Sweden bans travel from the United States and 5 other third countries from 6 September
In accordance with several other EU member states, Sweden has also decided to reintroduce stricter entry restrictions for travelers from several third countries, including the United States, following a recommendation from the EU Council to do so, issued on Monday 30 August.
Announcing the decision, the Swedish Ministry of Justice has noted in a press release that the government has agreed to reintroduce an entry ban to Sweden for visitors from the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and northern Macedonia, from Monday 6 September.
”The government today adopted amendments to the temporary travel ban to Sweden. The amendments apply to the exemption for residents of certain designated countries outside the EU and are in line with the European Council’s latest recommendation to EU Member States“, Explains the press release.
It also recalls that the entry ban for non-essential travel from outside Sweden was introduced on March 19, last year, in the middle of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country. The ban was first introduced only for a period of 30 days and has been continuously extended since then, although arrivals from specific countries and certain specific categories have been excluded.
On 27 August, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported on Sweden’s decision to extend the entry ban for third – country travelers by a further two months, until 31 October.
Later, on 30 August, the EU Council announced its decision to remove from its list of epidemiologically safe third countries the United States, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, northern Macedonia and Lebanon following a significant increase in the number of covid-19 infections recently recorded in these areas. The removal from this list means that EU Member States are recommended to impose stricter entry restrictions on arrivals from the removed countries.
Several countries have already implemented the recommendation, including Italy, the Netherlands and Bulgaria.
As of 6 September, only travelers who reach Sweden for absolutely necessary purposes can enter from the USA, Israel, Lebanon and three countries in the Western Balkans, Kosovo, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia. Important purposes include holders of Swedish residence permits, travelers who perform important purposes, travelers in transit, medical staff, researchers in health care and elderly staff, etc.
However, vaccinated travelers may soon be exempted from the entry ban, the Ministry of Justice has emphasized.
”The government is now examining the possibility – taking into account the process at EU level – of freeing fully vaccinated residents in certain third countries from entry restrictions. The Government intends to return to this issue at a later date, ”The ministry noted in the press release.
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From 6 September onwards, in addition to travelers reaching Sweden for essential purposes, exemptions from the entry ban are residents of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Macao, New Zealand, Qatar, Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Serbia, South Korea, Taiwan or Ukraine.
British citizens and their family members are also excluded as they are covered by Article 10 of the UK’s exit agreement.
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