Sweden extends entry restrictions for EU / EEA countries until 28 February
The Swedish government has decided to extend the entry restrictions for travelers from the EU and the European Economic Area until 28 February due to the increased concern about the Coronavirus’ Omicron variant.
In addition, authorities in Sweden have announced that the entry restrictions imposed on travelers from countries outside the EU and the EEA will be extended until 31 March, while excluding Argentina, Australia and Canada from the list of territories whose citizens have the right to enter without being subject to for the latest rule, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
The decision means that travelers from EU and EEA countries will be subject to additional requirements when entering the Nordic region.
“People traveling to Sweden from EU / EEA countries, including the Nordic countries, must present the EU’s digital covid certificate or equivalent certificate showing that they have either been vaccinated against covid-19, tested negative within 72 hours of arrival or recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months, reads the statement from the Swedish government.
The above rule applies to persons aged 18 and over; However, there will be some exceptions.
Citizens of countries outside the EU and the EEA will also be required to comply with additional entry requirements when planning to enter Sweden.
“Foreign citizens traveling to Sweden from a country outside the EU / EEA may only enter the country if they are covered by one of the exemptions from the entry ban and may also show negative results from a covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival in Sweden, or are exempt from the test requirement. ” the statement notes.
However, the authorities have clarified that travelers who fall into specific categories will be exempt from the latest changes applied by the country’s government.
After confirming that Argentina, Australia and Canada have reported an increase in the number of infections, Swedish authorities announced that they have decided to remove these territories from the list of countries that are exempt from the entry ban. Such a decision will enter into force on 31 January.
These changes follow EU recommendations on travel to the EU from third countries, based on data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that Sweden has registered a total of 1,973 cases of covid-19 infection and 15,768 deaths since the pandemic began. Such figures and the spread of the Omicron variant, which has deeply affected many countries, led authorities in Sweden to tighten their restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.
Recently, the government announced that it has decided to lift the requirement for pre-entry tests previously imposed on all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status or country of origin.