Chinese citizens who are going to Sweden for sightseeing, business visits, meetings, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting should apply for an entry visa in advance. The visa allows foreigners to visit Sweden or other Schengen countries for a short-term visit of 90 days.

Applying for a Swedish Schengen visa for less than 90 days: For the first application, you can go through the official visa acceptance agency designated by the Swedish Embassy in China, follow the website prompts, complete the online form, and go to the designated location to submit the materials and collect fingerprints; if you have collected fingerprints for a visa to Sweden within five years, you do not need to go to the site when applying for a Swedish visa again, and you can submit the materials through an agent.

Sweden uses Central European Time (CET), which is 7 hours behind Beijing time (6 hours behind in summer time).

The main units of currency in Sweden are the krona and the öre. The krona is divided into 100 öre, but all öre coins have been withdrawn from circulation since October 2010. Goods can still be priced in öre, but cash transactions are rounded up to the nearest krona.

Each tax refund form must reach a minimum consumption amount of 125.01 euros to be refunded, which is equivalent to about 880 yuan. For the purchase of goods with a VAT rate of 21% and 6%, the consumption amount under each VAT rate must exceed 25 euros to be refunded. VAT tax rate: 21% for general goods, 6% for food and books. The tax refund form must be stamped by the customs within three months from the date of issuance. The Belgian customs stamp or the customs stamp of any EU country can make the tax refund form effective.

Most of Sweden has a temperate continental climate, and the southernmost part has a temperate oceanic climate. Affected by the North Atlantic warm current, the average temperature in January is -16 degrees Celsius in the north and -0.7 degrees Celsius in the south, and in July it is 14.2 degrees Celsius in the north and 17.2 degrees Celsius in the south.

The voltage in Sweden is 220 volts, 50 Hz, and the plug type is a German standard two-pin round connector. Chinese citizens who intend to use Chinese electrical appliances in Sweden are requested to bring conversion plugs.

The overall price level in Sweden is relatively high. The country only produces a small amount of vegetables such as potatoes, oats and root vegetables. The main fruits and vegetables are imported and expensive. The main handicrafts include crystal, Dala horse, smokeless candles, silverware, glass products, etc.

Sweden is a high-tax and high-welfare country, with an average personal income tax of between 30% and 33%. In addition to the regular price of the goods, the relevant taxes and fees are listed separately on the shopping receipt. The banking and financial industry is well developed, and credit cards and online electronic transfers are very popular. The main banks include Swedbank, Handelsbanken, NordeaBank, etc. Most stores accept bank card consumption and cash transactions at the same time.

The exchange rate between Swedish kronor and RMB is: 100 kronor is approximately RMB 68.05 (data from November 2023). For real-time foreign exchange rates, please refer to the website of Bank of China.

Like other Scandinavian countries, Sweden has a simpler diet. Fish, meat, and potatoes are the most common foods on the table, and spicy food is rarely used. Famous delicacies include Swedish meatballs (köttbullar), pancakes (plättar), lye-pickled fish (lutfisk), fermented herring (surströmming), etc. During Christmas, Swedes drink a special drink called Julmust. In addition, Sweden implements a national ban on alcohol (for high-concentration alcohol), and a certificate is required to purchase alcohol.

Swedish cuisine has gradually become well-known as IKEA furniture stores have set up Swedish restaurants in various parts of the world, just like their local branches in Sweden.

Sweden has a total of 216,000 kilometers of roads and 12,800 kilometers of railways. Swebus is Sweden's main long-distance passenger transport operator, and the National Railway Administration (SJ) is Sweden's largest railway operator. Sweden's roads are in good condition. Stockholm and Gothenburg impose urban congestion taxes in different time periods, and some cities impose bridge tolls. There are railways and long-distance buses connecting cities, and it is convenient to rent a car in each city, but the cost is relatively high.

The driving direction of vehicles in Sweden is the same as that in my country, with left-hand drive and right-hand drive. Before self-driving, you should understand the local traffic rules in detail and strictly abide by them, arrange your itinerary reasonably, and avoid driving while tired or drunk. Sweden has a lot of snow in winter and insufficient lighting at night. Please be sure to use winter tires as required, use lights reasonably, and drive carefully. The following conditions must be met to use a non-EU driver's license in Sweden: the driver's license must be authentic, legal, valid, and has not been replaced with a Swedish driver's license; the license holder has not been registered in the Swedish population for less than one year and has no record of having his or her Swedish driver's license confiscated or revoked; a driver's license that is not in English, German or French must be used together with a notarized translation into English, German, French, Swedish, Danish or Norwegian; a driver's license without a photo must be used together with a photo identification document.

Tipping (called "dricks" by the Swedes) is not a common practice in Sweden, but it can be used to reward waiters for good service. Customers usually leave small amounts of change on the table before leaving or as change when paying the bill. This is more common in restaurants and taxis, but less common in barbershops. Tips are taxed in Sweden, but tips in cash are often concealed when filing taxes. Since 2010, credit card payments have become popular in Sweden, and tax authorities have begun to monitor tips paid by credit card.

The international telephone code for Sweden is 0046. Mobile phone signals and wireless network coverage are high, and the Internet is also very popular. Chinese GSM network mobile phones can be used directly after global roaming is enabled, and local communication operators Telia, Tele2 and Telenor mobile phone cards can also be replaced.

When taking international flights, please refer to the specific regulations of each airline for the baggage check-in policy. Usually, economy class passengers are allowed to check in one piece of luggage weighing 23 kg for free.

