Sailing pleasure boats across Sweden’s border

If you sail into Sweden from a country outside the EU, you can temporarily have your boat in Sweden for 18 months without paying any charges.

"Pleasure boat" is defined as follows:

• For private use only (i.e., not for commercial use);
• Sails on “its own keel”;
• Only has supplies, food and personal belongings for/of the people aboard.

When are you not required to notify Swedish Customs?

You do not need to give notification to Swedish Customs when using your pleasure boat to travel as a tourist to Sweden from a non-EU country if:

• You reside outside of the EU;
• The boat remains in Sweden or the EU for a maximum of 18 months from when you entered the EU;
• You intend to use the boat while it is in Sweden.

You are not required to return to your country of origin after 18 months; however, the boat must leave the EU.

When are you required to notify Swedish Customs?

You are required to give notification to Swedish Customs when using your pleasure boat to travel as a tourist to Sweden from a non-EU country if:

• You exceed the 18 month time limit;
• You reside in Sweden or the EU and you are travelling as a tourist with a boat that is registered outside of the EU;
• You intend to leave the boat in Sweden for winter storage.
  

If you leave the boat in Sweden for winter storage without the intention of using the boat, this may be considered to constitute inward processing (hull cleaning, engine repairs etc.), which requires a special authorisation.

You can give notification of the goods at one of our customs clearance offices.

All customs clearance offices in Sweden

Some goods should be declared to Swedish Customs

You may have to give notification to Swedish Customs if you are carrying certain goods when you sail a pleasure boat across Sweden’s border. The rules vary depending on where you are coming from and what goods you are carrying on the boat.

Read about goods to which special rules apply.

All customs clearance offices in Sweden

If the office is closed, you can submit your notification (at any time of day) to Swedish Customs’ intelligence and communications centre:

Telephone: +46 8 405 05 70
Fax: +46 8 654 06 11
Email: tuk@tullverket.se

Goods worth more than SEK 3,500

If you are travelling to Sweden from a country outside the EU and are bringing in goods (purchased while travelling abroad) to a value of more than SEK 3,500, you have to pay customs duty, VAT and any other taxes on the goods. The same applies to goods for commercial use.

Read more about various charges.

The powers of Swedish Customs and the Swedish Coast Guard

Swedish Customs and the Swedish Coast Guard have a shared responsibility to monitor naval traffic. Both authorities are empowered to conduct customs inspections onboard or in port. In a customs inspection, all the people aboard must submit any details and present any documents required by the officers. The commander of a pleasure boat is under an obligation to assist with the inspection.