Sweden - Country Information

Film Commissions

Sweden Film Commission
Tel: 8 55 60 61 00 Fax: 8 55 60 61 05
E-mail: info @swedenfilmcommission.com
Website: www.swedenfilmcommission.com
Chairman: Kent Lundgren

Dalarna Film Commission
Tel: 23 26 275 Fax: 23 26 279
E-mail: info@filmidalarna.se
Website: www.filmidalarna.se
Manager: Malin Lagergren

West Sweden Film Commission
Tel: 520 490 900 Fax: 520 490 901
E-mail: info@filmivast.se
Website: www.filmivast.se
CEO & Head of Feature Film Fund: Tomas Eskilsson

Västerbotten Film Commission
Tel: 90 785 46 90 Fax: 90 785 46 88
E-mail: per@filmivasterbotten.com
Website: www.filmivasterbotten.com
Regional Film Co-ordinator: Per Holm

Värmland Film Commission
Tel: 54 14 80 74
E-mail: info@vfc.se
Website: www.vfc.se
Film Commissioner: Ulf Nordstrom

Permits/visas
To work and live in Sweden, citizens of countries not in the EU or EEA need a work and residence permit sticker attached to a passport before entering the country. Applications are available at Swedish Consulates. Applicants must have a valid passport. Some consulates are authorized to issue work permits immediately for specialists, executives or others in key business positions. If one is employed by a foreign company, the employer must submit a letter stating salary for the time of employment. Such permits are also granted to applicants' immediate families. Applications for other workers must be approved by the Swedish Immigration Board (Migrationsverket). Processing time is estimated at two to three months. A work permit is generally granted to cover an acute shortage of specially qualified personnel needed in the Swedish labor market. An applicant is not permitted to enter Sweden until the permit is granted and attached to the passport. The passport is kept at the Consulate General until the application is approved. Work permits are time-limited, but can be extended. Such permits do not entitle the holder to immigrate or acquire Swedish citizenship. If a permit is valid for more than six months, a spouse may obtain a work permit for the same period without regard to the needs of the labor market (source: www.migrationsverket.se).

General Information

Location: Europe
Local Time: From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +2
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 08 GMT +1
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +2
Capital City: Stockholm
Population: 9 million
Area: 449,964 square km, 173,731 square miles.
Language(s): Swedish, English, German
Dialling Code: 46
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112
Directory Enquiries: 118118
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence required. Minimum driving age is 18. As a tourist a British driving licence is permitted
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK 1 = 100 Ore)
Notes: SEK: 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: SEK: 1, 5, 10. Ore: 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0930-1500 Mon-Wed & Fri, 0930-1500/1730 Thur (some banks in larger cities have longer opening hours)
Office: Most offices operate flexible working hours
Shops: 0900-1800 Mon-Fri, 0900-1400 Sat (some shops in larger cities have longer opening hours & are open Sundays)

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 6 Epiphany, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 23 Easter Sunday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, May 1 May Day, May 1 Ascension, May 11 Pentecost Day, Jun 6 National Day, Jun 21 Midsummer Holiday, Nov 1 All Saints Day, 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day

Business/Social Hints: Most executives speak English as their second language. Smoking in many public places and on public transport, is not permitted. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. Very strict laws against drinking and driving apply. The minimum drinking age is 18 years if purchased in bars & restaurants and 20 years if purchased through retail outlets

Tipping: A service charge is usually included in the price. Tips for taxis are around 10%

Health

Reciprocal health: Participant of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC scheme) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment and emergency care.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Tick-borne encephalitis*
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) For a stay up to 3 months by holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain & Switzerland

Passport Validity: Please contact nearest embassy/consulate

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Sweden
2) Nationals of United Kingdom (only those not subject to British immigration control)
3) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay & Venezuela

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country on the same day (except nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo Dem Rep, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia & Sri Lanka, unless they are residents of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom or United States with permission to return at least 3 months after transiting Sweden)

Exit Permits

Special Notes

1) Visitors must hold:
a) Sufficient funds for length of stay
b) Documents required for next destination, except nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden & United Kingdom
2) Member of Schengen Visa Agreement, however we strongly recommend that travellers make enquiries prior to travel with the appropriate embassies of the countries within the agreement which they plan to visit

Climate

Most of Sweden has a continental climate with a fairly large range of temperatures between summer and winter. Rainfall is quite low except on higher ground and it is rather wetter in summer than winter when most rain in the north falls as snow. Winters become colder and longer travelling northwards with many days below freezing. Summer temperatures are surprisingly similar throughout the country as long days in the north help to raise temperatures to the same as those in the relatively warm south

Clothing

Mediumweights for summer, heavyweights for winter with rainwear required all year round

Charts for Stockholm

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) -1 -1 3 8 14 19 22 20 15 9 5 2 Min Temp (C) -5 -5 -4 1 6 11 14 13 9 5 -1 -2 Humidity am (%) 85 83 82 76 66 68 74 81 87 88 89 88 Humidity pm (%) 83 77 68 60 53 55 59 64 69 76 85 86 Rainfall (mm) 43 30 25 31 34 45 61 76 60 48 53 48

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Swedish Travel & Tourism Council
Sweden House, 5 Upper Montagu Street
London, W1H 2AG
tel: +44 20 7870 5603/20 7108 6168
fax: +44 20 7724 5872
e-mail: uk@visitsweden.com
website: www.visitsweden.com

Embassy
Embassy of Sweden
11 Montagu Place
London, W1H 2AL
tel: +44 20 7917 6400/6418 (1400-1500 visas)
fax: +44 20 7917 6475
e-mail: ambassaden.london@foreign.ministry.se
website: www.swedenabroad.com/london
hours: 0900-1230 (Mon-Fri)