The Vice-Chancellor has reached the decision to allow the Kempe Foundations to make new calls for travel and conference grants again. Learn more from the news item Calls for travel and conference grants coming up.
Travelling and business travels
At Umeå University, extensive restrictiveness must be taken regarding business travel. Online options must always be the primary solution.
Testing prior to business travel
According to the Vice-Chancellor’s decision on 27 April 2021, extensive restrictiveness must be taken regarding business travel, and online options must be the primary solution. This applies until 29 September, what will apply for the period thereafter has not yet been determined. If the assessment is that you as a members of staff still needs to conduct a business trip, and if you are travelling to another country, within or outside of the EU, you may need to show that you do not carry COVID-19 by taking a test and showing a certificate upon entry into the country.
Such testing can be conducted by the occupational health care services Feelgood, which offers PCR testing and antigen testing. Both these tests are designed to show ongoing infection. Costs for testing are not included in the institution-wide agreement. Instead, departments or offices must cover such costs.
PCR testing When testing prior to a business trip requires a PCR test, you must order your test in ample time, at least five working days before travelling since the test is sent to an external laboratory.
Antigen tests An antigen test is a so-called rapid antigen diagnostic test in which you receive your test results within 15–30 minutes. This means that the test can be booked shortly before the business trip and a certificate is issued in conjunction with the testing.
Important considerations Before booking a business travel, you must receive an approval from your manager.
If you are travelling abroad, download the app UD Resklar early in your travel plans to learn what applies for visits to and entry into the country. Also check that the country you wish to travel to is not included in the countries the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to. This to ensure that you are covered by insurance.
If testing is needed, your department or office covers the cost of your testing, but you are responsible for booking your test. Make sure to travel as safe from infection as you can and stay at home if you have symptoms of disease. Please also note that you may need to provide a negative COVID test upon arrival in Sweden or after you have returned.
Important! Read about what else you need to consider under the various headlines on this page.
Restrictiveness applies to international travels as well as domestic travels. Online options must always be the primary solution. Members of staff, students and other travellers are urged to follow the guidelines and recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding domestic and international travels, as well as take onboard any potential local guidelines and restrictions.
Read a summary of what to consider below. The regulations, restrictions and recommendations can change fast, so all travellers are recommended to stay updated with the Swedish authorities.
Leaving Sweden
Negative COVID-19 test for entry into another country
Some countries require incoming travellers to show a negative COVID test result upon entry into the country. And the test results need to be recent. Testing in Sweden is usually only carried out on individuals who show symptoms of disease.
If you are a student travelling home after studies at Umeå University and your home country requests a certificate of a negative COVID test for entry into the country, you should turn to a private care provider who issues travel certificates.
Procedure for taking a test and obtaining a travel certificate: Contact a private healthcare provider who issues travel certificates. At the moment, and to our knowledge, there are two such healthcare providers in Umeå, SVEA Vaccin and Vaccina. Please note, if you do not have a Swedish personal identity number, you must turn to SVEA Vaccin.
Plan your travels well
It is important that you plan your travels well if the test is to be less than 48 or 72 hours old when entering your destination. This means that it is appropriate to take the test at the beginning of the week and then plan travels within three days. Please bear in mind that it takes approximately 48 hours for your test results to arrive. Avoid planning travels on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday as you will find it difficult to show a sufficiently fresh test result since tests are usually not analysed during weekends.
Travel safely
You are obliged to follow the Public Health Agency of Sweden's guidelines when travelling and avoid unnecessary travelling. Read the authority's information: If you are planning to travel
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ advices against travel to certain countries
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) regularly updates its list of countries they advice against travel to. Please stay updated as it affects insurance and how you need to act when entering Sweden again.
There is a temporary ban on non-essential travel to Sweden from all countries except from EU countries and the Nordic countries. The entry ban has been extended a few times but is now valid until 31 August. Certain exceptions apply.
Employees and stipends/scholarship holders (including their family members) are exempt from the entry ban and can travel to Sweden if they can show a valid residence permit spanning over 3 months or more. Entry into Sweden for reasons of studying are also exempt from the ban.
Travellers from non-EEA and EEA countries need to present a negative COVID test upon entry and are recommended self-isolation and testing. Find out more under the headline below.
Visit the following page, but be aware that more recent updates can be available elsewhere:
Get tested and self-isolate after your arrival in Sweden
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises against non-essential travel to a number of countries. If you have visited one of those countries in the past seven days before entering Sweden, you are recommended to get tested for COVID-19 upon entry to Sweden, and on day five following your arrival. Travellers are recommended to self-isolate and avoid close contact with others for seven days.
Information from Umeå University for international arrivals
Umeå University has also compiled information for international arrivals, this could be students or staff, who need to get tested upon arrival and may need to self-isolate. The information explains how to get tested without a Swedish personal identity number.
General information about travelling during COVID-19
How to act if planning to travel
You have a great personal responsibility to prevent the spread of infection when travelling. Do not travel if you have symptoms of COVID-19. During your travel and on your destination, you should limit new close contacts, and meet in smaller groups. You must make plans for how to avoid getting infected and how you can avoid infecting others.
