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COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Sweden is a highly developed, stable democracy with a modern economy. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Sweden for additional information.

SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM/EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live in or visit Sweden, please take the time to tell our embassy about your trip. If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. We can also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here’s the link to the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

U.S. Embassy in Stockholm
Dag Hammarskjoldsvag 31
SE-115 89 Stockholm
Telephone: (46) (8) 783-5300
Emergency after-hours telephone: (46) (8) 783-5300
Fax: (46) (8) 783-5480

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: Sweden is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes with a valid U.S. passport, without obtaining a visa. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.

Contact the Swedish Embassy at 901 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, tel: (202) 467-2600 (mailing address: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007), or the Swedish Consulate General in New York at (212) 583-2550 for the most current visa information. Sweden's Migration Board (Migrationsverket) also provides visa information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Sweden.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: Sweden has been subject to terrorist incidents in the recent past, and the potential for a terrorist incident remains. Like other countries in the Schengen area, Sweden's open borders with its Western European neighbors allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity. You should remain vigilant and exercise caution.

Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website,which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and become a fan of the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.

You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Take some time before travel to improve your personal security�things are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States. Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad.

CRIME: Sweden has a low crime rate with rare, but increasing, instances of violent crime. Most crimes involve the theft of personal property from cars or residences or in public areas. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are becoming more prevalent. Many U.S. citizens fall victim to these highly skilled thieves, especially at the main train stations in Stockholm and Gothenburg, and during bus or train transit to and from airports. Do not put any bags containing valuables, such as your passport, down on the ground. Thieves particularly like computer bags. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers often work in pairs or groups with one distracting the victim while another grabs valuables; often, they operate in or near major tourist attractions such as Stockholm's Old Town, restaurants, amusement parks, museums, bars, buses, long-distance trains, subway trains, train and bus stations, and airports. Hotel breakfast rooms and lobbies attract professional, well-dressed thieves who blend in with guests and target purses and briefcases left unguarded by unsuspecting tourists and business travelers. Don’t leave your valuables in parked vehicles.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.�

VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know�becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see end of this sheet or see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates ). If your passport is stolen, we can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and�rape,�we can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and help you get money from them if you need it. Although the local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime, consular officers can help you understand the local criminal justice process and find an attorney if you need one.

Sweden has a limited compensation program for victims of violent, personal, and property crime. Foreign citizens who are victims of crime on Swedish territory are eligible to apply for compensation, but if the victim and offender are not residents of Sweden, compensation may not be awarded even though the crime occurred on Swedish soil. Application forms in English are available at local police stations and other government agencies. Claimants are generally notified of the program's decision within four months. �The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Sweden is 112. Please see our information for victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Sweden, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Sweden are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. There is no bail system in Sweden and U.S. citizens who are arrested may be held in custody until the trial is complete. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.�If you break local laws in Sweden, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.�

If you are arrested in Sweden, you have the right to ask authorities to alert the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. The U.S. does not have an agreement with Sweden requiring notification to the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are arrested in Sweden, you should use whatever means of communication available to alert the Embassy Stockholm of your situation.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: We are not aware of any special currency or customs circumstances for Sweden.

ACCESSIBILITY:Accessibility to public facilities and transportation in Sweden is good, particularly in newer buildings and within the public transportation systems. City-wide improvements continue to be implemented by the Swedish government. The government actively pursues a policy designed to promote access for individuals with disabilities to streets and public places, public buildings, stores and restaurants, and public transportation, and has devoted funding to make progress in these areas.�

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care in Sweden is comparable to that found in the United States. The Swedish medical system is state-run, so instead of visiting a local private general practitioner, you can visit a local medical center or clinic, called an " Akutmottagning" or "Vardcentral." You should be prepared to present your passport. The Swedish medical system does not cover people who don’t live in Sweden; nonresidents are expected to pay their own medical costs. In case of a medical emergency, use the emergency telephone number "112" to contact the appropriate emergency service.

If you have special needs, you should consult your personal physician and take appropriate precautions, including bringing adequate supplies of necessary medication. You can bring medicines into the country as long as they are intended for your personal use. Medications categorized as narcotics may only be brought into the country to cover your personal use for a maximum of five days and must be accompanied by a note from your medical doctor stating why you need them. In addition, stringent Swedish customs regulations prohibit travelers from receiving drugs from abroad after having arrived in the country. You may find local physicians reluctant to prescribe equivalent quantities or dosages. Prescriptions are dispensed at pharmacies called "Apotek" in Swedish. Most pharmacies are open only during normal shopping hours, but major cities will have a 24-hour pharmacy.

You can find information on vaccinations and other health precautions, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the the World Health Organization (WHO) website, which also contains additional health information, including detailed country-specific health information.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

• Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United States?
• Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, see our medical insurance overseas page.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Sweden, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

You can use a valid U.S. driver's license while visiting Sweden, but you must be at least 18 years old to drive. Driving is on the right side of the street in Sweden. Road signs use standard international symbols and Swedish text. Many urban streets have traffic lanes reserved for public transportation only. Swedish roads are comparable to those in the U.S., though secondary roads may be less heavily traveled. The secondary routes often narrow to two lanes with a wider shoulder. Slower vehicles are expected to move onto the shoulder to allow faster moving vehicles to pass. All vehicles on the road must have headlights switched on, no matter what time of day. You must use snow tires between December 1 and March 31, and you should be experienced in driving on ice and snow if you are going to drive in the winter. Gas stations in rural areas can be far apart. Some gas stations are unattended and require a credit card with a chip to purchase fuel. Public transport in Sweden is good, and is the recommended method of travel. Passenger trains, intercity buses, and plane flights provide regular service over longer distances. Public transportation in urban centers includes buses, subways, trams, suburban trains, and taxis. Taxis are more expensive than in major U.S. cities. Most local residents use public transport in Stockholm as parking can be hard to find and expensive. The bus, train, and subway systems are considered safe. Cyclists are common on many roads, especially in urban areas. You must use seat belts, and children under the age of seven must be seated in approved child or booster seats. The maximum speed limit is 110 kilometers per hour (approximately 68 miles per hour). Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs, is considered a very serious offense. The legal minimum level of alcohol consumption is .02. Swedish police often conduct alcohol tests on roads and highways. The rules are strictly enforced and fines can be severe, including possible jail sentences. �Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Sweden’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Sweden’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Sweden dated November 4, 2010, to update all sections.

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