Advice against travel due to COVID-19 pandemic extended to 1 September, but with additional exemptions

The international situation is still uncertain and rapidly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing. For this reason, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has decided to extend the advice against non-essential travel due to the pandemic. The decision remains in effect until 1 September 2021.

However, based on the EU list of exempted countries and administrative regions, as of 24 June the advice against travel has been lifted for a number of additional countries and territories: Albania, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Serbia, the US, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs also plans to continue to lift the advice against travel to additional countries as they are added to the EU exemption list.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is working with a view to transitioning to a system in which pandemic-related decisions to advise against travel are strictly reserved for especially vulnerable countries/administrative regions. This will take place as soon as possible later in the year, provided that the generally positive global trend continues.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ advice for Swedish travellers: The individual bears a great responsibility even when travelling to countries that are no longer subject to Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ advice against travel. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs urges all Swedish travellers to read up when planning their trip, follow the local rules when in the country and plan their trip home carefully.

Swedes are urged to continue to follow the general recommendations of the Public Health Agency and to keep a safe distance, wash their hands and avoid large social gatherings. It is also important to follow these recommendations when abroad.

What applies now: - The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has decided to extend its advice against travel to most countries until 1 September 2021.

- In previous decisions, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs lifted the advice against non-essential travel to: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and the Vatican City. These countries are thus already exempt from the advice against non-essential travel.

As of 24 June 2021, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also lifted the advice against non-essential travel to Albania, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Serbia, the United States, Hong Kong,