Sweden now requires all arrivals to present COVID-19 tests, including Nordic countries
The Swedish authorities have announced that all travelers, including those from Denmark, Finland and Norway, are now subject to mandatory tests before entry, regardless of their vaccination status.
Although the new test rules have been introduced for all arrivals from the EU and the European Economic Area, the move specifically affects those traveling from the Nordic countries as they will no longer be exempt from the test requirement, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Previously, travelers from Denmark, Finland and Norway could enter Sweden without having to follow test rules or other strict entry requirements.
Nevertheless, due to increased cases of covid-19 infections and the circulation of the Omicron variant, which has spread rapidly, Sweden decided to tighten the entry rules for everyone.
“The Swedish government changed the entry ban so that foreign travelers entering from a Nordic country are no longer exempt from the test requirement. From 28 December 2021, a negative test is required for most foreign citizens who are not resident in Sweden. ” the police statement reads.
It has been stated that the country accepts both PCR and rapid antigen tests provided that the test has been taken within 48 hours before entry.
Despite the fact that the new rules were announced almost a week before they officially came into force, some travelers from the Nordic countries, especially those from Denmark, have not been able to enter Sweden.
The Swedish police revealed that about 600 Danish citizens had been denied entry within the first seven hours, from December 28 at midnight to seven in the morning on December 29, after the new test rule came into force.
It has been revealed that these entry refusals were made because the travelers did not show a negative test result during the border checks.
Like Sweden, Denmark has also tightened its entry rules for all incoming travelers. Since 27 December, all travelers, including those from Sweden and the other Nordic countries, must present a negative covid-19 test taken before arrival.
Denmark recognizes PCR tests taken within 72 hours before entry and rapid antigen tests performed 48 hours before entry.
The Danish authorities stated that the test requirement applies to everyone, even those who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus.
Previously, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised its citizens to avoid taking unnecessary trips to Sweden because the latter has been placed on the high-risk list after registering increased rates of infection.
The figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that Sweden has reported 31,048 new cases of covid-19 in the last seven days.