Visa and travel preparation
Application for visa
Citizens outside of the EU need to apply for a visa when traveling to Sweden. The visa is a permit to enter Sweden and stay for a maximum of 90 days. Visa regulations differ depending on the country of origin or if another Schengen country has already issued a visa or valid residence permit. Read more about visa applications here on Migrationsverket’s website.
Citizens of certain countries require a visa before entering Sweden. Please see link under Related material. Visa applications are often applied for at Swedish embassies or consulate-general. In countries where Sweden does not have representation, there are other solutions. Read more here about how to apply for a visa.
Medical travel insurance
The patient must provide International Patient Office at Karolinska with a copy of its European Health Insurance Card or travel insurance/visa before the Health Care Services will be scheduled and initiated, i.a. in order to ensure coverage of costs for medical care not encompassed by the Health Care Services, such as emergency care etc.
How to get to our hospital sites
Karolinska University Hospital's testing units, clinics, departments and Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital are located in several places in Stockholm. Please read the invitation carefully to make sure you go to the right place.
The hospital areas in both Huddinge and Solna are large. Therefore, please allow plenty of time when you visit us – both if you travel by public transport or if you need to park if you come by car.
Karolinska in Solna
Public transport: The metro from the city center (T-Centralen) to S:t Eriksplan takes about five minutes. Then you either walk from S:t Eriksplan to the hospital for about 10-15 minutes or take bus number 3, 6 or 77 to the hospital site (the stop is "Karolinska sjukhuset Eugeniavägen").
Plan the trip with public transport (from wherever your staying) at sl.se.
Taxi: The three largest taxi companies in Stockholm are Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir, and Sverigetaxi. They can all be booked in advance as well as on the go.
Karolinska in Huddinge
Public transport: The commuter train from the city center (T-Centralen) to Karolinska Huddinge takes about 20 minutes. Take train number 40 towards Södertälje centrum and get off at Flemmingsberg.
Plan the trip with public transport (from wherever you are staying) at sl.se.
Taxi: The three largest taxi companies in Stockholm are Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir, and Sverigetaxi. They can all be booked in advance as well as on the go.
From the Stockholm Arlanda airport
Bus: Airport coaches take approximately 45 minutes from the airport to the city center.
Fast train: Arlanda Express takes about 18 minutes from the airport to the city center.
Taxi: there are various taxi companies going from the airport to the city center. Read more about taxis and fees from Stockholm Arlanda Airport here.
Packing list
It might be hard to focus on what to pack prior to a medical trip. Below is a list of things that might be useful to bring.
- Comfortable and loose clothes, including shoes and slippers.
- Glasses and other personal items.
- Personal hygiene products.
- Books, laptop, reading tablet, or similar.
- Chargers for phone and other electronic devices.
- Sleep aids, such as the favorite pillow, earplugs and blinds.
- Warm winter jacket and hat if it is winter in Sweden.