Sweden

Declarations:

“Recalling inter alia resolution 59/38, adopted by the General Assembly on 16 December 2004, taking into account inter alia the statement of the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee introducing the report of the Ad Hoc Committee to the General Assembly, as well as the report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Sweden hereby declares its understanding that the Convention does not apply to military
activities, including the activities of armed forces during an armed conflict, as those terms are understood under international humanitarian law, and activities undertaken by military forces of a State in the exercise of their official functions.
Sweden also declares its understanding that the express mention of heads of State in article 3 should not be read as suggesting that the immunity ratione personae which other State officials might enjoy under international law is affected by the Convention.
Sweden furthermore declares its understanding that the Convention is without prejudice to any future international legal development concerning the protection of human rights.”

Upon signature:

Declaration:

“Reference is made to earlier statements submitted by the EU in connection with the Working group’s ad-referendum adoption of the Optional Protocol on 4 February 2000 and the national statement submitted by Sweden at the same occasion as well as the Swedish statement submitted in connection with the adoption of the Protocol by the General Assembly on 25 May 2000. Furthermore Sweden interprets the words ‘any representation’ in article 2 c) as ‘visual representation’ ”.
Upon ratification:

Declaration:

".....Sweden interprets the word "any representation"in article 2 c) of the Protocol as "visual representation".

Declaration:

"... in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 2 of the Optional Protocol, [...] the minimum age required for voluntary recruitment into the Swedish National Armed Forces is eighteen (18) years."

Statement:

“In connection with the deposit of its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and, with regard to the war crimes specified in Article 8 of the Statute which relate to the methods of warfare, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden would like to recall the Advisory Opinion given by the International Court of Justice on 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, and in particular paragraphs 85 to 87 thereof, in which the Court finds that there can be no doubt as to the applicability of humanitarian law to nuclear weapons.”

Reservations:

Sweden lodges a reservation in relation to Article 9.1 with regard to access to a review procedure before a court of law of decisions taken by the Parliament, the Government and Ministers on issues ~ involving the release of official documents.
A reservation is also lodged in relation to Article 9.2 with regard to access by environmental organisations to a review procedure before a court of law concerning such decisions on local plans that require environmental impact assessments. This also applies to decisions regarding issuing permits that are taken by the Government as the first instance, under, for example the Natural Gas Act (2000:599) and after appeal under Chapter 18 of the Swedish Environmental Code. It is the Government's ambition that Sweden will shortly comply with Article 9.2 in its entirety.

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

"To the extent to which certain provisions of the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunications Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations fall within the area of responsibility of the European Community, the full implementation of the Convention by Sweden has to be done in accordance with the procedures of this international organisation."

Declaration:

"The Kingdom of Sweden recalls that, as a Member of the European Community, it has transferred competence to the Community in respect of certain matters governed by the Agreement. The Kingdom of Sweden hereby confirms the declarations made by the European Community upon ratification of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks."
[See declarations under “European Community”.]

Upon signature:

"Sweden declares that it intends to reduce its annual national emissions of VOCs by at least 30%, using 1988 levels as a basis."
Upon ratification:

"Sweden declares that it intends to reduce its annual national emissions of VOCs by at least 30% by the year 1999, using 1988 levels as a basis."

Declaration:

"Regarding article 3, paragraph 10, Swedish constitutional legislation on extradition implies that in judging whether a specific offence is to be regarded as a political offence, regard shall be paid to the circumstances in each individual case."

"Sweden accepts the following means of dispute settlement as compulsory:
Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice [article 11, paragraph 3 ( b )]
It is, however, the intention of the Swedish Government to accept also the following means of dispute settlement as com-pulsory:
Arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its first ordinary meeting [article 11, paragraph 3 ( a )].
A declaration in this latter respect will, however, not be given until the procedures for arbitration have been adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its first ordinary meeting."

Upon signature:

"As regards those parts of the Convention which deal with innocent passage through the territorial sea, it is the intention of the Government of Sweden to continue to apply the present régime for the passage of foreign warships and other government-owned vessels used for non-commercial purposes through the Swedish territorial sea, that régime being fully compatible with the Convention.
It is also the understanding of the Government of Sweden that the Convention does not affect the rights and duties of a neutral State provided for in the Convention concerning the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers in case of Naval Warfare (XIII Convention), adopted at The Hague on 18 October 1907."
Upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

"It is the understanding of the Government of Sweden that the exception from the transit passage régime in straits, provided for in Article 35 (c) of the Convention is applicable to the strait between Sweden and Denmark (Oresund) as well as to the strait between Sweden and Finland (the Aland islands). Since in both those straits the passage is regulated in whole or in part by long-standing international conventions in force, the present legal régime in the two straits will remain unchanged."
Upon ratification:

"The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden hereby chooses, in accordance with article 287 of the Convention, the International Court of Justice for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement Implementing Part XI of the Convention.
The Kingdom of Sweden recalls that as a Member of the European Community, it has transferred competence in respect of certain matters governed by the Convention. A detailed declaration on the nature and extent of the competence transferred to the European Community will be made in due course in accordance with the provisions of Annex IX of the Convention."

