What do you need to take with you when crossing the border into Sweden?

What do you need to take with you when crossing the border into Sweden? Short answer: valid ID for everyone in your party, insurance valid for the duration of the journey, the car’s registration documents if you’re driving yourself, and reasonable quantities of items you’re taking for your own use. This article is a checklist and a guide – it is not a substitute for information from the authorities. Always check the current rules with Swedish Customs and the authorities in your own country before you set off, as rules and limits are subject to change.

Most guests find that the list is shorter than they thought. The formalities for a trip to Sälen in Dalarna are minimal, and most of the time is spent packing the right clothes rather than the right documents. If you’re travelling in a large group, it’s still worth going through the list together once – it’s easier to spot if someone is missing valid ID before you set off than at the border. Are you hire a bigger house for the group in Sälenfjällen It is also useful to know who in the group is listed as the booker, as that person will normally need to show proof of identity when checking in.

Short answer: ID, insurance and reasonable quantities

Three categories cover almost everything:

• Identity: a valid passport or national identity card for each person, including children.
• Security: travel insurance, possibly cancellation cover, and the EU Health Insurance Card if you are from an EU or EEA country.
• Vehicles and goods: the car’s registration documents and insurance certificate, as well as goods in quantities reasonable for personal use.

The point that varies the most is the last one, and it is also the only one where a mistake can prove costly. We’ll go through it below, but the principle is simple: what you bring in is intended for your own use, not for resale, and you can find the limit values on the Swedish Customs website.

Passport or ID card – within and outside the EU

Sweden is part of the Schengen Area, which means that there are normally no systematic identity checks at internal borders. This does not mean that you do not need to carry identification. Checks may take place; ferry operators and airlines require identification at check-in, and you will need to be able to identify yourself in a range of everyday situations during your stay.

If you are travelling from an EU or EEA country, a valid national ID card or passport is usually sufficient. If you are travelling from a country outside the EU, you will need a passport and, where applicable, a visa, in accordance with the rules that apply to your nationality. Check the expiry date well in advance – a passport that expires during your trip will cause problems on the return journey, not on the outward journey. Children need their own ID, even babies, and if a child is travelling without both parents, it is a good idea to carry a letter of consent.

The European Health Insurance Card and healthcare during your stay

The European Health Insurance Card, or EU card, entitles you – if you are insured in an EU or EEA country – to essential healthcare in Sweden on the same terms as people who live here. You must apply for the card from the health insurance authority in your home country, not in Sweden, and it takes time to receive it – so make sure you apply well in advance of your departure. Bring the physical card with you, not just a photo of it.

The EU Health Insurance Card does not cover everything. Repatriation is not included, nor does it cover planned medical treatment. The card is therefore a supplement to travel insurance, never a substitute for it. If you are from a country outside the EU or the EEA, private health insurance valid in Sweden is what counts. We have described where healthcare is available and how a visit works under medical care for visitors to Sälen.

Travel and Cancellation Insurance

A week’s winter holiday involves two risks that differ from those of a normal holiday. The first is an accident on the slopes, which may require medical treatment, transport and, in some cases, repatriation. The second is that someone in your party falls ill before departure, which, in the case of a holiday home, may mean that the entire booking remains in place.

You should therefore check two things in your existing insurance cover before taking out a new policy: whether downhill skiing and other winter sports are covered, and whether cancellation cover is included. Many home insurance policies include travel cover that provides more cover than you might think, whilst cancellation cover often has to be added separately. We have gone through what applies in relation to tenancy agreements under insurance when renting a holiday cottage.

Alcohol, tobacco and food across the border

Different rules apply here depending on whether you are travelling from an EU country or from a country outside the EU, and these rules include both quantity limits and age limits. We have deliberately not included any figures in this article, as the limits are subject to change and incorrect information could prove costly for the reader. Please check the current quantities and conditions with Swedish Customs before you travel.

Three principles remain unchanged, however. Anything you bring in must be for your own personal use. There are age limits for bringing in alcohol and tobacco. And special rules apply to foodstuffs, particularly meat and dairy products from countries outside the EU – you can find these on the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s website. If, on the other hand, you wish to shop locally, stronger alcoholic drinks in Sweden are sold through a special state-run chain of shops with its own opening hours; we have described how this works in the ski resort under alcohol purchases in Sälen.

Car documents: registration certificate, insurance and green card

If you are driving your own car, you must have the vehicle registration certificate and a valid insurance certificate in the car. If you are driving someone else’s car, such as a company car or a borrowed car, it is worth carrying written authorisation from the owner. For a hire car, you will need the hire agreement and the driver’s driving licence.

The Green Card is an international certificate of motor insurance. It is not normally required within the EEA, but if you are coming from a country outside the EEA, it may be required – check with your insurance company well in advance, as they are the ones who issue it. At the same time, check that your insurance is valid in Sweden for the duration of your stay and what it covers in the event of a collision with wildlife. Also check the Swedish tyre regulations on the Transport Agency’s website; these also apply to foreign-registered vehicles during the winter months.

Pets – a brief guide to the rules

Bringing a dog to Sweden is perfectly possible, but it requires planning well in advance. This mainly involves identification, an EU pet passport, a valid rabies vaccination and, in some cases, treatment prior to entry. It is the time involved that usually takes people by surprise: some of the preparations must be made weeks or months before the journey.

Furthermore, the rules differ between EU countries and non-EU countries, and they are subject to change. Always check the current requirements with the Swedish Board of Agriculture and Swedish Customs before you travel. We have put together a more detailed guide at the rules regarding dogs at the border. Please also check with us whether the house you wish to book allows dogs – this varies from house to house.

Summary – Pre-departure document checklist

Go through these five points a week before departure: valid ID for everyone, an EU health insurance card or equivalent health cover, travel insurance with cancellation cover, the car’s registration and insurance documents, and any requirements regarding your dog. Take the documents with you in physical form and keep copies on your mobile as a backup. And carry out your final check where you need to: check the current limits for alcohol, tobacco and food with Swedish Customs, animal regulations with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, and traffic regulations with the Swedish Transport Agency. If anything is unclear regarding your booking or arrival, we’re happy to help – but for matters relating to official bodies, we always refer you to the source, as that is the definitive guide.