If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Sweden visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Sweden may ask you to show SEK 700 per day. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Sweden, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Sweden can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Sweden can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: SEK 700 per day. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Sweden
Main international airports in Sweden: Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), Göteborg Landvetter (GOT).
If Sweden is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Sweden is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Sweden's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Sweden
In Sweden, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Sweden no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Sweden in depth: cards, kronor and long distances
Sweden is almost cashless: most shops prefer cards, so a credit card with available balance is the easiest proof of funds. The minimum is SEK 700 per day.
Stockholm Arlanda and Gothenburg Landvetter are the main entry airports. Trains from Copenhagen over the Øresund bridge and ferries from Finland are internal Schengen routes.
Sweden has no external land borders: its only land neighbours are Norway and Finland, both in Schengen.
Good to know about Sweden
- Sweden is almost cashless: cards are the easiest way to show your means.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Sweden add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Sweden after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Sweden use the euro?
No, it uses the Swedish krona (SEK).
Do US citizens need a visa for Sweden?
No. US citizens can visit Sweden visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Sweden?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Sweden, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Sweden?
SEK 700 per day. Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.