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

With reference to article 64.3 of the Agreement Establishing the African Development Bank, Sweden hereby declares that it retains for itself and its political subdivisions the right to tax salaries and emoluments paid by the Bank to citizens, nationals or residents of Sweden.
Declaration:

According to the main rule of article 17, paragraph 1 (d) in the Agreement establishing the African Development Bank, the proceeds of any loan, investment or other financing undertaken by the Bank shall be used only for procurement in member countries of goods and services produced in member countries.
The shipping policy of the Swedish Government is based on the principle of free circulation of shipping in international trade in free and fair competition. The Swedish Government trusts that article 17, paragraph 1 (d) will not be applied contrary to this principle. Similarly, it is part of the assistance policy of the Swedish Government that multilateral development assistance should be based on the principle of free international competitive bidding. The Swedish Government expresses the hope that it will be possible to reach agreement on such modification of article 17, 1 (d) that it does not conflict with this principle.

Déclarations:

[ Same reservation, mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Finland. ]
25 May 2012

“In addition to the previous declaration made under Article 94 Sweden declares, in respect of Iceland in accordance with paragraph 1, in respect of Finland in accordance with paragraph 1 cf. paragraph 3 and otherwise in accordance with paragraph 2, that the Convention will not apply to the formation of contracts of sale where the parties have their places of business in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland or Norway.”

Declaration:

"Sweden shall not be bound by Parts II, IV, and Annexes C.1, F, G and H of the Protocol."

Reservations and declarations:

[ Same declarations and reservations, identical in essence, as those made by Denmark .]

"The reservations of Sweden to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals and the European Agreement supplementing that Convention also apply to this Protocol."

"With respect to paragraph 22 of the annex, signs C, 3 a to C, 3 k shall incorporate an oblique bar."
"The reservations of Sweden to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals also apply to this Agreement."
With regard to article 9:

"Sweden opposes that disputes in which it is involved shall be referred to arbitration."
11 May 2026

Declaration:

“1. Point 26
“17.Ad Annex 1, section C, subsections I and II, to the Convention
Paragraph 3 of subsection I shall be read as follows:
‘3. Each State shall omit the red oblique bar from signs C-03-1 to C-03.14 and C-04.1 and C-04.2.’”
Signs C-03.1 to C-03.14 and C-04.1 and C-04.2 have a red oblique bar.”

"The reservations of Sweden to the Convention on Road Traffic also apply to this Agreement."
Reservation concerning article 9:

“Sweden opposes that disputes in which it is involved shall be referred to arbitration."

Reservations:
"(1) Instead of article 10, paragraph 6 of the Convention Sweden will apply the dispositions of paragraph 9 of the annex of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
"(2) With respect to annex 5, section F, paragraph 4, of the Convention, the signs E, 15-shall have a green ground.
"(3) With respect to article 44 of the Convention, Sweden opposes that disputes in which it is involved shall be referred to arbitration."
11 May 2026

Declaration:

“In accordance with Article 38 of the Convention Sweden hereby declares the following:
1. 26 bis and Annex 1, Section E, subsection II, paragraph 2 (Lane reserved for buses). Lanes reserved for regular public transport service vehicles are marked with mandatory signs.
2. Annex 1, Section E, subsection II, paragraph 13. Sweden retains the current road signs notifying the location of bus stops.
3. Annex 1, Section F, subsection II, sign F 09.1. Sweden uses road signs notifying the location of public lavatories without the text ‘WC’.
4. Annex 1, Section H, additional panels. Sweden uses red figures on additional panels, for example to indicate specific parking regulations applying on Sundays.
5. Annex 1, Section H, additional panels. Sweden uses a red ground on road signs notifying multi-lane carriageway closure.
6. Annex 1, Section H, additional panels. Sweden uses red symbols in road signs notifying the location of charging stations and charging points.”

Reservations:

"(1) Instead of article 18, paragraph 3, of the Convention Sweden will apply the dispositions of paragraph 15 to the Annex of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic.
"(2) With respect to article 33, paragraph 1 (c) and (d), parking lights only may never be used when driving. Dipped head lights, position lights or other lights sufficient to enable the other road-users to notice the vehicle shall be used even when driving in daylight.
"With respect to article 52, Sweden opposes that disputes in which it is involved shall be referred to arbitration."

