Embassy of Sweden in USA

Thank you to everyone who came out this weekend for ! At this year’s event we celebrated Europe, Sweden, and 250 years of America’s journey. 🇪🇺🇸🇪🇺🇸

Throughout the day, our thousands of visitors got a taste of Sweden at our rooftop café, experience our music, innovation and gaming industry through interactive stations, learn more about how to study and work in Sweden, get creative in arts and crafts with Pippi, and discover the Swedish Footprints in the United States in our newly opened exhibition.

Until next year!

Today marks the 80th birthday of HM King Carl XVI Gustaf. 🎊

Sweden 🇸🇪 is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. According to the 1974 Instrument of Government, all public power proceeds from the people and must be exercised in accordance with the law. This form of government combines strong democratic institutions with a head of state who is above day-to-day political processes and acts as a unifying symbol of the country and its democratic institutions.

The King’s role is clearly regulated in the Constitution of Sweden. As head of state, the King has no political powers, but carries out important ceremonial and representative duties. These include opening the session of the Riksdag, chairing the Council of State when there is a change of government, representing Sweden in state visits and receiving foreign ambassadors’ credentials. The role aims to create continuity, stability and confidence in public institutions - both nationally and internationally.

The Swedish monarchy builds on long historical experience, but is at the same time deeply rooted in modern democratic values. In 1974, the Instrument of Government clearly outlined the sovereignty of the people and the status of the parliamentary system, and streamlined the role of the head of state into unification, representation and safeguarding of the Constitution. In this context, the monarchy plays an important role as a symbol of the rule of law, openness and democratic accountability.

This day of celebration is an opportunity to highlight the Swedish social model, which combines democracy, the rule of law and constitutional monarchy – a form of that has served Sweden well and remains a foundation for stable governance and international confidence.

Congratulations! 🎉

📷: Elisabeth Toll/Kungl. Hovstaterna

🔥 On April 30, Sweden 🇸🇪 welcomes spring with a cherished celebration known as Valborg in Swedish. Bonfires are lit across the country and with choral singing, the brighter days ahead are welcomed.

Originally a pagan tradition to scare off witches and evil spirits, Valborg (Walpurgis Night) has evolved into a beloved cultural event with local community gatherings that combines folklore and student traditions.

Glad Valborg - Happy Walpurgis Night! 🎊


📸: Henrik Montgomery/TT/imagebank.sweden.se

📌 Do you need to apply for/renew a Swedish 🇸🇪 passport before traveling this summer? We’re offering drop-in appointments here at the Embassy in DC on:

🗓️ 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟖
🕐 𝟏:𝟎𝟎–𝟑:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
ℹ️ 𝐍𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝

To ensure that we can process your application, please make sure you bring all required documents and have completed all necessary forms before you arrive.

More information about required documents can be found here:
https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-abroad-for-swedish-citizens/usa/service-for-swedish-citizens/passports/

🇪🇺 🇸🇪 🇺🇸 Celebrate Europe. Celebrate Sweden. Celebrate 250 years of America’s journey.

We’re getting ready for ! This year, we’ll highlight America250 and the long‑standing ties between Sweden and the United States. Join us for a full day of Swedish culture, creativity, and interactive experiences!✨

📅 Saturday, May 9 (Europe Day)
⏰ 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Embassy of Sweden
2900 K St NW, Washington, DC

What’s on:
☀️ Summer on the Rooftop – Swedish summer vibes & refreshments + a sneak peek of our upcoming Midsummer Festival on the National Mall, June 12
🎶 Music Moments – Highlights from Sweden’s world‑renowned music scene, with a chance to win tickets to see Swedish artist Robyn!
🎮 Play Sweden – Try out video games from Sweden’s globally recognized gaming industry
📸 Photo Op – Snap a pic with playful Swedish props
👨‍👩‍👧 Family Activities – Crafts, games, and fun for kids
🎁 Giveaways – Swedish‑themed prizes
🎓 Study & Work in Sweden – Learn about studying, working, and building a career in Sweden
🖼️ Don’t miss our new exhibition “Swedish Footprints in the United States”, showcasing Swedish‑American stories from the 1600s to today.

