Swedish Police warn of potential passport shortage in 2027

The Swedish police have issued an urgent call for citizens to check the validity of their passports and national ID cards. Approximately 2.4 million Swedish travel documents are expected to expire during 2027, which is roughly 500,000 more than in a typical year.

This surge is attributed to a massive wave of passport applications following the lifting of pandemic-related travel restrictions in 2022. To avoid a repeat of the 2022 passport crisis, which was characterized by long queues and disrupted travel plans, authorities are encouraging people planning to travel in 2027 to renew their documents this autumn rather than waiting until the spring.

In the Southern Police Region alone, over 572,000 documents are projected to expire, representing a 20 percent increase over a normal year. The region includes Skåne, Blekinge, Kalmar, and Kronoberg counties. The police have launched a national information campaign to manage demand and prevent administrative bottlenecks.