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Customs regulations in Sweden

What you can bring when entering the country

Many travellers ask themselves before their trip: What am I allowed to bring into Sweden? This question often comes up especially when travelling by car or ferry and planning a self-catering holiday in a Swedish holiday home.

Since Sweden is part of the European Union, the rules for travellers from other EU countries are relatively straightforward. In general, you can bring goods across the border as long as they are intended for personal use. However, there are still some important guidelines, especially regarding alcohol, tobacco, food and cash.

You can always find the latest official regulations on the website of the Swedish customs authority Tullverket.

Bringing alcohol into Sweden

In Sweden, alcohol stronger than 3.5% is mainly sold in the government-owned stores called Systembolaget.

Because alcohol is relatively expensive in Sweden, many travellers bring wine, beer or spirits from their home country. Within the EU this is allowed, provided the alcohol is for personal consumption only.

The following quantities are commonly used as guidelines:

Spirits (over 22%) – around 10 litres
Fortified wine (15%–22%) – around 20 litres
Wine (3.5%–15%) – around 90 litres
Beer (over 3.5%) – around 110 litres

These amounts are not strict limits but serve as a reference to determine whether the alcohol is intended for personal use.

If you are travelling from outside the EU, stricter limits apply.

Bringing tobacco into Sweden

Tobacco products may also be brought into Sweden from other EU countries for personal use. You must be at least 18 years old.

Typical guideline quantities include:

800 cigarettes
400 cigarillos
100 cigars
1 kg of tobacco

Again, these are reference amounts, used by customs authorities to determine whether the products are intended for private use.

Bringing food into Sweden

For travellers coming from EU countries, bringing food into Sweden is usually not a problem. You can generally bring food for personal consumption, which is particularly convenient if you are staying in a holiday home and planning to cook for yourself.

Many travellers bring along:

coffee or favourite products from home
snacks and drinks for the journey
spices or special ingredients

When travelling from non-EU countries, stricter rules apply, especially for animal-based products such as meat or dairy.

Medication when travelling to Sweden

A small travel first-aid kit is usually not a problem when entering Sweden. Typical items include:

painkillers
allergy medication
plasters and basic medical supplies

If you are carrying prescription medication or stronger drugs, it is recommended to bring a medical certificate or prescription. This is especially important for medications that fall under narcotics regulations.

Conclusion

For travellers from EU countries, customs regulations in Sweden are generally straightforward. Alcohol, food and tobacco can usually be brought into the country without problems as long as they are for personal use.

If you are unsure about the latest rules, it is always a good idea to check the official information provided by the Swedish customs authority Tullverket before your trip.

Many travellers combine their journey with a grocery stop before arriving at their holiday home – making it easy to start relaxing immediately once you reach Sweden’s beautiful nature.