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What are the guidelines for testing and isolating in Sweden after travelling abroad?

The Local Sweden
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What are the guidelines for testing and isolating in Sweden after travelling abroad?
Not everyone needs a Covid-19 test in order to enter Sweden. Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT

Guidelines for getting a Covid-19 test and self-isolating on arrival to Sweden are changing as travel restrictions begin to ease. The rules are different depending on where you’re travelling from. 

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Do I need to take a Covid-19 test to travel to Sweden?

If you’re travelling to Sweden from another Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, or Norway) you don’t need to provide a negative Covid-19 test to enter, or self isolate when you arrive. 

If you are travelling from another country in the EU or EEA, you need to show either a negative Covid-19 test result no older than 48 hours or, as of June 30th, proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. Travellers under 18 and people who live in Sweden (citizens and residents) are exempt. 

The Public Health Agency is still preparing guidance for vaccine certificate requirements, but information proving a negative test or vaccination or recovered status will need to be clearly stated in Swedish, English, Norwegian, Danish or French. Translations aren’t accepted. 

If you are travelling from outside the EU, you need to show a negative Covid-19 test result no older than 48 hours (and you must also fall into one of the categories exempt from the entry ban, which includes travellers from certain countries and people travelling for urgent reasons). Currently, proof of vaccination is not accepted as an alternative.

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Do I need to take a Covid-19 test on arrival?

If you travel to Sweden from a Nordic, EU or EEA country, the Public Health Agency no longer advises taking a test on arrival. 

If you travel to Sweden from a country where travel is advised against (this includes most non-EU countries), you are advised to get a test as soon as possible after arriving, preferably on the same day, if you did not get a test before travel. You should also take a second test on the fifth day after arriving. 

Tests are available on arrival at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport, and you can also call the 1177 healthcare helpline to find out more information about booking a test.

This requirements is in place until at least August 31st. The advice to get tested on arrival is in addition to the other entry requirements. This means that people who are exempt from the requirement to show a negative test to enter Sweden (for example, Swedish citizens or residents) should still take two tests on arrival, and people who need to show a negative test in order to enter also need to take a test five days after arrival. 

If you’re coming from a country that is not exempt from the travel ban (like Brazil, India, or the UK for example), and have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with an EU approved vaccine at least two weeks before travel, you still need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result on entry but you don’t need to take more tests after arrival. 

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Do I have to self-isolate or quarantine when I arrive to Sweden? 

If you’re coming from an EU/EEA country, one of the exempt countries, then the Public Health Agency no longer advises self-isolating for seven days on arrival. Of course, it is still a good idea to limit your contacts if you can, and everyone in Sweden should be working from home if possible and social distancing in public.

If you’re coming from a country that is not exempt from the travel ban (like Brazil, India, or the UK), and have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with an EU approved vaccine at least two weeks before travel you still need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result on entry but you don’t need to self-isolate after arrival. 

If you’re travelling from a non-exempt country and you’re not vaccinated, the recommendation is to self-isolate for seven days after arriving, even if your test result is negative. This includes people who are Swedish citizens and/or who live in Sweden. That means staying inside, ordering groceries online so you don’t need to go shopping, not going on public transport or coming into contact with anyone else. 

If the result of your second test result, taken on the fifth day after arrival, if negative and if you’re not experiencing symptoms, you can be around other people after seven days, following the local recommendations.  

If you’re experiencing any symptoms, take a test and self-isolate, and of course, don’t travel. 

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