Border control
Swedish police is required to control everyone entering or leaving Sweden to and from countries which are not part of the Schengen area. Border controls at external borders are mandatory regardless of citizenship.
Entry and exit regulations differ depending on your citizenship, which country you travel to or from, your purpose and your length of stay.
Information about entry to Sweden for EU/EEA citizens
Information about entry to Sweden for third country nationals
Travelling with children
Att resa till och från Sverige (in Swedish)
Processing of personal data at the border control
The Swedish Police is responsible for carrying out border checks on individuals who cross an external border, i.e. who enter/exit Sweden to/from a country outside of the Schengen area. The relevant legislation for the processing of personal data in relation to border checks is the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Schengen Borders Code, the Swedish Aliens Act and the Criminal Data Act.
When carrying out border checks the traveler’s travel document is scanned and information regarding e.g. nationality, validity of the travel document and facial image is collected. Searches in different databases are carried out depending on the traveler category. A search in the Visa Information System (VIS) is carried out for visa holders and for travelers for whom the EES and Etias Regulations will be applicable, searches in their respective databases will be carried out. The Border Police may access the Swedish Migration Agency's database (CUD) to check the validity of a traveler's Swedish residence permit. Searches in the Schengen Information System (SIS), national register for wanted persons and Interpol database are carried out for all travelers.
After the border check is finished the collected data will be erased. In some cases the data may be retained for up to 8 hours for administrative purposes.
More information about personal data
Control of goods
Swedish Police is responsible for controlling persons crossing a Swedish border. Swedish Customs is responsible for controlling goods being imported or exported across a Swedish border, and their controls are done independently from border controls by Swedish Police.
Swedish Customs can answer questions about their controls
