15.1 General information

For embassies and career consulates, exemption from customs duties for imports from non-EU/EEA countries is granted in accordance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations. The exemption covers:

• articles for the official use of a mission or a career consular post, and
• articles for the personal use of a diplomatic agent or a career consular officer who is not a Swedish national or a permanent resident of Sweden, and members of their family forming part of their household

Administrative and technical staff and consular employees (who are not Swedish nationals and not permanent residents of Sweden), and family members forming part of their household, enjoy exemption from customs duties only on articles for personal use imported at the time of their first installation (for a period of twelve months).

A consular post headed by an honorary consul enjoys exemption from customs duties only for the following articles, provided that they are for the official use of the consular post: coats-of-arms, flags, signboards, seals and stamps, books, official printed material, office furniture, office equipment and similar articles supplied by or at the instance of the sending State.

Any other use of goods imported duty-free, such as sales, would be in contravention of Swedish law and the Vienna Conventions. All tax-free purchases have to be reasonable in quantity. 

Duty-free imports for international organisations and, where applicable, their staff are regulated by the host-country agreement or statute in force in relation to each particular organisation. 

Goods for embassies, consulates and international organisations - Swedish Customs - external website,