Danish Residents Studying in Sweden Unable to Attend Classes Due to Entry Ban

Students of Swedish universities, who are residents of Denmark, are currently unable to enter Sweden due to the travel ban between the two countries.

According to the rector of Art Academy Malmö, Maj Hasager, there was a lack of clear communication about the rules, which has left many of her students affected after police decided to tighten the internal guidelines, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

She told the Local that students have not been exempt since December 22 and that it was up to the police officers to take a decision at the border, adding that this measure did not enter into force until February 12 when the border restrictions were tightened.

“Until then, it was possible for most students to cross the border on a daily basis,” she said.

She stressed that she would like students to be covered by the same exceptions as individuals who commute for work. The latter are eligible to enter Sweden if they show a negative COVID-19 test.

Through a university statement, Hasager notified students that after speaking with the police authorities, she has understood that the border to Sweden is closed for students from Denmark, UK, and Norway, adding that stricter reading of exemptions has been implemented.

“This means that until March 31, 2021, those of you are not residing in Sweden are most likely unable to enter Sweden,” she explained.

Whereas, a press spokesperson for regional police in southern Sweden, Ewa-Gun Westford, also told the Local that students were not excluded from the entry restrictions which has been a matter since December.

She noted that the law had not been changed, but the guidelines did, and it is up to every individual police officer to make the judgment at the border.

Vala T Foltyn, who is one of Hasager’s students pursuing studies in Fine Arts and commutes between Denmark and Sweden was not allowed to pass the border recently despite that she possessed a signed letter from the university confirming she is a full-time student needing to travel to her studio in order to complete her studies.

By possessing this type of letter and a negative COVID-19 test, individuals were earlier eligible to pass.

“But last week, the border police became very strict, and I spent two hours on the platform waiting for their decision,” she said.

The police said that Foltyn’s reason for traveling did not exempt her from the travel ban, claiming that she did not show the right test which meets the Swedish Public Health Agency’s criteria, so she was forced to return to Copenhagen.

The ban on travel from Denmark was initially introduced from December 21 until January 21. It was then extended until March 21, 2021.