Pass

Swedes can continue to enter the country with passports or national ID cards. No visa is needed. How the rules will be next year is part of the negotiations between the EU and the UK, but the UK government is already flagging that national ID cards will not be accepted for entry in 2021.

Swedes who have biometric passports can continue to use the automatic locks available at passport control at some of the UK airports.

Ill?

Tourists in the EU can use the European Health Insurance Card to get emergency care. It was unclear for a long time what would happen after the UK left, but according to a new message to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the health insurance card will be valid even in the UK during the transitional period. What happens after the end of the year depends on the agreements that the UK concludes with other countries.

Mobile Surf / Roaming

Within the EU, tourists can surf and call for the same rate as in Sweden. This also applies in the UK during the transitional period. The rules for roaming may change from 2021 depending on the contract negotiations during the year. It is also determined by what individual mobile operators choose to enter into their agreements with customers.

Shop / shop around

During the transitional period the same rules apply to customs duties and VAT. Depending on the trade agreements concluded, it may be more expensive to jump online from the UK and export goods from the country after 2020.

What applies to countries outside the EU, which may also be the case with the UK from 2021, are:

  • Individuals pay double VAT on products purchased online - once in the country from which the product is purchased and once in Sweden.
  • When the value of web-jumped products exceeds SEK 1,600, duty is also paid. The rates of duty depend on which product it is. For clothes, for example, the duty rate is 12%.
  • When you bring goods as travelers from countries outside the EU, other value limits apply. If you are traveling by air or boat, duty and VAT must be paid on goods exceeding SEK 4,300, for train or car passengers, the limit is SEK 3,000.
  • You can bring a smaller amount of alcohol and tobacco from outside the EU. The duty-free limit is 1 liter of spirits (or 2 liters of strong wine), 4 liters of wine, 16 liters of strong beer, 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 g of pipe tobacco)

Study

The rules for university students who started their studies in the UK in the academic year 20/21 are not changed. The UK Government has also announced its intention to apply the same rules even after 2020 through agreements with different countries.

Anyone who starts studying in the UK before January 1, 2021 will continue to be entitled to study support from CSN. After that, CSN will conduct a special examination.

Move to the UK

Swedes who live in the UK must apply for a new residence permit. There are two types: Settled status exists for people who can show that they have lived in the UK continuously for at least five years. Anyone who has lived for a short period of time or wants to move to the country should apply for pre-settled status (which can later change to settled status). Anyone who already has a UK residence permit must apply for a new residence permit.

Drive

No changes after leaving. Swedish driving licenses continue to be valid in the UK.

Sources: British Government, Sweden abroad, Swedish Social Insurance Agency, BBC News, CSN