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Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Copenhagen, Denmark
U.S. Citizens in Sweden
By
12 MINUTE READ
July 14, 2020

Location:  Denmark

(NEW) U.S. Citizens in Sweden:  Effective July 11 the Danish government issued updated border entry guidance and announced that the border region of Skane in Sweden is now considered an “open” region for the purposes of travel to Denmark.  U.S. citizen applicants residing in an open region within Sweden can schedule a passport appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen.  The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen is not accepting CRBA appointments from U.S. citizens resident in Sweden at this time.  CRBA appointments will need to be scheduled with the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm.

The full list of exceptions to the Danish border closure requirements can be found on the Danish government COVID-19 information page.  Contact the Danish National Police hotline number for advice about whether your appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen is permissible under current Danish guidelines.  The hotline has English-speaking operators and is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local and weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local at:  +45 7020 6044.  U.S. citizens in Sweden who require emergency consular services should contact the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm.

Travel Nonstop to Denmark if Entering Under Danish “Sweetheart” Exception:  If you are travelling from the United States to Denmark under one of the Denmark-specific border exceptions that are not part of the broader EU border exceptions (e.g. sweetheart declaration for the partner/boyfriend/girlfriend of a Danish citizen or resident of Denmark), we strongly recommend that you take a nonstop flight from the United States to Denmark.  In some cases, Americans have been refused boarding or denied entry into the Schengen Area when attempting to transit via another European hub en route to Denmark.  Many Schengen Area transit countries are strictly enforcing the EU travel restrictions on non-essential travel from outside the EU.

Commercial Flights between Denmark and the United States Remain Available:  SAS Airlines resumed nonstop flights between Copenhagen to Chicago and New York on June 10.  However, if you have an SAS airline ticket for summer travel to other U.S. destinations, do not assume the flight is guaranteed.  SAS has previously cancelled flights with short notice; check with SAS to see if your flight is confirmed.  From Kastrup Airport there are multiple flights per week on various air carriers to other European hubs from which you can board a U.S.-bound flight.  Flight routes from Kastrup Airport are being added or modified frequently.  Book tickets directly with your airline.  Check with your airline directly to see if your flight is confirmed.

Danish Border Restrictions:  The Danish border closure – imposed on March 14 – remains in place for tourism-related travel from the United States.  There is no definitive date when travelers from the United States will be permitted to enter Denmark for tourism-related travel.  Most residents in the EU, the Schengen Area, and the United Kingdom may enter Denmark for tourism-related travel if they have a lodging reservation in Denmark for six nights or longer.  Detailed information can be found on the Danish government COVID-19 information page (available in English).

A full list of exceptions to the Danish border closure can be found on the Danish government COVID-19 information page (available in English).  Exceptions to the Danish border closures are added frequently, often with little to no notice.  Check the Danish government COVID-19 information page frequently for the most up-to-date information.  Contact the Danish National Police hotline number for advice about whether your purpose of travel is permissible.  The hotline has English speaking operators and is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local and weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local at:  +45 7020 6044.

Overseas Voter Registrations –  Embassy Drop Off Option:  U.S. Citizens can drop off overseas voter registrations, known as Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA), at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Monday-Friday (not on holidays) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Overseas voters should review the Federal Voting Assistance Program website for detailed instructions on how to register to vote overseas and receive an absentee ballot. FPCA registration cards dropped off at the embassy will be mailed to the U.S. through the embassy’s diplomatic pouch mail service and will take approximately four weeks to arrive at the U.S. destination.

Save Time Using the Passport Renewal-by-Mail Option:  Most adults can renew their passport using the mail-in option. Due to the limited number of in-person embassy appointments and the application processing backlog, we ask that you use the mail-in option if you are eligible. This saves you time and leaves available appointment slots for your fellow citizens who require an in-person interview with a consular officer.  Eligibility and step-by-step instruction for the passport renewal-by-mail option can be found on our website:  https://dk.usembassy.gov/passports

U.S. Embassy Copenhagen Open for Limited Citizenship Services:  The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen is open for limited citizenship services:  U.S. passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).  If you are eligible to renew your passport by mail, use this option to avoid wait times for an in-person appointment. Expect delays to receive your new passport or CRBA.  The printing facilities in the U.S., which print the physical passport books and CRBAs for U.S. citizens worldwide, recently reopened with reduced staffing and are working through a backlog.

Notaries and Social Security Services Remain Suspended:  Routine notarial and social security services remain suspended due to COVID-19.  If you need a certified copy of a document for Social Security, consider mailing your documents to us for this service while routine operations remain closed.  Email us at CopenhagenACS@state.gov for more information.

Global Level 4 Health Advisory:  The Department of State released a Global Level 4 Health Advisory on March 19 advising all U.S. citizens who live in the United States to arrange for immediate return, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.  If the Kingdom of Denmark is your normal place of residence and you plan to remain here, avoid travel to other, third locations until the crisis is over.  If you wish to depart Denmark for the United States, you should contact your airline immediately to arrange commercial air travel home.  If your travel has been disrupted due to flight cancellations, please contact your airline immediately to rearrange your booking.

Unsubscribe from STEP:  A temporary change to email messaging was made for the health and safety of all Americans unexpectedly kept abroad during the COVID-19 crisis.  As a result, it is not possible for STEP registrants to opt out of receiving messages at this time.  Once the COVID-19 crisis is over you may unsubscribe from these emails following our regular procedures by going to this website and following the simple instructions to unsubscribe:  https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/Common/Subscribe.aspx.

Actions to Take:

  • Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
  • Call the Danish COVID-19 hotline if you are in Denmark and experiencing flu-like symptoms:  +45 70 20 02 33.
  • For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
  • Expect additional travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.
  • Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
  • Check with your airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
  • Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Denmark.
  • Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.

Assistance:

*During this COVID-19 crisis U.S. Embassy Copenhagen will send a weekly alert each Tuesday to keep U.S. citizens informed.

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