Bringing goods when travelling
What foodstuffs can you bring into Sweden, how do you register your dog and what applies when you buy alcohol in another country? Different rules apply depending on what you bring with you and the country you are travelling from.
Photo: Mette Ottosson
Rules of other countries
Contact the embassy or competent authority of the country concerned. This page will tell you what rules apply in Sweden.
Security checks at the airport
If you are travelling by air, the Swedish Transport Agency is responsible for airport security checks. Contact them if you have questions about what you are allowed to bring, for example about liquids in hand luggage.
Medicinal products
Responsible authority: Medical Products Agency
When travelling with medicines to Sweden, you must be able to prove that they are yours. If the medicine is subject to a prescription, you can show a prescription, a pharmacy label with your name or a doctor's certificate.
Countries have different rules on what medicines you can bring into the country and how much. If you have questions before your trip, you can contact the country's embassy in Sweden. This applies in particular if you are going to be away for a long time or are bringing medicines classified as narcotics.
Animals
Responsible authority: Swedish Board of Agriculture
If you are travelling with a dog or cat to Sweden from another country, you must notify Swedish Customs. This also applies to a temporary holiday trip abroad. You also need to follow the Swedish Board of Agriculture's rules for importing animals.
If you are travelling to Sweden from
- another EU country, you declare the animal online or at the border
- a non-EU country, you declare the animal at the border.
If you are travelling with an animal from Sweden to another country, you should check what rules apply to bringing animals into that country. Contact the embassy of the country in question or the responsible authority in the country you will be visiting.
Food and drink
Responsible authority: Swedish Board of Agriculture
Foodstuffs
If you are travelling from another EU country to Sweden, you are in principle free to bring food for private use.
If you bring meat or dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables into Sweden from a non-EU country, strict rules apply. There are also limits on the amounts you can bring in.
Buying foodstuffs when travelling abroad
Alcohol
If you are travelling to Sweden from another EU country or from outside the EU, the rules differ, but there are three rules that always apply:
- You must have reached the age of 20.
- You must transport or carry the alcohol yourself.
- The alcohol must be for your or your family's personal use.
You can bring in different amounts of alcohol depending on whether you are shopping in an EU country or a non-EU country.
If you want to bring alcohol in excess of the duty-free allowance when travelling from outside the EU, you must pay customs duties and taxes. You must also notify the customs authorities by choosing the red lane when crossing the border.
Cash and cash equivalents
Responsible authority: Swedish Customs
If you are travelling with cash worth €10 000 or more across the EU border, you must declare it to Swedish Customs. You can make your declaration online or on a form.
Tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing products
Responsible authority: Swedish Tax Agency
You can bring tobacco and other nicotine-containing products into Sweden for personal use within certain limits without paying any fees. The amount you can bring in free of charge depends on the type of product you are bringing in and whether you are travelling to Sweden from an EU or non-EU country.
Be aware that some countries may have their own rules on tobacco and other nicotine-containing products. If you are unsure, contact the country's embassy or go to customs on arrival.
Buying tobacco and other nicotine-containing products when travelling abroad
Weapons and dangerous objects
Responsible authority: Swedish Customs, Swedish Police Authority, Swedish Inspectorate for Strategic Products, Swedish Radiation Safety Authority
You must always notify Swedish Customs when you bring firearms, silencers and ammunition across the Swedish border. You may also need to report that you are bringing dangerous objects and laser pointers.
Dangerous objects include flick knives, switchblades, butterfly knives, brass knuckles, throwing stars, batons, nunchakus, blackjacks, scratching or riveting gloves, spiked clubs and similar.
Bringing weapons and dangerous objects into Sweden requires a special permit or weapons licence.
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