On the understanding that the provisions of article 5, paragraph 2, of the Protocol signify that the Human Rights Committee provided for in article 28 of the said Covenant shall not consider any communication from an individual unless it has ascertained that the same matter is not being examined or has not been examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement.

Reservations:

Sweden reserves the right not to apply the provisions of article 10, paragraph 3, with regard to the obligation to segregate juvenile offenders from adults, the provisions of article 14, paragraph 7, and the provisions of article 20, paragraph 1, of the Covenant.

enters a reservation in connexion with article 7 (d) of the Covenant in the matter of the right to remuneration for public holidays.

"According to the main rule of article 14, paragraph ix, in the Agreement establishing the Asian Development Bank, the proceeds of any loan, investment or other financing undertaken by the Bank shall be used only for procurement in member countries of goods.
"The shipping policy of the Swedish Government is based on the principle of free circulation of shipping in international trade in free and fair competition. The Swedish Government trusts that article 14, paragraph ix, will not be applied contrary to this principle. Similarly, it is part of the assistance policy of the Swedish Government that multilateral development assistance should be based on the principle of free international competitive bidding. The Swedish Government expresses the hope that it will be possible to reach agreement on such modification of article 14, paragraph ix, that it does not conflict with this principle."

Reservation:

With regard to article 35, paragraph 1, and article 58, paragraph 1, Sweden does not accord to consular posts headed by honorary consular officers the right to employ diplomatic or consular couriers and diplomatic or consular bags, or to Governments, diplomatic missions and other consular posts the right to employ these means in communicating with consular posts headed by honorary consular officers, except to the extent that Sweden may have consented thereto in particular cases.
Declaration:

"With reference to article 22 of the Convention, the Swedish Government expresses the wish that in countries where it has been an established practice to allow nationals of the receiving State or of a third State to be appointed as Swedish honorary consuls, this will continue to be allowed as before. The Swedish Government also expresses the hope that countries with which Sweden establishes new consular relations will follow a similar practice and will give their consent to such appointments pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 22."

With reservation to article 1, paragraph 2, of the Convention.
With reservation to article 1, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

(a) . . .
(b) . . .
(c) With regard to article 16, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph (a) (iv);
(d) . . .
(e) . . .

Article 1: Sweden reserves the right to reject, where the circumstances of the case under consideration appear to make this necessary, any application for legal support aimed at the recovery of maintenance from a person who entered Sweden as a political refugee.
11 November 1988

Article 9: "Where the proceedings are pending in Sweden, the exemptions in the payment of costs and the facilities provided in paragraph 1 shall be granted only to persons resident in a State Party to the Convention or to any person who would otherwise enjoy such advantages under an agreement concluded with the State of which he is a national."

Reservations:

(1) ...
(2) ...
(3) To article 12, paragraph 1. This paragraph will not be binding on Sweden.
(4) ...
(5) To article 24, paragraph 3. The provisions of this paragraph will not be binding on Sweden.
(6) To article 25, paragraph 2. Sweden does not consider itself obliged to cause a Swedish authority, in lieu of a foreign authority, to deliver certificates for the issuance of which there is insufficient documentation in Sweden.

With the following reservations:

First, a general reservation to the effect that the application of those provisions of the Convention which grant to refugees the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country shall not be affected by the fact that special rights and privileges are now or may in future be accorded by Sweden to the nationals of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway or to the nationals of any one of those countries; and, secondly, the following reservations: ... a reservation to article 12, paragraph 1, to the effect that the Convention shall not modify the rule of Swedish private international law, as now in force, under which the personal status of a refugee is governed by the law of his country of nationality; ... a reservation to article 17, paragraph 2, to the effect that Sweden does not consider itself bound to grant a refugee who fulfils any one of the conditions set out in subparagraphs (a) - (c) an automatic exemption from the obligation to obtain a work permit; ... a reservation to article 24, paragraph 3, to the effect that the provisions of this paragraph shall not be binding on Sweden; and a reservation to article 25, to the effect that Sweden does not consider itself bound to cause a certificate to be delivered by a Swedish authority, in the place of the authorities of a foreign country, if the documentary records necessary for the delivery of such a certificate do not exist in Sweden.

"In accepting the Convention on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, the Government of Sweden declares that it supports the work programme of the Organization as per document A.I/11 and its corrigendum 1, decided upon by the first meeting of the Assembly of the Organization in January 1959.
"The Government of Sweden holds the view that it is in the field of technical and nautical matters that the Organization can make its contribution towards the development of shipping and seaborne trade throughout the world.
"If the Organization were to extend its activities to matters of a purely commercial or economic nature, a situation might arise in which the Government of Sweden would have to consider resorting to the provisions regarding withdrawal contained in article 59 of the Convention."