Can I travel within Sweden?
Yes. There is no ban on travel between regions within Sweden – as long as you are completely free of coronavirus symptoms when travelling, although the message from authorities is to consider whether your journey is necessary.
You should also make sure you travel in a responsible way, limiting your risk of catching or spreading the virus.
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Even if you are travelling by car, the Swedish Transport Administration has warned that replacing public transport journeys by car journeys isn't a good solution if everybody does it. This could cause traffic jams and problems for essential traffic.
Another step to take is to avoid routes likely to be crowded, for example by avoiding travel during rush hour or on popular travel dates.
Do I need to wear a face mask while travelling?
You may also choose to wear a face mask as an additional protective measure even if it is not required by your travel provider.
That's difficult to know, but some transport operators have shared lists of their routes and times that usually have highest passenger numbers, including SJ and Skånetrafiken for example.
If you really need to use public transport to get to an airport or train station, you should avoid rush hour. As Christmas is celebrated on December 24th in Sweden, the 23rd is often a busy day for the roads, as well as the weekend before and after.
A train at Lund's central station in early December, when a technical problem caused delays and therefore crowding. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
You can also try to reduce time spent in indoor environments or around other people on the journey, whether it's checking into your flight and printing your boarding pass at home, eating a meal before you leave rather than buying food or stopping at a restaurant en route, and taking a face mask and hand sanitiser with you in case you end up in a situation where social distancing or hand-washing is difficult.
Yes, but there are several caveats.
“It is important that everyone who intends to travel considers whether it is really the right time to do it now. We prefer that as few as possible travel this Christmas,” Foreign Minister Ann Linde told the TT newswire on Wednesday.
“If you nevertheless decide to travel, it is important that you follow these three pieces of advice: Read up, follow local rules and plan your return trip.”
Most importantly, you should not be doing any travel, whether domestic or overseas, if you have symptoms of the coronavirus.
If you travel abroad, you should stay updated on local laws and guidelines, which may include test requirements, quarantine, and mask-wearing and social distancing while in the country.
Sweden currently advises against travel to all countries outside the EU, and this is in place until at least January 31st, 2020. This isn't a legal ban, but has implications including that travel insurance may not be valid if you travel against the advice.
As of December 16th, the foreign ministry does not advise against travel to countries within the EU/EEA and UK. That doesn't mean travel is risk-free.
File photo of a flight from Stockholm Arlanda to Greece. Photo: Stina Stjernkvist/TT
Can I travel to Sweden from abroad?
It depends where you are travelling from.
If you are travelling from an EU/EEA country or are an EU/EEA citizen travelling from elsewhere, you may currently enter Sweden. For others, it's more complicated.
The Swedish government has barred non-essential travel to Sweden from countries outside the EU, with the ban set to expire on December 22nd. Currently eight countries are exempted: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Uruguay.
This may be either extended or amended in Wednesday's update. The Local has contacted the Swedish police for further information.
This restriction does not apply to Swedish, EU, or EEA citizens, who may travel to Sweden. Other people with “important reasons” to enter Sweden are also allowed Sweden. You can find a list of “important reasons” here. Celebrating Christmas with friends or relatives is not among them, but in some situations you can travel if you are moving to Sweden to live long-term with a close relative.
Do I need to quarantine if I travel to Sweden?
No, there is no mandatory quarantine for arriving travellers. However, you do need to follow the national recommendations even if you are visiting.
That includes staying at home, avoiding all close contacts and getting a coronavirus test if you develop symptoms of the virus, as well as keeping distance from others in public and keeping close contacts to a minimum even when symptom-free.
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