Following the European Council’s recommendations and the example of several other Member States, Sweden is once again banning travel from several third countries, according to a press release published by the Swedish Ministry of Justice.
The third countries that are mentioned in the press release are the United States, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
According to the press release, the entry ban will be effective from 6 September 2021 until 31 October 2021.
The initial entry bans in Sweden began on 19 March 2020 and since have been continuously extended, renewed, and amended.
“The temporary entry ban came into force on 19 March 2020 and initially applied for 30 days. It was subsequently extended on several occasions, and the latest decision to extend the ban means that the entry ban now applies until 31 October 2021,” the press release reads.
According to the press release, the entry ban details that residents of the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are no longer permitted to enter the country without an extraordinary or essential purpose.
“The adopted amendment means that the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia will be removed from the annex to the Ordinance. This means that residents of these countries will no longer be exempted from the entry ban solely on the ground that they reside there,” the press release reads.
The press release also notes that the entry ban means that any person entering Sweden from any of the countries listed above will be sent away, unless they meet one or more of the exemptions listed below:
- Foreign citizens who hold a residence permit in Sweden.
- Foreign citizens who have particularly urgent needs for entering Sweden, and who can also present a negative Covid-19 test no older than 48 hours.
Sweden is also considering exempting fully vaccinated residents of third countries from the continuous entry bans, although no action has been taken yet. The press release notes that the government, without naming a specific governing body or agency, will revisit the issue at a later date.
“The Government is now examining the possibility – taking into account the process at EU level – of exempting fully vaccinated residents of certain third countries from the entry restrictions. The Government intends to return to this issue at a later date,” the press release reads.
Meanwhile, several other Member States such as Italy have also adopted the Council’s recommendations. At the same time, however, Greece has refused to heed the Council’s recommendations, and will not be imposing more travel restrictions on residents of at least the US, Schengen-Visa.com reports.
To read the Swedish Ministry of Justice’s press release, click this link.