European Union in the United States🔗 euopenhouse.org

📷: from previous EU Open House.

🤝 Strong cooperation, preparedness, and integration remain the cornerstones of our shared defence mission.

On April 7, 2026, Vice Adm. Doug Perry welcomed 🇸🇪 Sweden’s Minister of Defence Pål Jonson to JFC Norfolk 🇺🇸.

The visit highlighted Sweden’s active role in NATO’s collective defence, from contributing troops and aircraft to leading initiatives such as the Alliance's Air Defence activity in Iceland, part of .

Discussions focused on Sweden’s integration into command structures, joint capability planning, and readiness for rapid response across the Atlantic and Arctic. This visit reinforced NATO’s 360-degree approach to security and underscored Sweden’s commitment to a safer and stronger Alliance.

Read more here: https://jfcnorfolk.nato.int/activity/jfc-norfolk-welcomes-swedens-minister-of-defence-paal-jonson

Försvarsmakten

📌 Do you need to apply for/renew a Swedish 🇸🇪 passport? We’re offering drop-in appointments here at the Embassy in DC on:

🗓️ Friday, April 10
🕐 1:00–3:00 PM
ℹ️ No appointment required.

To ensure that we can process your application, please make sure you bring all required documents and have completed all necessary forms before you arrive.

More information about required documents can be found here:
https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-abroad-for-swedish-citizens/usa/service-for-swedish-citizens/passports/

Information om 𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫 för ansökan om samordningsnummer för svenska medborgare i USA. Ansökan måste nu göras personligen vid en svensk passmyndighet i USA:
📍Sveriges ambassad i Washington, D.C.
📍Generalkonsulatet i New York
📍Generalkonsulatet i San Francisco

Honorärkonsulat kan inte ta emot ansökningar.

Generalkonsulatet i Houston kan ännu inte ta emot ansökningar men räknar med att kunna göra det från och med hösten 2026.

Vi förstår att detta kan innebära längre resor. Våra passmyndigheter hjälper gärna till och du bokar tid direkt hos respektive myndighet.

ℹ️ Information om hur det går till och vilka handlingar som behövs finns på Sweden Abroad via nedan länk.

Ansökan om samordningsnummer i USA Barn och vuxna som aldrig haft svenskt pass, ID-kort eller varit folkbokförda i Sverige måste ansöka om samordningsnummer innan det är möjligt att ansöka om ett svenskt pass eller nationellt ID-kort. Handläggningstiden är ca 8 veckor. Du kan inte ansöka om samordningsnummer och pass vid sam...

Happy Easter! Glad Påsk!
🧹🐰🍬🌸🐣🌷☀️

Easter in Sweden comes with:
🪾‘påskris’ – branches decorated with bright feathers, a symbol of the arrival of spring. You can spot them both indoors and outdoors, a tradition dating back to the 1880s.

🧹 “påskkärringar” (Easter witches). Kids walk around the neighborhood, wearing colorful scarves, aprons and rosy cheeks, offering handmade drawings in exchange for sweets. This comes from old beliefs that witches flew on their broomsticks to a mythical place called 𝐁𝐥å𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚 on Maundy Thursday. Each region of Sweden had its own customs to protect themselves from the witches’ spells.

🍬🍫“påskägg” (Easter eggs) filled with Swedish candy, sometimes hidden and only found through a treasure hunt.

: It’s estimated that the average Swede consume around 3 pounds of candy during the Easter weekend! 😋

Easter in Sweden 🇸🇪 is celebrated through a mix of tradition, folklore, and springtime joy. For some Swedes, Easter is closely associated with its religious origin, with churches welcoming people to observe Easter over several days. For others, Easter is first and foremost a chance to get together with family, relatives, and loved ones.

Please note that the Embassy will be closed on Friday, April 3 in observance of Easter.

📷: imagebank.sweden.se

🇸🇪🇺🇸