Travelers who are not fully vaccinated and arrive outside the Nordic region (Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland) should avoid contact with others for a week after arrival (including, for example, not visiting shops, using public transport or having visitors in their home)) and should take a test as soon as possible after arrival.

This applies to both Swedish and foreign citizens, regardless of travel issue, even if children under the age of six and people who have received their second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at least two weeks before arrival in Sweden are excluded. But even people who are fully vaccinated should be tested if they experience any symptoms of the virus – this applies regardless of whether they have recently been abroad.

A separate guideline for travelers from some countries outside the EU to do a second test and isolate for a week on arrival was previously on site until 31 August, but has now been scrapped. This means that the same recommendations, to take a test on arrival and be “careful” with social contacts, now apply to all people who arrive in Sweden from the Nordic countries.

As of September 1, people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and recovered in the last six months are also excluded. The current guidelines apply until 31 October.

“Several countries have a greater spread of infection than Sweden, and in contract tracing work we see that a relatively high proportion of covid-19 cases are still linked to travel abroad,” says the Public Health Agency’s deputy state epidemiologist Karin Tegmark Wisell in a statement explaining why the test recommendation had been extended.

Tests are free for people arriving in Sweden from abroad and can be arranged by ordering one from 1177.se or use a drop-in center. The 1177 website for your region (you can select your region with the drop-down menu “select the region”-Menu at the top) should have more information, and Sweden’s larger airports also offer tests for some arriving passengers. The 1177 website for your region must also tell you how to book a test if you do not normally live in Sweden and do not have a Swedish social security number.

Unlike many countries, but in line with Sweden’s strategy of using fewer legal restrictions, the recommendations are not applied to test and isolate legally, but it is still not considered optional.

Even people who are exempt from taking the tests on arrival are still expected to be “careful” after traveling abroad, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency. This includes being very attentive even to mild symptoms, keeping your distance from other people and avoiding meeting people who belong to risk groups of covid-19.