Entering Sweden on a US passport: the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS

Sweden is part of the Schengen area, so the rules at Stockholm Arlanda or Gothenburg Landvetter are the shared European ones, applied by the Swedish border police. US citizens do not need a visa for a short visit, but they still have to meet entry conditions, and their entries are now recorded digitally. This guide covers the 90/180-day rule, what the border police check, the Entry/Exit System (EES), the status of ETIAS and what to do if you want to stay longer.

Do Americans need a visa?

The Government of Sweden publishes the list of countries whose citizens must have a visa to enter Sweden and the Schengen area. The United States is not on it. According to the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), people from a country whose citizens do not need an entry visa can visit Sweden without applying for a Schengen visa.

The 90/180-day rule

A Schengen stay is limited to 90 days in any 180-day period. The European Union's EES guidance confirms this period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the system, so days in France, Germany or Denmark count against the same allowance as days in Sweden.

### How to count

On any day of your stay, look back over the previous 180 days and count the days you spent in the Schengen area. If the total reaches 90, you must leave. A long trip early in the period can limit a later one.

### When you need more than 90 days

Migrationsverket states that if you want to visit Sweden for a total of 90 days or more, you must apply for a visitor's residence permit. That applies whether you are already in Sweden visa-free and want to extend, or are planning ahead. If you will stay less than 90 days, you should not apply for a residence permit.

What the border police check

Even without a visa, Migrationsverket explains that travellers from outside Schengen must meet several requirements, checked by the border police before entry:

• a passport valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area;
• a return ticket with a return journey within 90 days;
• a written invitation from the person you will stay with, or a booking confirmation for a hotel;
• enough money: Sweden requires SEK 700 for each day of your visit. The amount can be lower in some cases, for example for younger children, if meals and accommodation are paid in advance or if you stay with relatives or friends.

Migrationsverket also recommends individual medical travel insurance covering emergency care, urgent hospital treatment and medical transport home, for at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.

The border police cannot give an advance decision. Entry is decided at the border.

The Entry/Exit System

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the EU's automated system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay each time they cross the external borders of the countries using it. It applies to travellers who need a visa and to those who do not, so it applies to Americans.

### What it records

At the border you provide:

• the data in your travel document, such as name and date of birth;
• a facial image and fingerprints.

Your entries, exits and any refusals of entry are registered electronically. The EES gradually replaces passport stamps.

### Refusing biometrics

The EU states that if you refuse to provide biometric data, you will be denied entry.

### How long data is kept

Records of entries, exits and refusals are kept for three years from the date they were created.

### Who is exempt

The EES does not apply to holders of residence permits and long-stay visas. Once you hold a Swedish residence permit, you are outside the system. It also excludes some family members of EU citizens who hold residence cards.

ETIAS

ETIAS is the planned travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries, Sweden among them. The official EU site states that ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications are being collected. The EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch. Treat any site selling an ETIAS today with caution, and use the official EU site when it opens.

Coming to live, not visit

The visa-free 90 days are for visits. If you plan to work, study or live with family in Sweden, you need a residence permit, and for most routes the first application must be made from outside Sweden before you travel. Migrationsverket advises against applying for a visitor's residence permit if you already have another residence permit application pending, because the pending application might be rejected.

Residence permit holders are exempt from the EES, and once registered in Sweden you deal with Skatteverket and other agencies as a resident rather than a visitor.

The visitor's residence permit

To be granted a visitor's residence permit, Migrationsverket lists these requirements:

• a passport valid for at least three months after the end of the visit;
• a stay that is only for visiting the country;
• the means to support yourself for the whole stay;
• medical travel insurance for the entire planned stay.

The permit does not give you the right to work.

### Who can get one, and for how long

The permitted length depends on the reason for the visit:

• Close relatives (sibling, child or grandchild) of someone in Sweden can be granted a permit limited to a total of six months, longer with special grounds.
• Parents no longer able to work, such as pensioners, visiting a child in Sweden can be granted a permit for a total of one year.
• Visits to a friend or partner are granted only in exceptional cases, for no more than six months.

### What to submit

You must show at least SEK 700 per day of the visit, with a bank statement, pay slip or employment certificate, or show that the person in Sweden supporting you has the money. Include a copy of your insurance policy. Migrationsverket recommends cover of at least EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen countries. The person you visit sends a copy of their ID card and, if you apply from outside Sweden, an invitation on form 249011. A guarantor who supports you financially completes form 255011. Documents should be in Swedish or English, with certified translations. If you apply from outside Sweden, book an appointment at an embassy or consulate-general that handles migration cases.

Common questions

Do US citizens need a visa for Sweden? No. The US is not on Sweden's list of countries whose citizens need a visa, so Americans can visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Is ETIAS required for Sweden now? No. The official EU site states ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected.

How much money must I show at the border? Migrationsverket says Sweden requires SEK 700 for each day of your visit, with lower amounts in some cases.

What if I want to stay longer than 90 days as a visitor? Apply to Migrationsverket for a visitor's residence permit.