The ETIAS Sweden visa for U.S. citizens
From 2023, U.S. citizens will have to present an approved ETIAS permit upon entry in Sweden. It will be possible to apply for and obtain the ETIAS permit online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your permit via e-mail when the application is approved. The ETIAS permit will allow U.S. citizens to enter Sweden for tourism, work, transit, or for medical reasons, provided that the duration of the trip is no more than 90 days, and the permit will be valid for multiple entries made by air, sea, or land. Also, people between 18 and 70 years of age will be able to apply for ETIAS free of charge.
What is ETIAS Sweden for Americans?
ETIAS will come into force in 2023, as part of a European Commission program aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people entering Schengen Area. This program was already approved in 2016, following the terrorist attacks that affected some European countries. During the last years, the creation of the ETIAS visa system has been made possible by the implementation and expansion of data sharing between EU member countries, that allows to connect the ETIAS applications with already existing databases from European authorities.
How does ETIAS Sweden permit work for U.S. citizens
Starting from 2023 American citizens must be in possession of an ETIAS visa before travelling to Sweden. But if the trip has other reasons than those provided for the ETIAS permit, or a duration longer than 90 days, they will have to obtain a Schengen permit, at the embassy or consulate of Sweden, respecting timing and requirements for the visa they are applying for. Once issued, ETIAS visa has a duration of 3 years, and can be used for multiple entries in Sweden and other Member countries of Schengen Area, as long as each trip has a duration of less than 90 days. In order to get your approved ETIAS in time for the trip, it is recommended to apply for the visa at least 4 days before the departure. If the ETIAS visa is denied, you can still apply for a Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Sweden or present an appeal to the country that denied ETIAS.
ETIAS destination countries for U.S. citizens
Starting from 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for U.S. citizens to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the time being, Americans are not required to have ETIAS to enter Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these countries are not Schengen Area members yet. However, these countries may enter the Schengen Area in the future, so please keep updated with the requirements.
ETIAS visa requirements for American citizens and how to apply
To apply for ETIAS, you have to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you are not entitled to an U.S. passport, you will have to apply for a Schengen permit. The ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all the necessary information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once the application is completed, all citizens between 18 and 70 years old will also be required to pay a fee of 7 euros, using a credit or debit card. Usually, most ETIAS are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and the approved visa will be sent via e-mail as a PDF file. Furthermore, you will not need to print the visa, because your data will already be in the possession of the European Schengen authorities, and those data will be linked to the passport data provided during the application. Anyway, to avoid delays, it is recommended to apply for ETIAS at least 4 days in advance, to make sure that the permit is approved and to have the time to provide any additional documents should they be required. In the case where an ETIAS visa is denied, you can apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Sweden. It is highly recommended to read and carefully check all the requirements for the ETIAS permit before applying, to avoid any mistakes in the application that could result in delays in the visa approval.
How much does ETIAS Sweden cost for American citizens
At the end of the application process, all Americans between 18 and 70 years old have to pay a fee of 7 euros, using a credit or debit card. Citizens under 18 and over 70 years of age are entitled to apply for ETIAS free of charge.
About Sweden
Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian country in northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
It shares maritime borders with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Germany and Denmark.
Sweden is bordered by the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia, the Kattegat, Skagerrak, and Öresund straits. It shares a land border with Norway and Finland. The Torne River forms much of Sweden’s border with Finland. A portion of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle.
Sweden has an area of 450,295 sq. km and a population of 10.2 million people. In America, according to a 2006 U.S.Census estimate, there are more than 4.4 million people who class themselves as Swedish Americans. The major language is Swedish. English is also widely spoken. The major religion is Christianity, and the official currency is the krona (SEK).
The capital and largest city is Stockholm. Famous not just for its style and recognizable kind of chic, Stockholm has 14 islands and plenty to satisfy those in search of historical treasures, art, and culture.
Swedish people have a constitutional right of access to public and private land for recreation. Providing nature is neither disturbed or destroyed, and no one’s privacy is infringed upon, Swedes are free to roam the countryside. This right also extends to the picking of mushrooms, berries, and wildflowers, providing they are not endangered.
Sweden at a glance
Capital: Stockholm
Timezone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Languages: Swedish
Area: 449,964 KM2
Currency: Krona (SEK)
Population: 9,555,893
Calling Code: +46
Travel in Sweden
Sweden is a greatly forested country and home to thousands of lakes. There are huge expanses of water between Gothenburg and Stockholm.
The Skanderna Mountain range is on the border with Norway, and in the far north, the bleak but beautiful Arctic tundra is home to the Northern Lights.
The breathtaking panoramas of the Stora Sjöfallet / Stuor Muorkke National Park, part of the UNESCO listed Laponian region is reason enough to journey to Sweden, but many tourists combine it with a trip to the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the jagged Baltic coastline.
If visiting the capital city of Stockholm, a short boat ride from the city center will take you to Drottningholm Palace where the Palace Theatre Opera House performs productions in period costume using authentic instruments.
There is a short ferry ride to Djurgården Island area from Stockholm, for the world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen, which not only houses old buildings and farms, but also a zoo. The zoo hosts both farm animals and typical Nordic animals like brown bears, wolves, and lynx.
Next, to the ferry port, Grona Lund fairground has many traditional funfair rides, including a rollercoaster, some with views over the Stockholm Islands.
The US and Sweden
Sweden and the U.S. have a strong bilateral friendship, based on shared values and mutual interests.
Sweden is a respected moral leader in international affairs. Sweden is highly dependent on its export market; the Swedish government has been expanding its export base, trying to grow in Asia, South America and the United States.
The U.S. is Sweden’s 4th largest export market. Sweden is the 15th largest investor in the U.S and one of the largest investors measured on a per capita basis. Sweden has become more competitive as a choice for foreign and U.S. companies wanting to establish a presence in the Nordic region.
The U.S. and Sweden are both members of the following groups:
- The United Nations
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
- The Arctic Council
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization
Sweden is an observer to the Organization of American States.
There are non stop flights from the U.S. to Stockholm, a flight from New York to Stockholm generally takes less than 8 hours. In Sweden punctuality is expected, business people dress smartly, although the rules in the more creative industries are more relaxed.
English is well spoken in most situations.
FAQ about ETIAS Sweden visa
List of US diplomatic offices in Sweden
The Embassy of USA in Stockholm, Sweden
Address: Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31 SE-115 89 Stockholm
Phone: 08-783 53 00
Fax: 08-661 19 64
Facts: David E. Lindwall – Ambassador
The Embassy of Sweden in Washington, USA
Address: 2900 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20007
Phone: +1 202 467 2600
Fax: +1 202 467 2699
Email: ambassaden.washington@gov.se
Consulate of Sweden in New York, USA
Address: One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza 885 Second Avenue, 40th floor New York, NY 10017
Phone: +1 212 583 2560
Fax: +1 212 583 2585
Email: generalkonsulat.new-york@gov.se
Consulate of Sweden in San Francisco, USA
Address: 505 Sansome Street, Suite 1010 San Francisco, CA 94111 USA
Phone: +1 415 788-2631
Email: sf@consulateofsweden.org