Sweden's state religion is Lutheranism, and 90% of the country's citizens believe in the state religion. The king is the highest head of the church and has the right to appoint archbishops and bishops from a list of three candidates recommended by the religious conference. The law stipulates that non-state religious citizens cannot serve as prime ministers. Every Easter and Christmas, most believers go to church to pray.

For group trips, the tour leader is responsible for all air tickets and passports, so the passport and air tickets will not be delivered to you before departure.

Sweden's national emergency number (ambulance, fire, police): 112.

Sweden's national non-emergency number: 11414

Dial the emergency number from a mobile phone outside Sweden (non-Sweden): 0046-771141400

Sweden health hotline: 1177

Swedish Police Headquarters: 0046-8-4019000.

Air China Stockholm Sales Department: 0046-8-216146,

Stockholm Arlanda Airport Office: 0046-(0)10-1091000

The main airports in Sweden are Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg and Sturup Airport in Malmö. Air China operates direct flights from Beijing to Stockholm, with flight numbers CA911/CA912, taking off and landing at Arlanda Airport. Chinese citizens can take the airport bus or express train to and from the airport; they can also take a taxi. The one-way taxi fare from Arlanda Airport to downtown Slovenia is about 750 Swedish kronor. There are often illegal taxis that charge 2,000-3,000 kronor to foreign tourists, so tourists need to be on guard.

Sweden implements a universal health insurance system, and citizens of EU and EEA countries enjoy national treatment. Chinese citizens with residency in Sweden can enjoy local preferential medical expenses, but ordinary travelers need to bear all medical expenses themselves. When issuing entry visas, Schengen countries have required travelers to purchase travel medical insurance that covers all possible expenses for returning home for medical reasons, emergency medical treatment, emergency hospitalization or death. Please be sure to purchase the corresponding insurance as required to avoid facing high medical expenses in case of an accident.

Ambulance phone: 112.

Health hotline: 1177 (Chinese mobile phones, please dial +46771117700).

The main hospitals in the Stockholm area are: Karolinska Medical College Hospital, phone: 0046-8-51770000; Danderyd Hospital, phone: 0046-8-12355000. The main hospitals in the Gothenburg area are: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, phone: 0046-31-3421000.

Stockholm: As the capital city among the top ten cities in Sweden, it has developed rapidly in all aspects. Not only does it have diverse architecture, but it also has a very rich cultural heritage. Therefore, it is also known as the "Venice of the North". At the same time, it is also the city where many important dinners and awards are announced every year.

Uppsala: 

Currently it is the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Sweden. It is located in the north of the capital. The urban environment and architectural design are quite beautiful and harmonious. It is also in the leading position in the country in terms of education. The developed transportation makes the whole country very vibrant, so it has also become a must-go place for leisure for residents of nearby cities in the country.

Jönköping:

 Located in the hinterland of southern Sweden, it has developed rapidly in terms of economy and culture. Its well-developed transportation structure has made it a very important transportation hub, and therefore a very important material turnover base for the whole of Sweden. It also has the best business school in the country in terms of educational institutions.

Kalmar: 

This industrial city enjoys a high reputation in the global glass industry. The city's industrial structure has been improved through continuous development and innovation. At the same time, due to its long history, Kalmar has become a symbol of the ancient military alliance, so the development of the tourism industry is extremely rapid.

Malmö: 

This city in southern Sweden is a very important trading place. The superior resources in the city have been fully and well developed. At the same time, the rich cultural heritage also makes it one of Sweden's most famous tourist cities in the world.

Kiruna:

 It is a very important port city in northern Sweden with abundant natural resources. The crisscrossing transportation routes also give it an extremely important position in Sweden's transportation field. It is also quite beautiful in terms of cultural and architectural preservation, and its unique artistic atmosphere has promoted the better development of the city.

Helsingborg: 

A relatively developed coastal city in Sweden, with a perfect industrial structure and a high market share in many economic fields in Sweden, it is also a very important seaport city. The main tourist attraction in the city is its tower ruins with a unique flavor.

Gothenburg:

Known as the second largest city in Sweden, it is one of the famous tourist cities in the world. It is also far ahead in the development of seaports. It is also developing rapidly in industry. In terms of cultural development, this city has also become a typical city in Sweden that is worthy of learning.

Some Swedish holidays are derived from religious festivals, which were introduced from foreign countries by German merchants or Protestants. There are also some local festivals that are closely related to seasonal changes. The main festivals include: Easter, which is the first Sunday after the full moon of the spring equinox every year, to celebrate the Christian festival of Jesus' resurrection; Walpurgis Night on April 30, celebrating the arrival of spring through bonfire parties; National Day on June 6, when members of the Swedish royal family receive blessings from the people; Midsummer around June 24, the longest day of the year, to celebrate the arrival of summer; Advent on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, when every household will hang colorful lights and Christmas stars; Lucia Day on December 13, when people pray for light. As a messenger of light, Lucia brings hope to people in the dark and cold winter of Sweden; Christmas on December 25; New Year's Eve on December 31.

Sweden has strict control over alcohol. Alcohol with an alcohol content of more than 4 degrees must be purchased in specialty stores. Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public places, airports, public transportation facilities, shops, restaurants, etc. in Sweden, and some hotels have smoking rooms.

Swedes are relatively introverted and quiet, dress neatly, and like to do sports such as sailing, horseback riding, ice hockey, skiing, running, etc.

The Swedish government designates the Swedish Church to be responsible for funeral affairs, and citizens are required to pay funeral taxes. Believers of different religions can handle funerals in their own way. Catholics and Jews have their own special cemeteries, and other religions have special areas in cemeteries.