Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

International Parental Child Abduction

English

Country Information

Sweden

Sweden
Kingdom of Sweden
Exercise increased caution in Sweden due to terrorism.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed

Exercise increased caution in Sweden due to terrorism.

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sweden. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Sweden.

If you decide to travel to Sweden:

  • Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. 
  • Review the Country Security Report for Sweden.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Stockholm

Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31,
SE-115 89 Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone:
+(46) (8) 783-5300
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(46) (8) 783-5300
Fax: +(46) (8) 783-5480
Email: 

General Information

Sweden and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) since June 1, 1989.

For information concerning travel to Sweden, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Sweden.  

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here.

Hague Abduction Convention

The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention.  In this capacity, the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children’s Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including Sweden.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority.

Contact information:

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues
CA/OCS/CI  
SA-17, 9th Floor  
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone:  1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Fax:  202-736-9132
Website

The Swedish Central Authority (SCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.  The SCA performs an administrative role in processing Hague applications.  The SCA receives and reviews the Hague application package to make sure it is complete. It confirms receipt of the application by a faxed letter to the U.S. Central Authority and, if necessary, requests any additional information or documentation.  If the left-behind parent or legal guardian asks the SCA for a negotiated voluntary return, the SCA will contact the taking parent to inform him/her of the application, describe the procedure under the Convention, and ask if he/she wants to reach a voluntary agreement to avoid litigation.

If the location of the taking parent and child is unknown, the SCA will search for the child by any appropriate means, depending on individual case circumstances. In this respect, the SCA may contact other Swedish authorities, such as tax authorities, the Swedish Migration Authority, law enforcement agencies, social welfare agencies and/or schools where the taking parent and child might be located. 

The SCA can be reached at:

Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
SE-103 39
Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-8-405-1000
Telephone: 011-46-8-405-5001 
Fax: 011-46-8-723-1176 
registrator@foreign.ministry.se

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Sweden, the applicant should submit the Hague application package by courier to:  Office of Children's Issues, SA-29, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520-2818.  The Office of Children's Issues will forward the case to the SCA, which will appoint an attorney to file legal proceedings at the Stockholm District Court, which is the initial court to hold proceedings for Hague cases in Sweden.  A professional judge and three lay judges adjudicate Hague cases at this level.

The Stockholm District Court then sets a date for hearing and orders the parties to present any written evidence to the court within a very limited period of time. The court will also request the presence of the taken-parent at the hearing. The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to the SCA, and to subsequently monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes.

There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the United States or Swedish central authorities. Additional costs, which are the responsibility of the applicant, may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.

Return

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained in, Sweden.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand whether the Convention is an available civil remedy and can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Visitation/Access

A person may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in Sweden.  The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Retaining an Attorney

The District Court handles issues concerning custody of children, residence of children, and a parent’s right of access to a child.  Before the court reviews these issues, parents may use mediation with an expert from the municipal social welfare committee, with the aim of reaching an agreement by consensus.  Municipalities are legally liable to offer family counseling in Sweden.  Contact with the Family Advice Service is voluntary, and families will have to take the initiative by contacting them.  Anyone who wishes can contact the Family Advice Service anonymously.

There are also several law firms in Sweden that focus on mediation in custody disputes.

Mediation

The District Court handles issues concerning custody of children, residence of children, and a parent’s right of access to a child. Before the court reviews these issues, parents may use mediation with an expert from the municipal social welfare committee, with the aim of reaching an agreement by consensus. Municipalities are legally liable to offer family counseling in Sweden. Contact with the Family Advice Service is voluntary, and families will have to take the initiative by contacting them. Anyone who wishes can contact the Family Advice Service anonymously.

There are also several law firms in Sweden that focus on mediation in custody disputes.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: October 11, 2018

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Stockholm
Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31,
SE-115 89 Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone
+(46) (8) 783-5300
Emergency
+(46) (8) 783-5300
Fax
+(46) (8) 783-5480

Sweden Map