DIRECTIONS
Sweden is a member of the Schengen Agreement. For EU, EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Swiss citizens, an officially approved ID card (or a passport) is sufficient for entry. In no case will they need a visa for a stay of any length. Others will generally need a passport for entry.
There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: Not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union.
Airports in Europe are thus divided into "Schengen" and "non-Schengen" sections, which effectively act like "domestic" and "international" sections elsewhere. If you are flying from outside Europe into one Schengen country and continuing to another, you will clear Immigration and Customs at the first country and then continue to your destination with no further checks. Travel between a Schengen member and a non-Schengen country will result in the normal border checks. Note that regardless of whether you travelling within the Schengen area or not, some airlines will still insist on seeing your ID card or passport.
Keep in mind that the counter begins once you enter any country in the Schengen Area and is not reset by leaving a specific Schengen country for another Schengen country, or vice-versa.
As of January 2010 only the citizens of the following non-EU/EEA/Swiss countries do not need a visa for entry into the Schengen Area; note that they must not stay longer than three months in half a year and must not work while in the EU: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia*, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro*, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia*/**, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, additionally persons holding British National (Overseas), Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passports.
Note that
- while British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories citizens connected to Gibraltar are considered "United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes" and therefore eligible for unlimited access to the Schengen Area,
- British Overseas Territories citizens without the right of abode in the United Kingdom and British subjects without the right of abode in the United Kingdom as well as British Overseas citizens and British protected persons in general do require visas.
However, all British Overseas Territories citizens except those solely connected to the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas are eligible for British citizenship and thereafter unlimited access to the Schengen Area.
Further note that
Macedonian, Montenegrin and Serbian citizens need a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free travel and
Serbian citizens with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Serbs residing in Kosovo) still do need a visa.
By plane
For arrival and departure times, as well as lots of other information about flights and airports in Sweden, visit Luftfartsverket - Swedish Airports and Air Navigation
Major airports:
- Stockholm Arlanda (IATA: ARN) (ICAO: ESSA) - serves most major airlines. Check the Stockholm page for information on transfer between the airport and Stockholm City.
- Göteborg Landvetter (IATA: GOT) (ICAO: ESGG) - serves several international airlines and provides convenient bus transfer (~20 min) to central Gothenburg.
- Copenhagen Kastrup (Denmark) (IATA: CPH) (ICAO: EKCH) - serves most major airlines. Located on an island between Copenhagen and Malmö and is ideal for travelling in southern Sweden. Train connections leave from the airport to both cities.
Smaller airports:
- Stockholm Skavsta (IATA: NYO) (ICAO: ESKN) - airport for low fares airlines like Ryanair and Wizzair . Located quite a distance (about 100 km) from Stockholm, near the town of Nyköping.
- Stockholm Västerås (IATA: VST) (ICAO: ESOW) - international flights to/from Copenhagen and London. Also about 100 km from Stockholm.
- Göteborg City Airport (IATA: GSE) (ICAO: ESGP) - situated just 14 kilometers from central Gothenburg, this airport is used by Ryanair, Wizzair and Germanwings .
- Malmö-Sturup (IATA: MMX) (ICAO: ESMS) - serves domestic flights and low fares flights. Located about 30 km from Malmö.
Most airports can be reached by Flygbussarna - Airport coaches for tickets around 70 to 100 SEK. Copenhagen airport is best reached by train. See Skånetrafiken for schedules.
By train
You can reach Sweden by train from three countries at present:
- Denmark: Trains depart Copenhagen and Copenhagen's airport for Malmö every 20 minutes, and cost only about SEK 100 ("Öresundståg / Øresundstog" regional trains). The train goes over the magnificent Öresund Bridge to get to Sweden in less than 30 minutes. Furthermore direct trains (X2000) leave from Copenhagen to Stockholm. The Elsinore-Helsingborg connection, known as one of the busiest ferry routes in Europe, might also be used (change to ship).
- Norway: Main connections between Oslo and Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as connections between Trondheim - Åre - Östersund and Narvik - Kiruna - Boden - Stockholm.
- Germany: Berlin to Malmö with "Berlin Night Express". There are also several trains per day from Hamburg to Copenhagen, and night trains from München, Basel, Köln and Amsterdam to Copenhagen. See Denmark section about how to get from Copenhagen to Sweden.
- Finland: Travel via Kemi-Tornio-Haparanda-Luleå / Boden by bus. Interrail tickets are valid on that bus. There's no train connection as Finland and Sweden use different gauge.
By bus
Get into Sweden by "Eurolines" or "Säfflebussen" . All connections here go via Copenhagen.
Buses from and to the Western Balkans are also operated by Toptourist, . Call + 46 (0 ) 42 18 29 84 for more info
By boat
Belgium
- From Ghent to Gothenburg by DFDS Torline (cargo line with limited passenger capacity)
Denmark
- From Grenå to Varberg by Stena Line .
- From Frederikshavn to Gothenburg by Stena Line.
- From Elsinore to Helsingborg by Scandlines and HH-ferries .
Estonia
- From Tallinn to Stockholm (via Helsinki) by Viking Line .
- From Tallinn to Stockholm (direct connection) by Tallink .
Finland
- From Helsinki to Stockholm (via Åland) by Tallink Silja and Viking Line.
- From Naantali to Kapellskär by Finnlink .
- From Turku to Stockholm (via Åland) by Tallink Silja and Viking Line.
- From Vaasa to Umeå by RG Line .
Latvia
- From Riga to Stockholm by Tallink .
- From Ventspils to Nynashamn by Scandlines.
Germany
Norway
Poland
- From Gdansk to Nynäshamn by Polferries .
- From Gdansk to Visby by Polferries.
- From Gdynia to Karlskrona by Stena Line.
- From Swinoujscie to Ystad by Polferries.
Russia
- From Baltijsk, Kaliningrad to Karlshamn by DFDS Tor Line .
UK
- From Immingham and Tilbury to Gothenburg by DFDS Torline (cargo line with limited passenger capacity).