry into Sweden and turned away. There are a number of exemptions from this - for example, the entry ban does not apply to foreign citizens who are resident of certain countries. The exempted countries are specified in an annex to the Ordinance.

The adopted amendment means that the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia will be removed from the annex to the Ordinance. This means that residents of these countries will no longer be exempted from the entry ban solely on the ground that they reside there.

Regarding foreign citizens travelling to Sweden from the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia as of 6 September, only those covered by another exemption from the entry ban may enter Sweden. This could concern foreign citizens who have residence permits in Sweden, have particularly urgent needs or are to carry out essential functions, and who can also present a negative COVID-19 test. The negative COVID-19 test result may not be older than 48 hours. This requirement applies to foreign citizens aged 18 and older, with certain exemptions.

The amendment is the result of an update of EU recommendations regarding travel into the EU from third countries adopted on 30 August 2021, based on information from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the severely deteriorated epidemiological situation in these countries.

The Ordinance has been adjusted regularly and at short notice to reflect EU recommendations, and the Public Health Agency of Sweden has stated that changes to the Swedish measures should be based on the work carried out at EU level to coordinate the Member States' measures directed at travellers from third countries.

The amendment will enter into force on 6 September 2021.

The Government is now examining the possibility - taking into account the process at EU level - of exempting fully vaccinated residents of certain third countries from the entry restrictions. The Government intends to return to this issue at a later date.

For more information on how the ordinances on a temporary ban on entry to Sweden are to be interpreted and which exemptions apply, please visit the Swedish Police Authority website. See the adjacent links.

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